Things to do during National Champagne Week
Next week is National Champagne Week, so we are raising a toast to highlight the top fizz-focused events taking place in the UK.
UK restaurants told to cut portion sizes
The UK government could resort to naming and shaming restaurants that fail to reduce their portion sizes or sugar content as part of a bid to tackle the growing obesity crisis.
Beer and cider boosts Chapel Down results
English winery Chapel Down has announced positive sales in the first half of the year with its beer and cider arm soaring.
A royal visit to Canada’s Okanagan Valley, an ‘evolving cocktail’ contraption from rum specialist Zacapa, master mixology exploits galore and a sushi dinner to eclipse all sushi dinners were all part of a bumper week in drinks.
Bonhams appoints US specialist
Auction house Bonhams has appointed Erin McGrath as its new fine wine specialist in the US.
New on Wine List Confidential: Morito
Spanish vinous delights abound at Morito Hackney Road, the latest venue to be added to Wine List Confidential
Electronic tongue invented to taste-test wine
Researchers from the University of South Australia have developed an electronic device they claim can accurately determine the age and quality of a wine.
· China’s National Day: What to drink?
· World’s best bartender crowned
· Metal band Deftones release signature beer
· Trentodoc needs to promote itself internationally
· Week in pictures: Hong Kong
Having been unimpressed with Donald Trump’s plans for a wall along the Mexican border, beer brand Tecate have revealed plans for a wall of their own.
Beer
Top 10 US beers for National Drink Beer Day
This week saw the return of the annual National Drink Beer Day celebrations, so here are ten beers that have been highlighted throughout the US press to help mark the occasion.
Seven things to do with beer other than drinking it
Beer isn’t just something to get you drunk, it actually has a number of uses to help you around the house.
Stroud Brewery releases 10th anniversary organic ale
Stroud Brewery is celebrating its 10th anniversary by launching their first canned organic lagers as it plans for sustainable growth.
Carlsberg’s Stuart Pearce beer ad banned
Carlsberg has fallen foul of the ASA after releasing an advert showing former England footballer Stuart Pearce deliver a crate of beer to a building site.
The Languedoc-Roussillon is the world’s biggest wine region and while previously the area was known more for bulk wine production than for quality, that is changing.
Alcoholic Drinks – August 2016 Overview of New Product Launches
This regular summary highlights the most interesting product launches in July to August 2016, with a focus on the direction the alcoholic drinks industry is taking in terms of innovative developments.
Fine wine in La La land
The top wines of the Rhône have always struggled despite good scores and small production but that doesn't mean their time won't come.
Why does Bud Light refuse to sell beer?
Fresh from announcing its gay-wedding ad (which, in oddly tokenising fashion, appears not yet to have actually aired on paid major media as promised), Bud Light is now advertising equal pay for women.Gallery
WHISK(E)Y
World’s ‘first’ Pinotage-finished whisky released
South Africa’s Three Ships Whiskey has released what it believes to be the world’s first whisky finished in ex Pinotage casks, with its distiller calling its release the “pinnacle” of his career.
Top 10 new products
This month’s new products include Louis Roederer’s second Brut Nature vintage, a gin made from the by-products of wine and Coravin’s latest wonder wine opener.
Wales now classed as a whisky nation
Wales is now officially allowed to class itself as a whisky nation after Dà Mhìle Distillery released its new single grain.
United Spirits to launch India’s first flavoured whiskey
United Spirits is preparing to launch India’s first flavoured whiskey, its first new product release since Diageo acquired it in 2014.
KOTTABOS
Modern Wine Fables – Bordeaux: Futures
The third and final Modern Wine Fable; a journalist would do anything for a scoop, wouldn’t they?
Modern Wine Fables – Loire: Offering
In the second of our Modern Wine Fables, it might be wiser not to push a biodynamic producer to the edge, still worse over it. You may regret it.
Modern Wine Fables – Burgundy: Appreciation
In the first of three new fictional ‘Modern Wine Fables’, what happens when the world’s greatest wine becomes too expensive to drink?
