Top bargains for independents at Harpers #winedealfriday

Independents in the UK on and off trades merchants can bag great wine bargains today and every Friday, as Harpers Wine & Spirit launches #winedealfriday on social network Twitter.

Scotch whisky exports up 17%

Italian wine Canti launches £1 million ad campaign

Closures firm spends €11 million on new plant

Spanish bar group Camino plans two new sites

The London-based Spanish bar group Camino is planning to open two new venues in 2011.

Sterling hits nine-month high against US dollar

Sterling hit a nine-month high against the US dollar yesterday after stronger than expected services sector data.

New chief winemaker for Craggy Range

Casillero reduces footprint of the Diablo

Chilean wine producer Casillero del Diablo is on a mission to reduce its carbon footprint with the introduction of the Ecoglass lightweight bottle.

UK finalists chosen for Disaronno cocktail competition

The full line-up of bartenders representing the UK in the Disaronno Mixing Star international competition has now been confirmed following the third and final leg of the UK castings.

Sterling falls with gloomy UK outlook

Sterling fell to one-week lows against the euro and US dollar as investors reacted to the gloomy outlook in the UK.

Bread firm to bid for Cape wine giant

South African wine and spirit producer KWV is the subject of takeover speculation, with Pioneer Food expected to make a bid.

Burlesque star unveils Cointreau beauty kit

Burlesque star Dita Von Teese has unveiled a limited edition beauty and cocktail kit 'My Private Cointreau Coffret'.

Better-than-expected economic data strengthens sterling

Campo Viejo ramping up tapas campaign

Spanish wine brand Campo Viejo is ramping up its Viva el vino tapas campaign in the on-trade after the success of last year's marketing push.

Third pub for ex-Bibendum chief

Off-licence link to binge drinking

A study has claimed that problem drinking is worsened in areas where off-licences proliferate.

Cognac launches iPhone app

A new mobile phone application for Cognac has been launched by the region's generic body, the BNIC.

Reserve Brands behind festive premium spirits

Diageo GB's luxury spirits division will be investing in an extensive programme of initiatives across its portfolio to help retailers boost their premium spirits sales this Christmas.

UK credit rating outlook stabilizes

Sterling had a poor start to the week on concerns over further Quantitative Easing that were hanging over the pound following last week's relatively negative Bank of England minutes. This saw sterling hit a seven month low of €1.1184/£1 against the euro on Monday. However, Tuesday's GDP figures of 0.8% beat expectations and the UK credit rating outlook upgraded to "stable" from "negative" following spending review.

Glenfiddich releases Snow Phoenix whisky

Glenfiddich is releasing a new whisky, Snow Phoenix, to mark the dramatic events of January this year when heavy snow caused some of its warehouse roofs to collapse.