UK Wine Show 8 James Ellis from Ellis of Richmond

We talk to James Ellis of Ellis of Richmond, supplier of wine to the independent restaurant trade, and pick up tips on what to look out for on wine lists.

UK Wine Show 9 Wine buyer Mathew Cooper from Ellis of Richmond

This week is the second in a three part series looking behind the scenes at restaurant wines. Matthew Cooper, wine buyer at Ellis of Richmond, reveals some of the differences between restaurant and supermarket wines.

UK Wine Show 17 The UK Wine Consumer, Richard Halstead of Wine Intelligence

Richard Halstead of Wine Intelligence provides an insight into how UK consumers approach wine, revealing our attitudes and behaviour when it comes to buying and drinking the stuff.

UK Wine Show 118 Stephen Skelton on the UK Vineyards Guide 2008

Stephen Skelton MW is an expert on English wine and author of the UK Vineyards Guide 2008. We find out about the book and what's changed on the UK wine scene since the last edition was published in 2001.

UK Wine Show 168 Ian Edwards of the UKVA

Ian Edwards of the United Kingdom Vintners Association talks to us about the EU wine reforms and how the changes will affect UK vineyards.

UK Wine Show 193 Jamie Hutchinson of The Sampler

Jamie Hutchinson owns the award winning wine shop The Sampler in Islington, London. We find out about his concept for sampling and selling wine and his plans for expansion.

UK Wine Show 245 Ian Meadows on Roman vineyards in the UK

In this second interview with archaeologist Ian Meadows we find out about the excavation of the first proven Roman vineyard in the Nene Valley, Northampton.

2005 Bordeaux soaring in value since release, says Berry Bros & Rudd

Berry Bros & Rudd is finding cases of Bordeaux 2005 that it sold ‘en primeur’ have increased in value more than any other vintage between harvest and being shipped to the UK

English Wine Week gathers interest

English Wine Week, the countrywide campaign to promote English wines and vineyards, kicks off on Saturday 24th May.

Bulk wine importing and lighter bottles benefiting the environment

CO2 emissions have been cut by over 28,000 tonnes a year as a result of WRAP’s GlassRite Wine initiative.

British set to be biggest wine spenders in Europe

UK drinkers are predicted to become the biggest European spenders on wine within the next three years.

NZ wine bounty grows by 39%

New Zealand’s grape harvest has come in 39% bigger than last year.

Asda selling French wine by the vin-load

French wine is back in fashion with consumers at Asda

UK government supports SA carbon study

The UK government is to help fund research into the carbon footprint of the South African wine and fruit industry.

New book details all the UK's vineyards

Another of this year’s handful of books on English wine has just been published.

Prestige fizz getting pricier

Prices of top Champagnes are shooting up despite the economy heading the other way.

Drinkers set world record sip

Wetherspoon has broken the record for the world’s largest wine tasting.

Drinkers set world record sip

Wetherspoon has broken the record for the world’s largest wine tasting.

ThirtyFifty launches tastings in Oz

UK tasting company ThirtyFifty is launching down under.

Drink drive fatalities down as motorists face random breath tests

Fatalities resulting from drink-drive accidents fall by 18% as survey could prompt random breath testing

Oz and James drink to Britain

Oz Clarke and James May will be back on our screens in January with a new BBC TV series 'Oz and James Drink to Britain'.

American wine overtakes France

American wine sales have overtaken French wine sales in the UK for the first time ever.

British Government rejects minimum pricing

A recommendation by UK chief medical officer Sir Liam Donaldson to impose a minimum price on alcoholic drinks of 50p per unit in England and Wales has been rejected by prime minister Gordon Brown.

English Wine Week 23-31 May

English Wine Week will begin on 23rd May, a countrywide campaign to promote English wines.

London gets new vineyard

London's first commercial vineyard has been planted at Forty Hall Organic Farm in the London Borough of Enfiel

All change at Nyetimber

English sparkling wine producer Nyetimber has appointed a new sales manager Francis Brackley.

Low alcohol wine ban is lifted

British consumers will soon be able to purchase a low alcohol wine 2 years after it was banned by the French government.