Tricks of ancient drinking game revealed
The best way to win at the ancient drinking game “kottabos” is to fling your wine dregs like a baseball, not like a frisbee, one expert has declared.
Our Top 10's
Top 10 London wine lists by size
When it comes to assessing a restaurant wine list – as with many things in life – size matters. So brace yourself as Wine List Confidential presents London’s top 10 wine lists by size.
Seven gluten-free beers to try now
Gluten-free beers are following in the trend of low-alcohol and low-carb alcohol, and here are five that you should be getting down your gullet right now.
South Africa’s top 10 fastest-growing grape plantings
As South African winemakers continue to test the limits of their country’s terroir, we count down the top 10 fastest-growing grape varieties on the Cape.
Top 10 wines in the US press
Oregon Pinot Noir’s are paired alongside a selection of sparkling whites in this week’s spotlight on the best wines in the US press.
Top 10 London wine lists by range
Of the 350+ London entries currently on Wine List Confidential, in the pages that follow we present the top 10 based on range…
Top 10 buildings built with booze bottles
In a world of waste any attempt to reduce and reuse should be applauded, which makes the following bottle-based constructions not only impressive works of art, but eco-friendly landmarks.
Subscribe to
the drinks business
daily newsletter
Spirit Cartel
Berkmann Wine Cellars
Berkmann Wine Cellars
Reh Kendermann (UK) Ltd
Hallgarten Druitt
Fine Wine
Moët’s Chinese wine trades on Liv-ex
Liv-ex has recorded its first ever trade of a Chinese wine – Moët Hennessy’s ‘Ao Yun’ label from Yunnan province.
Asda Wine Shop boosts focus on fine wine parcels
Asda is upping its focus on fine wine parcels in its online Wine Shop as it seeks to increase exposure and build momentum of its wine site.
Corney & Barrow to distribute Moueix’s Ulysses
Fine wine merchant Corney & Barrow has been named as the exclusive UK distributor of Christian Moueix’s Napa estate ‘Ulysses’.
GPL 2009 at record high
The 2009 vintage of Grand-Puy-Lacoste has risen to an “all-time high” on the Liv-ex exchange.
Champagne
Moët names new chef
Champagne house Moët & Chandon has named Marco Fadiga as its new executive chef.
Bollinger to auction 1914 vintage fizz
Bollinger is to auction a 102-year-old bottle of 1914 Champagne at Sotheby’s in New York, part of a 600-strong collection of vintage cuvées discovered in a secret room within its labyrinth of cellars.
Leicester striker Jamie Vardy reveals alcohol demons
Leicester City and England striker Jamie Vardy has revealed his former problems with drinking and tells how he turned his life around.
Jenkyn Place echoes ‘vintage of the century’ hope
Simon Bladon, owner of Jenkyn Place Vineyard, has echoed the expectant hope of fellow Hampshire wine estate owner Ian Kellett that 2016 could be the ‘vintage of the century’ for his estate.
Nicolas Feuillatte sponsors 100-course dinner party
Champagne Nicolas Feuillatte has partnered with food start-up La Belle Assiette to host a ‘record-breaking’ 100-course dinner, which will be served to 100 guests over 1,000 minutes next month.
Sponsored Content
Q&A: Damian Clarke of Freixenet
In the latest of our CEO interviews, Paul Haslam of Cesium Group – in association with the drinks business – speaks with Damian Clarke, managing director of Freixenet.
Thought Leadership: sparkling wine
In the latest Cesium Group Thought Leadership event, key figures from the world of sparkling wine gathered to share their insights into the UK market for Champagne, Prosecco, Cava and, of course, English bubbly.
iDealwine update: reliable Haut-Brion
Château Haut-Brion is no longer quite the pre-eminent premier grand cru classé claret at auction, but where it does trump the likes of Mouton and Lafite is in its price stability.
Q&A: Mike Laing of Armit Wines
In the latest of our CEO interviews, Paul Haslam of Cesium Group – in association with the drinks business – spoke to Mike Laing, managing director of Armit Wines.
