Chapel Down appoints new CEO
Andrew Carter is set to take over from Frazer Thompson as CEO of Chapel Down winery from September this year.
US wine tariffs threaten UK market shape
The UK’s most popular wines could disappear from supermarket shelves and pubs after the government proposed a 25% tariff on all wine imports from the US.
Trivento has been revealed as the world’s best-selling Argentine wine brand in a report by IWSR Drinks Market Analysis.
Germany calls for aid for flood-devastated wine regions
The German Wine Institute (DWI) is calling for donations for wine producers in the Ahr Valley, devastated by last week’s extreme flooding.
Putin anti-champagne law sparks controversy
A new law in Russia ordering French champagne to be labelled sparkling wine has caused unrest among producers.
Domaine Leroy Musigny goes for record sale
Cult Wines has announced the record sale of 2013 Domaine Leroy Musigny, a rare Grand Cru Burgundy, to a customer in Asia.
South Africa enjoys late and large 2021 wine harvest
The 2021 South African wine harvest has been estimated at 1,461,599 tonnes, 8.9% larger than in 2020.
A bottle of 1821 Grand Constance sold for a record-breaking R420,000 (£21,222) at the Cape Fine & Rare Wine Auction in Stellenbosch.
Pernod Ricard says its New Zealand wine brands Brancott Estate and Stoneleigh will be unable to meet global Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc supply this year after one of the smallest New Zealand harvests in 10 years.
A bottle of Pétrus 2000, which has spent 14 months aboard the International Space Station, is to be offered for sale by Christie’s.
Torres launches Secret del Priorat 2018
Familia Torres has expanded its range of red Priorat wines with Secret del Priorat 2018 made from Garnacha, Cariñena, Cabernet sauvignon, Merlot and Syrah.
Symington family bottles six vintage ports for 2019
The Symingtons have bottled six Quinta Vintage Ports from 2019 and will release two en primeur – Quinta do Vesúvio and Dow’s Quinta da Senhora da Ribeira.
Severe frost devastates French vineyards
Vineyards across France have been hit hard by overnight frosts, partially compromising the 2021 harvest.
Bollinger to acquire US-based Ponzi Vineyards
The Bollinger family has announced the acquisition of Oregon-based Ponzi Vineyards which will be its first winery in the US.
US champagne imports down 19% in 2020
According to the Champagne Bureau USA, the exports of champagne to the US fell almost 19% in 2020 year-on-year.
Campo Viejo to launch Winemaker’s Blend in the UK
Campo Viejo has announced the launch of Winemaker’s Blend, a new blend of Tempranillo, Garnacha and Bobal.
Champagne Lanson enters new US deal with Terlato Wine Group
Terlato Wine Group has announced an exclusive sales and marketing agreement with Champagne Lanson to become effective April 1, 2021.
Wine research and content company Liquid Icons has launched The Golden Vines Awards and fundraising event that will support diversity and inclusion-related wine education funding globally.
Southern Glazer’s to acquire Epic Wine & Spirits
Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits, the largest wine and spirits distributor in the United States, has signed a national distribution agreement with Foley Family Wines.
Natural and organic online wine shop launches in the UK
Natural and organic ecommerce wine shop, Lucy’s Wine, has launched in the UK.
Lapin Rouillé launches as one of Europe's first female black-owned champagne brands
Drinks importer and distributor, Rusty Rabbit International, has launched a new premium champagne brand called Lapin Rouillé Champagne.
Wine Access acquires Napa Valley merchant 750 wines
Online retailer Wine Access has acquired Napa Valley merchant 750 Wines for an undisclosed fee.
London Wine Fair announces virtual event for 2021
The London Wine Fair 2021 will now take place virtually between 17-19 May in light of the ongoing uncertainty around the Covid-19 global pandemic.
Brands Report 2021: Champagne
In branding, marketing and ownership, champagne is the spirit category of wine. Not coincidently, it’s also the wine style you’ll see most in cocktail bars – somehow a glass of good sparkles fits the environs perfectly. Then you have classic cocktails which call for its use.
Nyetimber exports up 90% in 2020
Exports for English sparkling wine brand Nyetimber have grown by more than 90% in 2020.
Moradillo de Roa wins big at IWC
Moradillo de Roa 2016 from the Legaris winery (DO. Ribera del Duero) has been named the Best Spanish Red and one of the 30 best wines in the world by the International Wine Challenge.