Wine sales show signs of recovery

The still light wine market may be showing the first signs of recovery with volumes up 2%.

English wine harvest in full swing

The harvest is well underway in English vineyards with producers reporting healthy yields, high sugars and balanced acidity in the grapes.

Majestic sales are up

Majestic's half-year trading figures show its change in strategy to reduce minimum purchases to 6 bottles seems to be paying off. Like-for-like sales increased by 5.4% and pre-tax profits were up 9% to £6.1 million over the period.

Majestic sued by wine writer

Wine writer Martin Isark has issued a writ against Majestic Wine, claiming damages believed to be in the region of £50,000.

Sub £10 Champagne

Lidl cuts the price of Champagne to under £10 a bottle and other supermarkets discount heavily.

Wickham Vineyard buys 14 First Quench stores

Hampshire based Wickham Vineyard has stepped in to save 14 off-licences from closure following the collapse of the First Quench group.

Majestic sales surge

Majestic Wine saw a surge in sales of 11.7% over the Christmas period after the collapse of First Quench in November.

Prosecco laws leave M&S without fizz

A new EU law that came into force in August last year has caught out Marks and Spencer with their Rosecco brand.

Laithwaites opens flagship store

Laithwaites opens flagship store at Vinopolis with a focus on fine wine.

English wine more than doubles

Production of English and Welsh wine more than doubled in 2009 to 2.5 million litres.

English wine week is 29 May-6 June

English Wine Week kicks off this week from Saturday 29th May to Sunday 6th June with a countrywide campaign to promote English wines.

UK drinking habits changing

Reports shows changes in the habits of UK wine drinkers and alcohol consumption across the UK.

English & Welsh Wine Competition results

More medals than ever before were handed out this week at the English & Welsh Wine of the Year Competition.

UK picks wine by grape variety and promotional offers

The grape variety is now just as important as promotions when it comes to buying wine in the UK.

Wine Rack back in business with 21st store opening

Almost 2 years after the collapse of First Quench and its Threshers and Wine Rack off licences, Wine Rack opens 21st store.

Camilla is next president of UK Vineyards Association

Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall has taken over the role of President of the United Kingdom Vineyards Association (UKVA).

England riots affect the drinks trade

The riots this week affected the drinks trade with off licences, bars and restaurants directly under attack from looters

Government bottles opportunity to send price signals to UK drinkers

UK Government deny considering levying higher taxes on more alcoholic wines.

Money is tight in the UK but you can still go out, just spend less.

Leisure industry report shows that consumers are going out more regularly but spending less.

Quick the French are coming!

Pierson Whitaker Grand Cru Champagne house has partnered with English landowners in Hampshire to produce a sparkling wine called Meonhill.

Minimum pricing plans may have little impact on wine

A report reveals that only 5% of wines are currently being sold in supermarkets at below the proposed minimum price of 40 pence per unit of alcohol that the UK government is planning to introduce.

Olympics hits wine business hard

The London 2012 Olympics has failed to bring extra custom to central London as Londoners have stayed away, heeding messages from Transport for London to keep the transport system moving and avoid gridlock.

Survey shows Olympics a disaster for London restaurant trade

London restaurants hit by Olympics with trade down 40% on average.

Weather puts high pressure on wine harvest pricing

Smaller harvests in Northern Hemisphere could put pressure on prices

UK has fourth highest prices for alcohol in Europe, blame the tax!

Duty Escalator is the biggest factor contributing to UK consumers paying more for alcohol than other EU countries.

Is the demand for low alcohol wine only in the eyes of producers?

Morrisons man argues it is suppliers not consumers that are driving low alcohol wine market.

Alcohol related crime collapses over the last 15 years

Better town partnerships and a society less tolerant of anti-social behaviour attributed to fall in alcohol related crime.

More Sparkle in the UK

Uplift of fizz sales in the UK driven by Prosecco

Bucks Fizz rules the roost at Christmas

Waitrose survey reveals what Brits will mostly be drinking over Christmas

UK first female only wine list

Women only wine list

Are the middle classes drinking themselves to death?

