Wine

Right thing to do: WSTA calls for duty cut in Spring Budget (Credit: Getty/Carlo Prearo)

WSTA: 'duty cut would offer much-needed boost'

By Rebecca Weller

The Wine and Spirit Trade Association (WSTA) has called on the Chancellor to cut wine and spirit duty to combat both falling sales volumes and reduced revenue to the Exchequer ahead of the Spring Budget in March.

De minimis nonsense: operators brand the introduction of pints of wine in pubs as

Pint of wine sales 'distraction from real issues'

By Rebecca Weller

Operators across the sector have branded the concept of selling pints of wine in the on-trade as a “peculiar distraction” from more pressing issues and an attempt to “scrape” some “benefit” to Brexit.

Bibendum wine report 2024: key trends pubs need to know (Credit: Getty/AtlasStudio)

Bibendum top wine trends for 2024

By Rebecca Weller

Close to nine out of 10 consumers would recommend a venue where they rated the wine offering as “very good or excellent”.

Drinks Masterclass: Lee Isaacs looks at ways for pubs to improve wine offering (Credit: Getty/Jetta Productions Inc)

DRINKS MASTERCLASS

Pubs need to 'stand out from the crowd' when it comes to wine

By Rebecca Weller

Kickstarting the latest series of The Morning Advertiser’s Drinks Masterclass, we've looked at trends within the wine category and how operators can “stand out from the crowd” to encourage consumers to explore wine lists and boost sales.

Drinks Recovery Tracker: drinks sales in decline for second week in a row but wine sales up (Credit: Getty/SolStock)

Drinks sales in decline for second consecutive week

By Rebecca Weller

Wine sales saw a surge as the weather cooled despite drinks sales in the on-trade falling year-on-year for a second week in a row, the latest Drinks Recovery Tracker from CGA by NIQ has revealed.

Story time: Heath Ball at the Red Lion & Sun writes stories about wines rather than tasting notes (credit: Getty/SolStock)

FEATURE: Wine

FEATURE: Let your pub shine with wine

By Michelle Perrett

There are some fantastic pubs serving amazing wines in the UK – but the pub sector does have some challenges to overcome in the category because it has a reputation for being focused on developing its beer menus rather than targeting wine sales.

Outgoing CEO: David Forde saw C&C Group through the troubled Covid-19 period

David Forde quits as CEO at C&C

By Gary Lloyd

Drinks company C&C Group has announced David Forde is to step down from his role as chief executive and will cease to be a director with immediate effect – but will be available to help ensure a smooth handover of responsibilities.

Drinks Recovery Tracker: beer, cider, soft drinks and spirits categories in decline as wine sales grow (Credit: Getty/5PH)

Wine sales climb while all other categories fall

By Rebecca Weller

Drinks sales were down across almost all measured categories in the seven days to Saturday 15 April, the latest Drinks Recovery Tracker from CGA by NIQ's has revealed.

Deep disappointment: Drinks companies react to the Spring Budget (Getty/ andresr)

SPRING BUDGET 2023

Duty hike ‘bitter blow’ for drinks firms

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

The Chancellor announced wine drinkers would be hit by the biggest single duty rise in almost 50 years at yesterday’s Spring Budget, leaving the sector “deeply disappointed”.

Temporary situation: C&C Group customers unable to place orders for several weeks due to system upgrades

C&C Group clients unable to place orders for weeks

By Rebecca Weller

Customers of drinks distributor C&C Group have been struggling to order stock for several weeks due to “major system upgrades”, forcing some operators to “waste time” scrambling between high-street shops to avoid shortages.

Sip and sing: Robbie Williams has reportedly set plans in motion to launch a range of drinks (Getty/ kunst-mp)

Robbie Williams plans to launch drinks range

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Robbie Williams is reportedly set to rival former Take That bandmate Gary Barlow in the beverage business through launching his own drinks range.

Win-win: Majestic Wine announces price freezes for trade customers until Spring 2023 (Credit: Getty/Franek Strzeszewski)

Majestic freezes trade prices

By Rebecca Weller

Majestic Wine has announced price freezes for its on-trade partners until spring next year.

