BWS online sales hold up ‘remarkably well’

Online beer, wine and spirits (BWS) sales rose 7.5% in May, bucking the downward trend recorded across the majority of FMCG categories.  

WoSA unveils new digital platform

Wines of South Africa (WoSA) has launched a new digital marketplace — Wines of South Africa Gateway — pitched as a single tool for the country’s producers to interact with the trade globally.

One-month delay to restrictions lifting would cost hospitality £3bn

UK Hospitality (UKH) has warned that a one-month delay to Covid restrictions lifting would cost the hospitality sector around £3bn in sales.

On-trade groups report 26% sales dip in May

Britain’s managed bar, restaurant and pub groups recorded a 26% drop in total sales in May compared with the same month in 2019, according to the latest edition of the Coffer CGA Business Tracker.

New Zealand vintage 'exceptional' but down 19%

The quality of the 2021 vintage has been described as "exceptional" throughout New Zealand’s wine regions, although the harvest was smaller than hoped for, according to New Zealand Winegrowers (NZW).

Hospitality predicted to bounce back and exceed 2019 sales in 2022

The total eating and drinking out market is expected to see 44.7% YOY growth in 2022, the equivalent value of almost £92bn and surpassing its 2019 value growth as pent up demand is set to give the sector a boost in its recovery from the pandemic.

2020 Bordeaux ‘highest scoring vintage ever’ at top end

Based on a basket of 115 top wines, the 2020 Bordeaux vintage has been awarded the highest scores ever by Wine Lister’s partner critics.

Retail gin sales hit all time high

Sales of gin in the retail sector have continued to soar during the pandemic, up 30% over the past 12 months.

Journey’s End Foundation reaches milestone of 500,000 charitable meals

Stellenbosch based winery Journey’s End has surpassed the remarkable milestone of providing 500,000 free meals to their local community with the aim of serving up one million meals by the end of 2021.

Franciacorta webinar: Adding a Splash of Italian Style

With sparkling wine in growth in the UK and consumers becoming ever more adventurous in their drinking habits, Harpers is teaming up with Consorzio Franciacorta for a webinar exploring the possibilities offered both by Italy’s foremost sparkling wine and the broader sparkling category.

Long Read: Accolade shakes up its global fine wine strategy

Alliance appoints two new board members

Alliance Wine has added two new members to its board of directors, effective immediately.

Domaine Lafage unveils sparkling rosé fermented with beer yeast

Roussillon producer Domaine Lafage has launched a sparkling rosé in the UK, marking the first such wine to emerge from the French region, according to the producer.

Cava in the round

DO Cava has announced a series of educational webinars aimed at UK and US trade and communicators as part of its 2021 marketing campaign.

Prosecco partners with Eataly

Consorzio of Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCG has partnered with Italian gourmet superstore Eataly.

Fine Wines Direct UK adds Thorn-Clarke

Fine Wines Direct UK has signed an exclusive distribution deal with Barossa producer Thorn-Clarke Wines in the UK.

Start-up Propeller brings The Rolland Collection to the UK

Indies distribution incubator Propeller is bringing The Rolland Collection to the UK as it continues to grows its model-defying footprint. 

Banks brothers launch premium canned wine brand

The trio behind Michelin-starred restaurants The Black Swan and Roots, brothers Tommy and James Banks and business partner Matt Lockwood, have launched their own range of premium canned wines.

Webinar: Exploring alternative premium whites

Modern food styles and lifestyles often naturally lend themselves to white wine, but is the trade doing enough to encourage consumers to trade up and seek out a wider variety of premium white choices or is the premium spotlight more typically shone on reds? And when customers do trade up within whites, is that limited to just a handful of usual suspects rather than embracing the global wealth of premium possibilities?

Rousset and Pineau extend partnership with new bar

Xavier Rousset MS and bar owner Steve Pineau have teamed up again, this time to open a new prohibition style bar named Nocturne.