Liver Disease on the increase in UK affluent areas.

UK wine lists controlled by a few

On-Trade wine supply controlled by 30 suppliers in the UK

What Brits are drinking when out

Report shows which wines Brits are drinking when out.

Jackanory and Gin?

Hospitality trade told to stock up

What's hot, what's not in the wine world?

Australia, New Zealand and Prosecco grow at the cost of traditional rivals

What are we drinking in the UK ?

Drinks Business UK Wine Sales Analysis

More brits consider themselves wine buffs

Co-op survey reveals shoppers feeling more confident about their wine choice

Scottish courts back minimum pricing

Plans to set a minimum price for alcohol in Scotland have been backed by the Scottish courts.

The rise of indepedence

Increase in independent wine shops in the UK

California exports value rise as volumes fall

California exports value rise as volumes fall, but exports to the UK are up despite currency headwinds.

Chile could become the UK's 2nd biggest exporter of wine by 2020

Vinexpo research predicts Chile will become the number 2 supplier of wine in the UK by 2020.

Brown Brothers pull out of the unforgiving UK market

Australian producer Brown Brothers has pulled out of the UK market after struggling to make in-roads.

The UK’s vineyards are to expand by 24% this summer as 3 million vines go into the ground.

The UK's largest planting season so far has been announced, making the UK the fastest growing wine region in the world.

Most people drinking the same amount during Covid-19 lockdown

As headlines claim we are drinking more during lockdown, what are the facts.

What is the UK up to when buying wine

Online sales of beer, wine and spirits up 78% in the last 4 weeks in the UK, but UK wineries are losing cellar door sales.

UK vineyard news with expansions, adaptations and a late spring frost

UK wineries adapt but are punished with a late spring frost as Rathfinny and Nyetimber continue their expansions throughout 2020.

UK Government publishes wine tariff rates for post-Brexit trade

The UK Government's 'simplified' post-Brexit tax still has three separate taxes on wines imported, as they release new UK tariff rates.

Australia’s exports to the UK are down 7% on last year, but is Australia a covid-19 wine winner?

Australia’s exports to the UK were 7% down by $356m Aus (£194m) for the year ending in April, but for January to April the imports were up 3%.

UK Hospitality on lockdown until July and Napa wineries open

The UK Hospitality sector will remain closed till at least the 4th July according to UK Business Secretary.

Seltzers are growing fast in the USA and are being positioned as the drink for 2021 in the UK.

Hard seltzers are flavoured carbonated water with alcohol added and the category has seen huge growth in the US in the last year with brands now looking to launch in the UK in 2021.

Brexit negotiations are back into full swing as Britain prepares to leave the EU trade partnership

Britain’s trade deals are back underway as negotiation with the EU stalls, other trade partners hope that the UK will look at trade with a fresh attitude.

UK government started free trade agreement negotiations with Australia and New Zealand

Free trade agreement negotiations have started with Australia and separately with New Zealand. Both are very important non-EU wine suppliers to the UK.

Does the UK wine scene lack diversity?

A new survey suggests that the UK wine trade may lack diversity with only 14% of those in the trade surveyed claiming a non white ethnicity

WineGB announce Sustainable Wineries certification

The UK has announced the creation of Sustainable Wines of Great Britain (SWGB).

UK scales backs social gatherings while South Africa is seeing the rise of bootleggers

The Rule of 6 limits social gatherings in the UK, while South Africa's on/off ban on alcohol sales has seen the rise of modern day bootleggers.

UK plays whack-a-mole with Covid lockdown

The UK government's plan to avoid a second national lockdown by creating a three-tier system is lambasted as not enough by the government's own scientific advisors, while some in the hospitality industry say it goes too far.

UK vineyards are in a prime position to take on apprentices, but will they?

Plumpton College has offered up to 10 spaces for their new wine apprenticeship scheme, with 95% of costs paid for by the UK government.

Whatever happens with Brexit, European wines will become more expensive

With Brexit negotiations still ongoing, having missed a number of deadlines, some things are certain - the new paperwork for importing wines from Europe will increase costs, limit choice and hit the fine wine market hard.

