Wine

Pricey: expensive alcohol drives booze value up

Pricey booze steadies wet sales in pubs

By Nicholas Robinson

Expensive alcohol is helping pubs, bars and restaurants to increase or maintain profits from wet sales as consumers look for more premium experiences.

Positive: CAMRA national chair Colin Valentine

CAMRA backs report on health benefits of alcohol

By Nikkie Sutton

The Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) has responded to a study in the British Medical Journal (BMJ) that found moderate drinkers have a lower risk of heart attack, angina and heart failure when compared to teetotallers.

WSTA warns Government over post-Brexit bootlegging

WSTA warns Government over post-Brexit bootlegging

By Georgina Townshend

The Wine and Spirit Trade Association (WSTA) has warned Government that if Brexit talks do not achieve frictionless borders, delays and gridlocks at ports will “encourage the resurgence of alcohol smugglers”.

Duty request: the WSTA wants a cut in wine and spirit duty

BBPA rebukes calls for wine and spirit duty cut

By Liam Coleman

The British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) has dismissed the Wine & Spirit Trade Association (WSTA)'s calls for a cut in wine and spirit duty at the upcoming Budget and reiterated its own call for cuts to beer duty.

Off the wagon: men aren't supportive of women's choice to drink less

Health

Men push women off #DryJanuary wagon

By Nicholas Robinson

Men are more likely to push their female partners off the #DryJanuary wagon, goad them into breaking healthy drinking plans and consume more alcohol than the other way round.

Drinks trends for 2017

Drinks predictions

What 2017 has in store for the drinks category

By Nikkie Sutton

Last year was a mixed bag for the pub trade, from the shockwaves following the ‘Leave’ vote of the EU referendum, to the heavily delayed pubs code and the anguish at the appointment of the US president-elect Donald Trump.

The Drinks List: Top 100 Brands

The Drinks List: Top 100 Brands

By Nicholas Robinson

Drinking habits are changing as consumers are faced with more choice than ever, but in The Morning Advertiser's Drinks List: Top 100 Brands, there is a positive story showing a healthy mix of the long-established mainstream brands sitting alongside...

Drinks Trends: big categories this year and what is to come

Drinks trends

Drinks Trends: what was big in 2016 and what is to come

By Nikkie Sutton

We all know that gin and craft beer are the big movers and shakers in drinks trends right now. But what else is making the ground move for licensees, and what’s around the corner?

We're forever blowing bubbles: Champagne's purpose in the pub

Champagne and sparkling wine

Is Champagne too fancy for pubs?

By Nicholas Robinson

When it comes to a celebration the no-brainer go-to for us Brits has long been a bottle of Champagne. Now it seems we don’t even need an excuse to turn to the bubbly. So if you don’t want to miss out on the action, it may be time to add some extra fizz...

Younger drinkers: Wine needs to target millennials in a different way

Wine

Millennials chugging sparkling wine to unwind

By Nicholas Robinson

Sparkling wine is attracting more Millennial drinkers, who are choosing to drink it after a ‘rough day’ because it is one of the easiest propositions in the category for them to understand.

Post-Brexit wine price fears: a storm brewing or scaremongering?

BREXIT

Post-Brexit wine price fears: a storm brewing or scaremongering?

By Daniel Woolfson

Wine experts have warned that the severe economic uncertainty left by Britain’s vote to leave the EU is likely to disrupt the UK’s wine industry and raise prices. But how tangible will the knock-on effect be on UK pubs and should licensees be worried? 

The ultimate wine guide for pubs

Wine

The Wine Guide – your 101 to wine in pubs

By Nicholas Robinson

It shouldn’t really come as a great surprise that wine doesn’t have it all its own way in the setting of a pub, but growth is singularly lacking and the perceived wisdom is that it should be doing better. In our Wine Guide we take a good look at the on-trade’s...

Bang in season: Chenin Blanc makes Top Shelf

New products

Wine, beer and pumpkin-spiced Baileys

By Nicholas Robinson

Top shelf: Pour a glass of Kleine Zalze Bush Vine’s South African Chenin Blanc and be prepared for a ripe pineapple and guava smack in the nose.

Wine guidance: Greene King initiative

Wine

Greene King helps licensees ‘take the mystery out of wine’

By Nicholas Robinson

Pubco Greene King has launched a free wine and spirits tool kit to help operators drive sales in the categories, which it claims can be challenging for licensees who feel they “lack the expertise” to put together a strong offer.

Rising: sales of Champagne and gin on the up

Spirits and fizz ‘taking over beer’

Spirits and wine make up 50% of drinks sales in new pubs

By Nicholas Robinson

Spirits and wine are giving beer a run for its money, with the two categories now accounting for almost half (49%) of value sales in new pubs, bars and restaurants.

Sell up: Upgrade customers to Champagne over Christmas for a better experience

Spirits

New Star Wars film ‘kept people out of the pub’ at Christmas

By Nicholas Robinson

Stormy weather, Christmas markets and the new Star Wars film kept punters out of the pub last Christmas, according to Pernod Ricard’s UK (PRUK) on-trade channel director Ian Peart. But those who made it to the bar did spend more.

Profit booster: reap the rewards of a premium drinks offer

Premium

Top-end tipples: premiumise your drinks offer

By Nicholas Robinson

With the premium drinks category now worth more to the on-trade than ever before, here’s how you can take stock of your offer and navigate the busy waters of products on offer, Michelle Perrett reports

Wine courses that will make bar staff wizards of wine

Training

Wine courses that will make bar staff wizards of wine

By Liam Coleman

Wine can be a daunting thing for bar staff if you don’t drink the stuff. When a customer asks for a full-bodied red or a fruity white, there is often panic in the eyes of the bar staff. We’ve found three companies that offer introductory wine training...

'Craft' means nothing: Chapel Down CEO on 'messianic' modern brewing

'Craft' means nothing, says Chapel Down CEO

By Daniel Woolfson

A ‘messianic’ approach to making drinks separates modern brewers and winemakers from their more traditional counterparts, according to the leading English wine producer. 

Trade failing consumers' wine expectations

Wine

Pubs’ wine offers ‘off the mark’

By Nicholas Robinson

Pubs are not hitting the mark when it comes to meeting consumers’ wine needs, but could easily boost sales by making simple changes to their offer, according to Crown Cellars’ first on-trade wine report.

PMA licensee poll: Brexit or Bremain?

Brexit

PMA licensee poll: Brexit or Bremain?

By Mike Berry

In just over a week the electorate of the United Kingdom will make its biggest decision in modern political history - to stay in the EU or leave.

Creating the perfect pub wine list

TOP 50 GASTROPUBS

Liquid assets: curating a perfect gastropub wine list

By Daniel Woolfson

Do you know your Chapelle-Chambertin from your Corton-Charlemagne? Daniel Woolfson sits down for a tipple with the gastropub operator whose passion for wine is propelling trade to new heights