Rioja’s Ramón Bilbao is introducing a professional competition to find its ‘Spanish Wine Master’, as the brand continues on its mission to educate the trade about Spanish wine.

Streaming platform The Avenue has launched the online cocktail competition Battle of the Bottle taking place this October and with a top prize of $10,000.

Industry charity The Drinks Trust is holding its first annual charity auction, ‘Cream of the Crop’, to raise funds for those who produce and pour drinks across the UK.

Pernod Ricard has announced the acquisition of online retailer The Whisky Exchange for an undisclosed fee.

Pernod Ricard UK has highlighted the consumer trends accelerated by the last 18 months and urged retailers to “capitalise on the huge opportunity within premium spirits and wines this Christmas”.

The Covid-19 pandemic has inspired drinks producers across the world to significantly ramp up their focus on direct-to-consumer (DTC) sales.

Diageo North America has launched a campaign against impaired driving ahead of the Labor Day holiday.

Diageo expects direct-to-consumer sales to grow rapidly and emerge as an important part of the business in the years ahead.

South American wine producer VSPT Wine Group posted a 27.6% sales increase during the first quarter of 2021 in spite of poor exchange rates.

Global Bartending Talent Agency is launching an online marketplace that connects cocktail lovers with some of the world’s best bars.

Freixenet Copestick has expanded its portfolio by signing an exclusive distribution partnership with Chilean producer The Garage Wine Co.

Online retailer Wine Access has acquired Napa Valley merchant 750 Wines for an undisclosed fee.

Ibiza-based mobile bar company Southside Bars is now offering online cocktail masterclasses.

Ecommerce has broken into markets that barely knew it existed pre-pandemic - and forcasts for the alcohholic drinks sector are very positive. Martin Green reports.

Drinks International caught up with Naked Wines’ chief financial officer James Crawford to discuss the firm’s impressive H1 results.

Naked Wines enjoyed 79.6% revenue growth in the six months to September 28 after demand for online wine purchases soared during the lockdown.

Naked Wines has reported 81% year-on-year revenue growth during April and May as online orders spiked during the coronavirus lockdown.

Bar Convent Brooklyn has been called off after the organisers decided it would be too risky to host a trade show during this age of contagion.

Campari Group has tied up a €23.4 million deal to purchase a 49% stake in Italy’s leading online wine and spirits retailer.

Sales of beer, wine and spirits grew by a remarkable 67% in the UK off-trade during the week to March 21.

Digital happy hours, online mixology sessions and virtual tip jars are helping bartenders make ends meet amid the coronavirus lockdown. 

Entries are now being taken for the 14th annual International Finlandia Vodka Cup. The final is to be held on February 1, 2012 and the prize fund is $25,000.

The September edition of Drinks International is now online and can be downloaded as a digital magazine by clicking here.

Diageo has announced that Madonna will partner Smirnoff in the next instalment of the Nightlife Exchange Project.

Bacardi has launched True Originals, an online hub for bartenders globally.