UK hospitality turnover drops by over 50% in 2020

The hard hit sector in 2019 was worth £133.5bn but in 2020 this had shrunk to £61.7bn

UK Wine Merchants boom in online sales has led to a shortage of cardboard

Beige Gold is how some merchants have described cardboard. The essential packaging material for shipping bottles is in short supply.

Sutton Coldfield shop loses licence to sell alcohol after counterfeit wines found on the premises

KVK Supermarket in Sutton Coldfield lost its licence to sell alcohol after trading standards were called in when shoppers complained of strange tasting wines from Casella Brands, the people behind Yellow tail.

The beginning of the end for Lockdown Britain as Government publishes road map out of Covid crisis

The government will announce on February 22nd its plans for the UK to leave lockdown and for ending all Covid-19 restrictions.

Debt the big headache for hospitality

The UK government's £50k bounce back loan scheme may have saved many businesses but will restrict bounce back recovery.

UK road map out of Covid-19 published

The UK government published its long-awaited path out of Covid lockdown this week. The long slow release of the lockdown is hoped, alongside vaccinations, to ensure that the UK does not require another full lockdown.

Introduction of the VI-1 form for European wines delayed until December 2021

The VI-1 form is an import document that many in the wine industry do not believe is needed.

UK Government announces Deposit Return Scheme

Returning bottles for cash will be launched in 2024 in England, Wales & northern Ireland. Scotland scheme is due to launch in July 2022.

UK Hospitality partially open from 12th April

The next big step for the UK, easing out of a lockdown that began before Christmas, will be to allow pubs and restaurants to open for outdoor service on Monday 12th April.

UK pubs with outdoor space opened this Monday and on Tuesday sales were up on last year

Like-for-like sales were up 59% on the same time last year, but with only 38% of pubs having an outdoor space it is small beer in the big scheme of things.

UK lockdown restrictions are easing on the 17th May

The UK, Scotland and Welsh governments all confirmed that restrictions on Hospitality were to ease on Monday the 17th May as planned.

The truth about the second cheapest bottle on a restaurant being the worst value

A study by the American Association of Wine Economists looked at London restaurants to answer the question of whether they put extra mark up on the second cheapest wine, knowing many people will order it not wanting to look cheap.

Trade deals away, UK does free trade deal with Australia

UK trade deal will save up to 9p for a bottle of Aussie wine

75% of UK pubs and restaurants open by the end of May

The number of licensed venues in the UK more than doubled from 32.9% in April to 76.2% in May, but still 25,000 licensed premises remained closed.

Australian wine exports to the UK leapt by 16% by volume in the 2020-21 financial year

Australia has seen a surge in UK wine sales over the Covid lockdown, with wine exports to the UK leaping by 16% by volume in the 2020-21 financial year.

Government will drop red tape for all wine imports

VI-1 forms which were set to be expanded to all EU wines following Brexit, will now be dropped for all wine saving an estimated £130 million in red tape.

UK government is considering a 25% tariff on imported US wine

The proposed tariff is a belated escalation of the trade dispute started when Donald Trump slapped 25% tariffs on steel imports into the US.

Experienced UK wine drinkers prefer screw caps

Older drinkers prefer screw caps while younger drinkers are more inclined to prefer cork in the UK.

UK chef James Martin launches own wines

James Martin, best known in the UK for the Saturday Kitchen TV show, has teamed up with Wine and Brands to launch a new range of wines.

Prince Charles claims he runs his Aston Martin sports car on English wine & cheese

The fuel that powers his Aston Martin DB6 is mainly ethanol, loved by racing car drivers for its performance and can be created using waste food including English wine & cheese

Trade deal with New Zealand opens the path of slightly cheaper Sauvignon Blanc, if you can find any

The recent trade deal announced by Britain with New Zealand will see wine and primary produce such as lamb meat exported to the UK while New Zealand has dropped barriers to UK goods, primarily manufactured goods such as cars and farm equipment.

