On the other, you have the pragmatists: those people who see wine as just an alcoholic liquid with some specifically annoying/useful (delete as applicable) commercial quirks, but which is there to be sold like any other fast- (if you’re lucky) moving consumer good. It’s a dichotomy that is beautifully dramatised in an encounter described in a new book, Godforsaken Grapes, by the American drinks journalist…

 Eduardo Barp, previously the company’s general manager Caribbean & Central, with more than 11 years under his belt at Diageo, is to take over from Dayalan Nayager on January 1. Nayager is moving to a new role as managing director for Great Britain, Ireland and France after nearly two and a half years in the one of the biggest jobs in duty free. He leaves…

2019 is the Year of the Pig, which to western ears might not seem quite so conducive to appealing marketing ideas as other signs of the Chinese zodiac. However, that hasn’t stopped the likes of Dewar’s whisky, Beluga vodka, Martell cognac, Tito’s vodka and Royal Salute whisky from eagerly releasing their Year of the Pig editions. Such a marketing frenzy is understandable. After all, the…

Perhaps it’s because I’m living in Britain, and the combination of winter, austerity and Brexit has taken its toll. Or perhaps it’s just an intense bout of post-festive blues. But I am concerned that I’m turning in to a full-time grumpy old man. It is true, I’ve always had the potential. But I used to get angry about major things such as homelessness, right wing…

And even if the point of the exercise is more about recognising things that are injurious to our health and wellbeing rather than actually succeeding in doing something about them, that’s better than nothing. The wine trade could do with a similar process of taking moral stock. So here, in no particular order, are my suggestions for making the wine world a better place in…

And a producer with a quality product and a good back story can bring it to the attention of the world. Or at least in theory, because the downside is that there are a lot of people shouting and that means a lot of noise. How do you not only get heard, but get listened to as well? The sad truth is, many drinks writers…

Last year was a mixed bag. There was strong international air traffic growth and good sales results in Asia on the one hand, but on the other there were currency fluctuations and economic problems in other markets, which marred an otherwise positive year. So, what lies ahead for 2019? In Europe, you don’t have to be Nostradamus to see that Brexit will be the year’s…