Champagne Pol Roger has arranged a cricket match between Champagne and  English sparkling wine.

Specialist wine supplier,  Liberty Wines has added tio its management team with the appointment of Alan Mully as head of operations.

Australian Vintage Limited (AVL) has appointed Tim Lockwood for the newly created role of business manager Europe.

The Wine and Spirit Education Trust (WSET) has announced record year for the number of candidates completing its course qualifications, for the 13th year running.

John E Fells has announced that Brown Brothers, one of Australia’s leading family owned wine companies has appointed Fells as its exclusive UK distributor from September 1.

National Champagne Week in the UK returns this October, with events planned across London, Birmingham and Bath.

Wines of South Africa has launched a new social media campaign in the run up to its Cape Wine 2015 show.

Champagne Jacquart has appointed Diane Gonzalez as its new UK business development manager.

Nicolas Feuillatte has been named the no.1 Champagne brand in France and 3rd in the world by volume, according to the latest Impact report.

Five out of six IWC great value Champions went to supermarket own-brand wines.

The International Wine Challenge announced its wine trade superstars at its awards dinner at the Hilton Hotel, on London’s Park Lane last night (July 16)

The 32nd International Wine Challenge announced its champion wines for 2015 last night (July 16) in London.

The UNESCO World Heritage Committee has decided to include the Champagne slopes, houses and cellars on its world heritage list.

Chapel Down plc has announced that Mark Harvey, a former LVMH business development director, is its new managing director, wines.

Marlborough Lines has agreed to invest NZ$89 million to purchase an 80% shareholding in New Zealand wine producer, Yealands.

New Zealand Winegrowers has announced that Gisborne will host New Zealand’s first Chardonnay and sparkling wine symposium early next year.

Wines of South Africa UK is launching a new event with a trade tasting targeting independent merchants and on-trade buyers.

Accolade Wines has announced a £4 million above the line campaign for its leading Australian wine brand Hardys, to coincide with its sponsorship of the English and Australian  cricket teams ahead of the Ashes test matches with Australia.

Portuguese wine company Sogrape Vinhos is to switch its Mateus Rosé from green glass to clear bottles this summer. 

Wine Australia and the Daniel Pontifex Memorial Trust are searching for the next big name in hospitality.

The leading French cooperative wine group, Val d'Orbieu-UCCOAR, has unveiled a new name, Vinadeis, and announced a strategic partnership with France’s number one French agricultural cooperative group.

Leading New Zealand winery, Villa Maria, has announced that Alastair Maling is leaving after more than 12 years.

Hambledon Vineyard, the English sparkling wine producer, has successfully raised its £2.75 million through crowdfunding.

Kleine Zalze said the South African winemaking industry is “as vibrant as any” and the “sky is the limit” in terms of quality. 

Mendoza winery Salentein are in talks with Argentinean authorities to create a new GI for San Pablo in Mendoza.

Casella Family Brands’ Yellowtail has reached one million nine-litre case sales in Great Britain during 2014/15. 

The drinks industry needs to get better at listening to consumers, according to Neil Anderson, marketing director at Kingsland.

The rise in prosecco has made Australian Vintage rethink its sparkling wine offering, according to CEO Neil McGuigan.

52% of prosecco drinkers in the UK regard the Italian fizz as ‘very good value for money’, more than twice the figure for champagne, according to a new report from Wine Intelligence.

The Wine and Spirit Trade Association has called for further Government help for the UK wine sector.

Chilean wine brand Cono Sur is the official wine of the legendary road cycle event and one of the world’s great sporting spectacles, Le Tour de France.

Kingsland Drinks has bought UK drinks supplier Bottle Green from DCC Food & Beverage UK.

One million bottles of Kumala wine will carry an instant win competition neck collarettes in its 10,000 prize giveaway.

The 2015 Wine Industry Directory publishers say the new 2015 Australian and New Zealand Wine Industry Directory has 103 new Australian wine producers but for the first time in three decades has shown a net loss in the number of producers.

London wine agency Barwell & Jones has invited London Wine Fair visitors to come and fix a leaf to a tree on their stand.

Online shopping for wine in Germany is closing the gap on shops and supermarkets, but regular wine drinkers still by far prefer the real world to the digital one, according to a new Wine Intelligence report.

Owners of Ornellaia, the Super Tuscan Italian wine brand, has raised €202,700 for the Foundation Beyeler art museum in Basel.

The state of California is suffering its fourth year of severe drought. The governor has recently imposed the state's first mandatory water restrictions, affecting nearly 40 million people. Farmers, business owners, and residents will be forced to cut their usage by 25%.

Drinks International editor, Christian Davis, is pictured presenting DI’s The World’s Most Admired Wine Brand award plaque to Torres general manager, Miguel Torres Maczassek.

The Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) has been awarded The Queen’s Award for Enterprise 2015 in international trade.

The new management team at Nicolas Feuillatte has targeted the improvement of the brand’s reputation as a "prestige" Champagne, despite it now selling in record volumes.

Marketing took centre stage at the third Drinks International wine awards in as many months, Holly Motion reports on the Wine Marketing Awards.

In the April edition of the magazine Drinks International published the results of its inaugural Wine Design Awards, Christian Davis reports. 

The Brazilian market offers massive potential for domestic and overseas wine producers  – but economic and political pressures could blow growth off course, according to research by Wine Intelligence.

The New Zealand Cellar, the online wine company, is launching a crowd funding project to raise £35,000 for its first retail shop.

The two Spanish wine regions have come together to raise awareness of their wines in the all-important US market.

Casillero del Diablo, the global Chilean wine brand, has announced that its Cabernet Sauvignon Reserva is the best selling Cabernet Sauvignon in the UK off trade*.

The Conseil Interprofessionnel des Vins de Provence or Vins de Provence has announced the 2014 vintage as 1,385,500 hectolitres across the Côtes de Provence, Coteaux d’Aix-en-Provence and Coteaux Varois en Provence appellations.

The Netherlands is emerging from a long economic hiatus, and is slowly dragging the wine market back into positive territory, thanks in no small part to Prosecco.

Champagne Deutz is the sponsor of the Court of Master Sommeliers for the next three years.