Charles Sichel, export director at Maison Sichel believes that the development of world wines has driven the quality of Bordeaux to its greatest quality level in history.

Camel Valley, the Cornish wine producer, has been awarded a royal warrant, by Prince Charles, the Prince of Wales. The warrant has been granted for its English sparkling wines.

Chilean wine must move for the premium sector in order to retain its growing reputation, according to Emmanuel Riffaud, general manager at Baron Philippe de Rothschild, Maipo Chile.

Aymeric Pollenne has been crowned Young Sommelier of the Year for Great Britain by Chaîne de Rotisseurs at its awards ceremony at the Dorchester, London on 23 March.

Just three days ago, a trade group representing California’s vintners issued a report showing China was among the top importers of the Golden State’s wine, bringing in almost $79 million worth of U.S. wine last year.

Baron Philippe de Rothschild SA has announced the appointment of Véronique Hombroekx as managing director of its branded wines division.

The Denominación de Origen Calificada Rioja has announced growth in its foreign markets across 130 countries.

China is expected to overtake the UK to become the second most valuable wine market in the world, according to data released by IWSR.

Drinks International's Most Admired Champagne Brands 2018 has launched in digital form. 

The Austrian wine harvest is estimated to be coming in at 2.6m hectoliters, a staggering +36% up on 2016 and +23% above the five-year average.

Romanian wineries are preparing for a big 2018 due to the lower global production forecast for the year.

Cramele Recas, Romania’s largest winery, will launch a variety of new products at ProWein International Trade Fair, 18-20 March, Düsseldorf, Germany.

The CEO of the VSPT Wine Group, Pedro Herane, has become a new board member for Wines of Chile, the trade association which represents viticultural producers in Chile.

Wine Intelligence has announced the appointment of Chris Hancock as its chairman, following David Scotland’s retirement.

Chinese distiller, the Yanghe Distillery Company, has bought a 12.5% stake in the VSPT Wine Group, Chile’s second largest wine producer and exporter.

A near 51% share in Catalan sparkling wine brand Freixenet has been offered to German counterpart Henkell.

The first draft wine delivery company, LoveWineOnTap.com has launched in the UK to serve on-trade outlets.

Port wine has held a consistent stance within the drinks industry for years thanks to its associations with cheese pairing, but now experts within the category want to bring change – starting with the exposure of white port.

New wine merchant Wanderlust Wine has launched in the UK, aiming to supply sustainable wines sourced from small, artisan producers around the world.

Specialist wine importer Hallgarten Druitt & Novum Wines has added 32 new wines to its Burgundy portfolio from seven new producers - bringing the total number of Burgundian producers up to 22.

Ann Colgin, founder of Colgin Cellars, and her husband Joe Wender, have sold a 60% stake in the Napa Valley winery.

The Institute of Masters of Wine has welcomed 18 new Masters of Wine (MWs) to its membership at the Institute’s Annual Awards ceremony in London.

Champagne Pommery has a new wine maker to oversee its September harvest this year. Clément Pierlot, follows in the footsteps of Thierry Gasco, who is now directing Pommery’s new sparkling wine adventures in California, England and the South of France.

The Institute of Masters of Wine (IMW) has announced that Torres, the leading Spanish wine producer has joined its international supporter community.

A new software has been developed for wine professionals to track the production process in real time, increasing the efficiency of large producers.

Distell, the leading South African wine producer, has appointed a new head winemaker who is also a marketing specialist.

Baron Philippe de Rothschild, owners of the Mouton Cadet wine brand has announced that the leading Bordeaux AOC wine, is the official wine of the famous golf tournament, the 2018 Ryder Cup.

Napa Valley, California’s premium wine growing region has, along with neighbouring Sonoma, been severely hit by wildfires, fuelled by high winds last Sunday.

Zonin1821, the major Italian wine producer, has created a wine library concept for boutique hotels, the first being in Edinburgh which opened this week (October 10).

Port Wine day 2017 took place in September and Drinks International was invited to the Douro wine region in Portugal to stay with Vieira de Sousa, a small producer known locally for its white ports.

The vice president of the Alliance des Cru Bourgeois du Médoc believes it is a positive and fair move to extend their examinations to once every five years.

Harpers Wine & Spirit Magazine aditor, Andrew Catchpole is amongst the guest speakers at the first-ever International Bulk Wine and Spirits Show (IBWSS) in February 2018.

Vineyards in Ningxia Hui in north east China have helped the local environment, according to the School of Agriculture, Ningxia University.

Oregon wine trade organisations The Willamette Valley Wineries Association and Oregon Pinot Camp will merge to create a single trade entity for the region’s wine industry.

The export value of New Zealand wine has reached a record high according to the 2017 annual report of New Zealand Winegrowers.

The Rhône Valley wine region has begun this year’s harvest two weeks early due to the current levels of ripe grapes.

The Consejo Regulador de la DOCa Rioja has submitted to pressure and brought in new designations for smaller producers and individual vineyard owners.

UK supermarket chain Asda has appointed a ‘sommeasier’ to simplify the language on wine labels making it easier for consumer to choose a wine.

Sparkling wine sales in the UK grew 12% last year, according to the Wine and Spirit Trade Association’s (WSTA) wine report for 2017.

Moët Hennessy-owned champagne brand, Dom Pérignon has partnered up with delivery company Thirstie in the US to boost distribution.

The New Zealand Geographical Indications (Wine and Spirits) Registration Act has come into force today giving better protection to 18 of the country’s wine regions.

BI wine and spirits merchant has seen total sales increase by 43% to more than £50m in the first half of 2017, of which Asia accounted for 50%.

British talk show host Graham Norton has launched a new vintage for 2017 with New Zealand wine makers Invivo Wines.

Pierre-Henry Gagey, president at Louis Jadot, has announced the acquisition of Burgundian estate, Domaine Prieur-Brunet in Santenay.

The Bolney Wine Estate has won ‘Winery of the Year’ at the inaugural UK Wine Awards, led by Wine Producers’ Julia Trustram Eve and members of the EWP and UK Vineyards Association.

May de Lencquesaing has been awarded the lifetime achievement award at this year’s International Wine Challenge (IWC) following her 40 year career.

May de Lencquesaing has been awarded the lifetime achievement award at this year’s International Wine Challenge (IWC) following her 40 year career.

The two organisations within the UK winesector, United Kingdom Vineyards Association and English Wine Producers, have voted to merge to become one single industry body.

Spain, which claims to be the world’s biggest exporter of wine by volume, needs to add value to both bottled and bulk sales.

Mobile wine app Vivino has discovered that the number of English wines being reviewed has increased by 83% since 2015.