Chardonnay

Rising up: non-Champagne sparkling wine volume was up by a third and value sales by 27% in the first half of last year (CGA)

Shifting world wine trends

By Nigel Huddleston

The winds of change are blowing through the world of wines as factors ranging from currency fluctuations to weather-impacted harvest levels cause both suppliers and consumers to look beyond stereotypical options to new markets and styles.

In demand: more than 26m bottles of sparkling wine and Champagne were sold in the on-trade in 2017

Brexit threat to sparkling wine sales boom

By James Beeson

The UK’s sparkling wine sector has seen sales almost double in the last five years, according to the latest statistics from the Wine and Spirit Trade Association (WSTA).

Top of the wines: 10 of the biggest sellers

The Drinks List: Top Brands To Stock 2018

The Drinks List: Top Wines

By Nicholas Robinson

In broad terms, the wine category is in decline but the category is too complex to be explained in a sweeping statement.

Diverse: the bolstered range includes Champagnes and other sparkling wines, as well as reds and whites from across the world

Matthew Clark expands wine range

By James Beeson

Drinks distributor Matthew Clark has added 83 new wines to its portfolio, following extended research on emerging trends.

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.

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 predictions for 2016

Wine predictions for 2016

By Ben Winstanley

As wine continues to rise in popularity both in the on-trade and home markets, what does 2016 have in store? Crown Cellars wine vendors share their predictions for the year ahead.

Back bar bulletin

Back bar bulletin

By Ben Winstanley

Spirits to softs and cocktails to cider, your essential round-up of what's hot on the back bar.

Wine and food matching guide released

Wine and food matching guide released

By Daniel Woolfson

Pernod Ricard-owned wine brand Jacob’s Creek has released a new guide to snack and wine pairing as research suggests increasing customer interest.

Champagne

Five minute guide to Champagne, Prosecco and Cava

By Matt Walls

It may, in the past, have been associated with indulgence and special occasions, but all that is changing. Sparkling wine is now the fastest growing drinks category in the country, and as Matt Walls points out, it shows no signs of slowing down.

Have flutes lost their fizz?

Have flutes lost their fizz?

By Stephensons

Sparkling wines have always been popular with the British, and Prosecco has recently risen to the top of the class. Until now, the drink has typically been served in a Champagne flute, but with the rise of the tipple may come the crashing of the glass...

Hardys Five Generations of Devotion

Chardonnay comes back into fashion

By Robyn Black

Accolade Wines, maker of Hardys and Echo Falls, is hoping to rid the world of the ABC (anything but Chardonnay) crowd with a new campaign to revive the misunderstood varietal.

New Lindemans wine ad 2013

Video: Lindeman's launches new global campaign

By Robyn Black

An ambitious £1m global campaign for Australian wine brand Lindeman’s has been unveiled, as part of a bid to take on the might of Hardys and Jacob’s Creek.

CGA Strategy wine and spirits

On-trade beer volumes hit as wine and liqueurs grow

By John Harrington

On-trade alcohol sales fell 1% by value in the 12 weeks to 13 July despite a 6% drop in volumes, according to CGA figures in a new report that lists malt whisky and liqueurs among the growth categories over the period.

Pannier Brut Rose

Jascots seals Pannier deal

By Matthew Moggridge

Jascots, the on-trade specialist wine merchant, has formed a partnership with Champagne Pannier to distribute its range throughout the UK.

WaverlyTBS: wine focus

WaverleyTBS' wine focus

By Robyn Black

WaverleyTBS this week unveiled a revamped portfolio, which includes 160 new wines, and announced it will freeze prices on 240 of its 700 wines. The...

Matthew Clark: new wines

200 new wines on Matthew Clark wine list

By Graham Ridout

Matthew Clark has sourced 200 new varieties in its 2011/2012 wine list — with additions from Argentina, South Africa and California.

Australian wines: untapped market in UK

Bowl them over with Aussie wine

By Robyn Black

The Australian wine category is faltering in the UK on-trade. Robyn Black says pubs should exploit what is a huge, and largely untapped, opportunity.

Fish: choose wines carefully

Food and drink matching: fish

By Fiona Sims

Fiona Sims looks at how licensees can boost drinks sales by recommending to go with different fish.

Robinson: keeping wines affordable

Wine offer: start with a blank slate

By MA Reporter

The Galphay Inn in North Yorkshire had been shut for two years, but new owner Sue Robinson is building a successful wine offer.

Montana: changing to Brancott Estate

Montana's major revamp

By Robyn Black

New Zealand wine brand Montana will be ditching its name from October this year, to reappear as Brancott Estate. Brand-owner Pernod Ricard is making...

Curry: Bibendum target market

Bibendum eyes curry market

By Robyn Black

Wine supplier Bibendum has signed up an Indian winery to try and crack the curry market. Grover Vineyards is based an hour's drive north of...

Argentinian night: big hit at the Fishes

Peach pub hosts Argentinian steak night

By Lesley Foottit

Peach Pub the Fishes in North Hinksey, Oxford, hosted an Argentinian wine and steak night. Wines of Argentina and the Argentinian Beef Promotion...

Bollinger: counterfeit bottles in London

Counterfeit Bollinger in London

By Lesley Foottit

Bottles of counterfeit Bollinger Special Cuvée champagne have been appearing in the London area. Champagne Bollinger's UK agent Mentzendorff &...