Alcohol-free offer: the roll out will start in 10 of city Pub Group's 45 sites before being expanded further next year

City Pub Group offering alcohol-free wine

By Nikkie Thatcher

Multiple operator City Pub Group has revealed it will launch alcohol-free wine Noughty across a number of its pubs from the new year, with plans to expand the roll out across 2023.

New products: this week's round-up features new serves from Ridgeview, Devon Cove, and Adnams

NEW PRODUCT'S ROUND-UP

Ridgeview announces new sparkling red

By Rebecca Weller

This week's round-up features a new limited-edition serve from Ridgeview and a debut single malt series from Scapegrace Distillery alongside a unique new beer from Scotland.

Planning ahead: Next year's drinks trends unveiled (Getty/ The Good Brigade)

Drinks trends 2023 revealed

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Manzanillia, South African Straw wine and saline cocktail flavours are the top drinks trends for 2023, according to premium wine specialist Bibendum.

What are the best selling drinks brands of 2022

Drinks List 2023

The Drinks List – top brands to stock in 2023

By The Morning Advertiser

This year’s Drinks List has seen great strides forward in terms of volume and value sales versus last year because the on-trade has been operating on a much better basis than during the heavily restrictive phases of the pandemic.

Uncorked: The future of wine is glass (Getty/ Luis Alvarez)

Glass wine bottles are here to stay

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

Glass bottles are vital to the cultural “magic” of wine which needs to be protected, despite sustainability concerns, according to experts.

New products: this week's round up features new serves from NICE wine and Edinburgh Gin

NEW PRODUCTS ROUND-UP

NICE wine now available on tap

By Rebecca Weller

This week's round-up features wine on tap and new RTD serves from Edinburgh Gin while Three Wrens enters the rum category.

New products round up: this week's list features new serves from Beavertown, Anspach & Hobday and Tempus Two

NEW PRODUCTS ROUND-UP

Pasqua wine estate launches two organic wines

By Rebecca Weller

This week's round-up features two new organic wines from Pasqua wine estate alongside new products from Beavertown, Anspach & Hobday, Tempus Two and Gyre & Gimble.

Free pdf download on spirits and wines for pubs

free pdf download

Let spirits and wine do the work for you

By Gary Lloyd

Spirits and wine sales at pubs are making a massive comeback – so you could be missing a trick if you don’t make sure your offer includes these favourites.

(Credit: Getty/Instants)

spirits & wine report

FEATURE: Make spirits and wine work for you

By Gary Lloyd

You’ve got your lovely range of craft beers, scrumptious cask ales and ever-popular mainstream pints and cracking ciders on the bar but something’s missing… sort out your spirits and wines and you’ve pretty much got it perfect.

How pubs can improve their wine offer

Opinion

How to improve your wine offer

By Heath Ball, MD of Frisco Group

Pubs and wine are not always a match made in heaven, as The MA recently explored in the last episode of the Lock In podcast.

The Morning Advertiser Lock In Podcast episode 38

The Lock In Podcast

Why are pubs so bad at wine?

By Ed Bedington

When it comes to beer and spirits, pubs are ahead of the curve, but why do they let the side down on wine so often?

What has happened to the New Zealand wine supply?

NZ Sauvignon supplies a 'disaster'

By Ed Bedington

Pub operators are being urged to look to alternative Sauvignon Blanc supplies after the New Zealand vintage was described as a “disaster”.

Will pubs face wine supply issues for Christmas?

Pubs set to face wine supply issues

By Michelle Perrett

Pubs could be facing issues with wine supplies in the lead up to Christmas, leading wine bosses have revealed.

What’s in the news 29 July

Review of the Week

Pingdemic fuels no-show excuses and wine woes

By Ed Bedington

The Morning Advertiser’s Ed Bedington and Frisco Group managing director Heath Ball reflect on the week’s headlines and how the pingdemic is ratcheting up and fuelling no shows.

'Good news': 'The benefits of a tariff-free, quota-free UK-Australia trade deal are great news for British producers exporting English wine and spirts to Australia,' Miles Beale, chief executive of the WSTA said

UK/Australia trade deal to save UK wine businesses £16m, claims WSTA

By The Morning Advertiser

The first major trade deal negotiated by the Government since the UK left the EU has been welcomed by the Wine and Spirit Trade Association (WSTA) for reducing costs for drinks businesses and positive knock-on effects for hospitality firms.