Obituary: James Symington 1934 – 2020
Third generation port winemaker James Symington has passed after more than 40 years working in the trade.
Prosecco rosé gets international go-ahead
Prosecco DOC producers are now legally allowed to export Prosecco DOC rosé after it gained approval in the Official Journal of the European Union.
Key Australian wine export markets see value increase in 2020
All of Australia’s top five export markets experienced value growth in the 12 months to September 2020 reaching a total value of almost $3bn, according to Wine Australia’s latest Export Report.
D.O. Cava launches new website
D.O. Cava has launched a new website which gives the Spanish Designation of Origin a new look with more digestible content.
Wine GB appoints Simon Thorpe as CEO
Wines of Great Britain has appointed Simon Thorpe MW as its new CEO, starting Monday 26 October.
Marie Brizard Wine & Spirits to offload Moncigale wine brand
Marie Brizard Wine & Spirits has agreed to sell 100% of its shares in wine brand Moncigale to parent company Grands vins JC Boisset.
Milano Wine Week aims to kickstart global wine network
Milano Wine Week 2020 will take place from 3-11 October with both face-to-face and remote options.
Catena Zapata releases 2017 vintages
Catena Zapata has released its 2017 vintage of Nicolás Catena Zapata and Adrianna Mundus Bacillus Terrae which will be distributed with La Place de Bordeaux in Europe and Asia.
Majestic launches wine industry diversity scholarship
UK retailer Majestic Wine has launched a new initiative called ‘Majestic Diversity In Wine Scholarship’ to help strengthen the wine industry's inclusivity.
English and Welsh wine sales up 70% in 2019
Wines of Great Britain has announced strong positive growth in sales with an estimated 5.5m bottles of English and Welsh wines sold in 2019, up 70% on the previous year.
England's Hattingley Valley launches still Pinot Noir
English winery Hattingley Valley has launched its first still red wine, a 2016 Pinot Noir, since being established in 2008.
Ramón Bilbao begins organic conversion
Zamora Company’s Spanish wine producer Ramón Bilbao has begun organic conversion for vineyard plots in Rioja and Rueda.
Quintessential acquires Accolade Wines US portfolio
Quintessential has acquired all US wines within the Accolade Wines portfolio including the production, global sales and marketing of four labels: Geyser Peak, Atlas Peak, Outlot and XYZin.
Sogevinus buys Quinta da Boavista in Douro region
Grupo Sogevinus has added two brands to its portfolio through the acquisition of Quinta da Boavista, an 80 ha property that was part of the first delimitation of the Douro region.
Argentina’s Catena Zapata is now recognised as the best winery in the world having topped The World’s Most Admired Wine Brands, conducted in association with market research specialists at Wine Intelligence.
Taylor's announces third consecutive Classic Vintage
Taylor’s port has declared a ‘Classic Vintage’ for the third year in a row having experienced “exceptional” conditions in the Douro Superior region.
Rare wine sales increase in China
Sales of rare wines and spirits to Chinese buyers has led to a 25% jump in Asia sales during March according to global merchant BI Fine Wine & Spirits.
Ramón Bilbao takes Spanish Wine Academy online
Ramón Bilbao has launched its Spanish Wine Academy online in light of the necessary postponement of its international events calendar this spring.
Domaine de la Commaraine invests in Côte de Nuits
Domaine de la Commaraine has announced the purchase of 5,8 ac of vineyards in the Côte de Nuits to supplement the 9,3 ac of its Clos in Pommard Premier Cru.
Cramele Recas donates ventilators for emergency hospitals
Romania’s largest wine exporter, Cramele Recas, has purchasing a further three ventilators and medical equipment for the emergency hospital in Timisoara, Western Romania.
Unexpected snow causes minimal damage in Bordeaux
Snowy conditions have caused minimal vine damage in Bordeaux according to a report released by the Counseil Interprofessionnel du Vin de Bordeaux.
Catena Zapata tops The World's Most Admired Wine Brands 2020
Argentina’s Catena Zapata has topped this year’s list of The World’s Most Admired Wine Brands, conducted in association with market research specialists at Wine Intelligence.
California wineries continue to operate as "essential businesses" while retail sales soar
The Wine Institute of California has argued that wineries are an “essential business” and should be allowed to maintain operations during a lockdown.
Seven new Masters of Wine announced
The Institute of Masters of Wine has announced seven new Masters of Wine, from five countries. The total number of MWs in the world is now 396 in 30 countries.