Trains to power Britain’s Christmas wine supply as HGV shortage continues

The lack of drivers may be a serious problem for moving wine around the UK in the build up to Christmas, but trains are coming to the rescue.

And the most popular wines in the UK are...

A survey of the UK's most popular wines gives some pause for thought as Pinot Grigio and Merlot are the most popular white and red

Malbec the top red grape in the UK for Christmas

In a recent survey by Virgin Wines, Malbec was identified as the top red wine this Christmas, followed by Merlot and Rioja.

UK hospitality hit by Omicron as Covid passports come into force

Hospitality trade is hit by Omicron Covid variant as Covid passports come into force and parties are cancelled.

Freixenet Copestick purchases UK winery Bolney Wine Estate

Hospitality industry braced for soaring inflation

A survey of by UK Hospitality expects inflation prices across the sector to increase by 11%.

New Zealand sign deep trade deal with the UK

The new UK/New Zealand trade deal will help remove technical barriers to trade, and minimise burdens from certification and labelling requirements.

VAT rises to 20% in the UK for the hospitality trade this week

Reductions to the VAT rate have been used by the government to help the hospitality sector.

Top ten wine brands

Beer brands dominate the biggest UK supermarket brands, but what are the 10 biggest wine brands.

Wine trade misperception over heavy glass

At a debate, wine trade admits it has been misleading drinkers into increasing their carbon footprint over heavy glass bottles.

UK Hospitality needs you

With 174,000 jobs available in the hospitality industry, pay is rising and flexible hours are being offered, is it time to join the hospitality industry?

Champagne finishes early harvest as UK starts

Just as Champagne's last grapes have been picked, the UK is gearing up for its harvest, with picking times getting earlier in the season for all producers.

UK government U-turns again on wine duty

The UK government has reversed its planned freeze on alcohol duty that it reversed weeks ago.

Wales plans Deposit Return Scheme

Wales is leading the way with glass in its planned Deposit Return Scheme.

Sovio sources from US to get round EU anomaly

Sovio has relaunched by sourcing the grapes from California rather than Spain.

Tuscan wine goes through a testing time

Vino Nobile di Montepulciano has become the second Tuscan wine to come under investigation

English Bacchus served at dinner for Bush

Denbies’ Bacchus 2004 was served at a dinner held for President Bush by the Prime Minister at 10 Downing Street recently.

Online tool helps wine industry track carbon footprint

A carbon calculator has been developed for the wine industry to help producers assess the environmental impact of their activities.

NZ wine bounty grows by 39%

New Zealand’s grape harvest has come in 39% bigger than last year.

Italian government guarantees Brunello

The Italian government is to guarantee that all exported Brunello is 100% Sangiovese.

Prestige fizz getting pricier

Prices of top Champagnes are shooting up despite the economy heading the other way.

American wine overtakes France

American wine sales have overtaken French wine sales in the UK for the first time ever.

Waitrose plant first vineyard

This week sees British supermarket Waitrose plant its own vines at Leckford Farm Estate in Hampshire.

US wine industry is turning a corner

After two years of declining wine sales US consumers are starting to spend more on wine and the country is exporting more.

Innovative wine in plastic glasses sell by the pack

A Californian company Stacked Wines has launched a unique wine bottle containing four individually-sealed containers stacked on top of each other.

Wine auction prices continue to fall but the US overtakes Hong Kong

Hong Kong auction sales fall below US levels for first time since 2010.

Facebook starts selling wine in US through gift store

Wine producers in the US have started selling their wines on Facebook phone app.

Moscato grape variety is big in the US

Moscato overtakes Sauvignon Blanc in US as grape variety of choice.

Skinny wine anyone?

More low calorie wines launched in the US

What's that smell?

Scientists discover we can smell 1 trillion odours

Five countries make up half the worlds consumption of wine.

America overtakes France in the purchase of wine.

Napa quake hits wine region

A magnitude 6.1 earthquake has hit California's Napa Valley but its too soon to count the economic cost and any impact on the price of Napa wines.

Chapel Down launches in US

Chapel Down expands to US

What does US election mean for wine?

