The inaugural Small Format Masters showed that great things can come in small packages, with quality unexpectedly high. Patricia Stefanowicz MW reports.

The supermarket is limiting the number of Champagne bottles that shoppers can buy in the run-up to Christmas to prevent shelves being emptied before the big day.

From the UK’s HFSS ad ban to growing pressure on value and accessibility, Patrick Young, managing director of PRS IN VIVO, sets out what brands should expect in 2026 – and how they will need to respond.

Alto Adige’s complex cultural history is precisely what makes this winemaking region so unique. But with both Italian and German grape names permitted on the label, is its bilingual identity a head-scratcher for consumers? Eloise Feilden finds out.

The first Global Sweet Wine Masters did not disappoint, with judges marvelling over styles ranging from late harvest to vin santo. Patricia Stefanowicz MW reports.

The Australian wine giant is resetting expectations as demand weakens in its two largest export markets. New chief executive Sam Fischer is prioritising brand protection, cost cuts and balance sheet discipline over expansion.

As the wine industry wrestles with what sustainability really means, Dr Laura Catena is reframing the debate — not around carbon alone, but around moderation. Her science-led Domaine EdeM project positions low- and no-alcohol wines as a vital part of a more sustainable drinking culture.

The French drinks group Pernod Ricard is continuing to streamline its wine holdings by offloading its US sparkling wine arm.

Diageo is exiting one of its last major African brewing assets as part of its drive to cut debt and sharpen its portfolio. The deal marks the largest-ever investment by a Japanese brewer in an African alcohol business.

Sustainability-focused consumers and expanding English wine production are driving steady growth in the UK wine market, according to new data.

Despite the subdued nature of the fine wine market, 2025 has seen plenty of white-glove sales and some eye-watering prices. We’ve rounded up the biggest sales that went under the hammer this year.

Sales of Murphy’s Irish Stout have skyrocketed with volume up 607% and value up 666% in the last year, according to the brand owner Heineken.

Portuguese police have arrested eight people and raided 21 properties in the Vinho Verde wine region following reports of “collusion between viticulture commission officials and businesspeople in the wine sector”.

South Korea and the UK are in the final stages of signing an upgraded free trade agreement (FTA) which would strengthen trading ties. So what could this mean for booze from both nations? Eloise Feilden investigates.

LVMH-backed brands lead Champagne’s popularity rankings, but family-owned houses offer higher average quality at lower prices, according to a new industry study.

The UK’s oldest fine wine merchant, Berry Bros & Rudd saw its revenues dip by 8.2% in the last financial year, due to the “ongoing stagnation” in the fine wine and spirits market, according to documents filed at Companies House.

A trade dispute triggered by US tariffs has left most Canadian provinces with warehouses full of American spirits pulled from shelves. With little sign of reconciliation, governments are scrambling to decide what to do with stock bought at taxpayers’ expense.

Last week we rounded up the biggest celebrity drinks launches of the year. Here we dive into the A-list brand collaborations that have got the trade talking in 2025. Sarah Neish reports.

Weight loss medications are quietly reshaping how and why people drink, pushing alcohol towards a more selective and health-aware future. James Bayley asks whether health can be pursued without losing autonomy.

MMI & Emirates Leisure Retail Group CEO Tyrone Reid tells Sarah Neish how technology is transforming drinks retail in the Middle East, and why this über-wealthy market isn’t a guaranteed meal ticket for brands.

Australian native Ian Sypkes has taken on the challenge of producing baijiu, China’s national spirit, in Tasmania. But can he win over Chinese consumers? Joyce Yip reports.

The US may remain Champagne’s most lucrative export destination, but the UK has proved to be a reliable market in terms of volume this year, reports Giles Fallowfield.

Fine wine tiptoed out of its longest downturn in more than a decade in 2025, helped by returning US demand and a quiet resurgence in Champagne and Tuscany. Following the release of the company’s annual report, WineCap CEO Alexander Westgarth spoke to db about tariff clarity and projections for 2026.

La Place de Bordeaux rose to success trading wines from the French region, but at ProWine Shanghai this year, the drinks business editor-in-chief Patrick Schmitt MW revealed why expressions from around the world have secured a place on the platform.

Drinks giant Diageo is facing fresh disruption at its Belfast Guinness Zero plant after workers voted again to reject a revised pay offer, putting strike action back on the cards just days before Christmas.

In a frosty trading climate, wine brands which adopted a considered approach to price increases fared best, according to this detailed Power 100 report compiled by Liv-ex.

Diageo opens the doors to the Guinness Open Gate Brewery in London’s Covent Garden this week. After a look around the premises, Jessica Mason discovers what makes it a “must-see” experience.

Following the UK’s biggest standalone blind tasting for wines made from the Chardonnay grape, we bring you the top-scoring drops, taking in bottles from Argentina, Australia, Spain, South Africa and New Zealand, as well as Turkey, and – the source of our ultimate expression – California.

Galician producers are recovering from some of the worst fires in the region’s history, with flames licking areas of up to 1,700 hectares. Andrew Neather reports.

As the cost of using helicopters to fight frost “doubles in price”, the owner of Central Otago producer Akitu tells db how new wind fan technology saved its “near perfect” 2022 vintage.

The Wyckoff Family, which owns vineyards across Washington, has purchased all wine brands, facilities and vineyards belonging to wine giant Ste. Michelle.

Since Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, Ukraine’s wine industry has faced severe domestic challenges. However, according to Beykush Winery, international visibility and export interest have grown during the same period.

Champagne house Cattier, one of the region’s leading family-owned estates, is set to raise its profile in the UK with the appointment of Enotria, part of the Majestic Wine Group, as its exclusive on-trade distributor from January 2026.

This year has seen titans of the drinks world buying and selling companies, brands and estates. We’ve rounded up the most headline-grabbing acquisitions of 2025 here.

Participating in abstain campaigns like Dry January and Sober October is now becoming less popular among Gen Z drinkers around the world, according to new data released today.

Such is the damage being wreaked by government policy on the drinks trade, the industry must unite to fight its corner, stressed Vinexposium CEO Rodolphe Lameyse at a press briefing in London last week.

Once a US shopping import, Black Friday has morphed into Britain’s unofficial date for festive wine buying. Retailers rejoice in the uptick but many producers warn that habitual November discounts come at a high price.

From adopting regenerative organic viticulture to creating a new hospitality centre, while investing in raising brand awareness worldwide, Robert Mondavi Winery is making changes to remain relevant now and in the future.

Search engine Google revealed its annual ‘Year in Search Trends’ report today. Which food and drinks were global consumers clamouring to find out about in 2025? Sarah Neish reports.

The first female president of DOCa Rioja, Raquel Pérez Cuevas needs plenty of grit and determination at a difficult time for the region. Amelie Maurice-Jones reports.

The beverage director at the Four Seasons Abu Dhabi’s new Hi-Fi bar Saikindō explains why the Middle East is no longer an “underdog” for cocktails, and how he’s using AI to shape his drinks menu.

Drinks businesses say confidence in the UK Government’s packaging levy has been badly shaken after hundreds of companies were charged multiple times. Industry leaders warn the system is “fundamentally flawed” and already causing financial strain.

The Michelin Guide will introduce a three-tier ‘Grapes’ system to rate wine producers, with Burgundy and Bordeaux the first regions to be assessed in 2026.

While wine volumes fall worldwide, buyers and producers at the recent World Bulk Wine Exhibition (WBWE) say the category is gaining strength — buoyed by sourcing flexibility, premiumisation, and shifting trade flows.

We bring you a full report on all the winners of The Drinks Business Green Awards, which were announced at a ceremony in central London last night.

Bodegas Sonsierra, the second largest bottling cooperative in Rioja, will become a Limited Liability Company (LLC) in a move it says will “allow us to compete across more demanding global markets”.

Premium wine producers are reporting double-digit growth across Latin America. As traditional markets flatten, wineries are increasingly pivoting to regions where young, affluent consumers are driving a new wave of interest.

Australia’s wine production climbed 9% in 2025, but the sector faces growing pressure from mounting inventories and declining global consumption, according to new figures from Wine Australia.

Australia’s largest wine producer has slashed the value of its US business amid weakening demand. The move deepens investor concerns after a year of heavy share price losses.

Industry leaders say the Chancellor’s Budget masks steep increases in business rates and other costs. Despite claims of a “new golden era,” operators warn closures could accelerate across pubs, hotels and restaurants.