US wine imports and the impact of the election

California exports value rise as volumes fall

California exports value rise as volumes fall, but exports to the UK are up despite currency headwinds.

Wineries selling direct to consumers is growing trend in the US

Wineries in the US are expected to ship US $3 billion of wine directly to consumers in 2018, accounting for 10% of wine drunk at home.

New Zealand wines thriving in the USA

New Zealand wines take on the US, with the Kiwi minnow now the 3rd biggest exporter by value.

America trade war with China has some lessons for Brexit

US wine exports to China grew by 14% from January to June despite a trade war, this gives us an insight into what might happen with Brexit.

China responds to Trump trade war by increasing tariffs of US wine

China has raised tariffs on £60bn worth of US goods including a 15% increase in the tariff on wine.

US wine distributors in legal fight to open nationwide shipping

Four new legal cases are filed to force open US interstate shipments rules after US supreme court ruled outlawing discrimination in wine shipping last month.

American trade war on European wines gets green light

Trade war on French wines is ready to take off, as the World Trade Organisation (WTO) says America can impose tariffs for subsidies paid to Airbus.

Exports of French wine and spirits to the USA and UK soar over government induced market risks

Exports of French wine and spirits grew by 5.9% to the USA in 2019 as buyers purchased early before new tariffs started and by 4.4% in the UK over Brexit concerns.

Seltzers are growing fast in the USA and are being positioned as the drink for 2021 in the UK.

Hard seltzers are flavoured carbonated water with alcohol added and the category has seen huge growth in the US in the last year with brands now looking to launch in the UK in 2021.

EU set to slap $4 billion in tariffs on US wines and spirits

The WTO has granted the EU the right to put additional tariffs on the US over illegal subsidies given by the US government to Boeing.

French wine sales to the US fell by 14% in 2020

French wine sales to the US fell by 14% in 2020, due to import tariffs placed on them by the Trump presidency over US claims of subsidies to EU plane maker Airbus.

Fine wine fraudster Rudy Kurniawan has been deported to Indonesia

Kurniawan defrauded fine wine buyers by mixing wines to create fakes that he sold for 1.3m between 2004-2012. He was deported to Indonesia after serving 7 years of his sentence in a Texas jail.

Out of this world Petrus to go on sale, with Christie’s predicting a sky high price of US $1 million

A bottle of Bordeaux Petrus 2000 is hoped to sell for $1 million US dollars at auction after spending a year in space.

US trade deal with EU paused with 25% punitive tarrifs on EU wine exported to America dropped

The US and EU have paused the trade dispute over airplane subsidised, that had seen punitive taxes on EU wines and spirits.

UK government is considering a 25% tariff on imported US wine

The proposed tariff is a belated escalation of the trade dispute started when Donald Trump slapped 25% tariffs on steel imports into the US.

USA’s three tier system is under threat as Biden reviews threats to competition in wine

In July Biden signed an executive order requiring the Treasury Secretary, Attorney General and the Federal Trade Commission to assess threats to competition and barriers to a range of industries including wine.

Brits charged in New York over $100 million wine fraud

Two British men charged with defrauding people into investing nearly £100 million in loans that were claimed to be backed by wine.

US bans the use of 'clean wine' on labels

The American Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) has warned against the term for its misleading health benefits.

New laws set to limit US direct shipments

This week the Uniform Law Commission passed a model Alcohol Direct-Shipping Compliance Act, that when adopted by states will severely limit direct shipping of wine interstate.

Top 10 US wine producing regions has a few surprises

California produces most of the wine from the US, but what are the top 10 wine regions?

French wine & spirits exports fall by 10%

French wine & spirit exports drop, driven by the US which saw 22% volume decline according a new report by FEVS (French Association of Wine and Spirits Exporters).

Enjoy learning more about wine with us

Wine News

Seltzers are growing fast in the USA and are being positioned as the drink for 2021 in the UK.

Enjoy learning more about wine with us

Wine News

Seltzers are growing fast in the USA and are being positioned as the drink for 2021 in the UK.

Search wine news archive

Interviews and News for UK

Interviews and News for USA