Millions of Britons using GLP-1 weight loss medications are beginning to alter how they drink, dine and choose venues. For the drinks trade, the shift may test established alcohol led revenue models.

Despite ongoing challenges in the drinks sector, Champagne sales in the UK are showing resilience, with several producers reporting growth in 2025.

A bottle of 1945 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti has made history for US auction house Acker after it sold for US$812,500, smashing its own world record from 2018 of US$558,000.

One man seeking to smuggle thousands of liquor bottles into Delhi using camels met a hump in the road when he was arrested by the police, with the two animals and stash of contraband booze subsequently seized.

From high-stakes supermarket negotiations to murky international dealings, Peter Stafford-Bow’s career has been anything but conventional. The author and former wine buyer reflects on the deals, scandals and survival instincts that shaped a life in the modern wine trade. Anthony Rose reports.

db’s Bordeaux correspondent Colin Hay reports on a new wine, a rare jewel born from an alliance between a winegrower and an oenologist from Bordeaux’s Left Bank and the Right Bank respectively, which was, until now, a closely guarded secret.

A flight attendant reportedly mixed still Chardonnay wine with carbonated water to “make” sparkling wine after the airline ran out of bottles of fizz.

An announcement on 27 March that Sonoma’s Kenwood Vineyards had “closed until further notice” led to speculation that it would open under new ownership. Now that new owner has been revealed as previous proprietor Korbel & Bros. db reports.

Dom Pérignon cellar master Vincent Chaperon argued for the value of blending across different vineyard sites in Champagne while presenting the latest vintage of the prestige cuvée in London earlier this month.

A Michelin star within six months has put chef patron Nieves Barragán Mohacho’s Shoreditch restaurant Legado in the spotlight, where an expansive wine list and Sherry-led approach underpin the concept.

The future of baijiu lies with cocktail bars, but brands must prioritise “branding, bottle design and training materials” to woo bartenders and win over younger consumers, the co-founder of Guangzhou-based bar Sanyou tells Joyce Yip.

Anishka Jelicich leaves Pernod Ricard to take over from New Zealand Winegrowers CEO Philip Gregan following his retirement. Jelicich will step into her new role from the end of July.

The EU is striking a careful balance in trade negotiations, opening the door to agricultural imports while fiercely defending wine. Its latest deals highlight how far Brussels will go to protect geographical indications.

The installation of the new Archbishop of Canterbury – the first female incumbent in the role’s 1,425 year-old history – was officially celebrated with wines from Kent, reflecting the region’s growing viticultural significance.

A Provence rosé producer is showing that premium wine packaging doesn’t have to come at the expense of the environment – by taking a new and successful approach to the appearance and weight of its bottle.

The drinks giant Suntory Global Spirits has scrapped plans to build a controversial £150m whisky maturation facility in East Ayrshire.

Pernod Ricard and Brown-Forman have confirmed early-stage talks about a potential business combination that could create one of the world’s largest spirits groups. The proposed merger would unite major global brands and two founding family dynasties at the heart of the drinks industry.

The Spring Tasting is an eclectic affair, with wines of every imaginable style, but the quality of this year’s entries was higher than ever, says Patricia Stefanowicz MW.

Something of an outlier in a world where most high-end Champagnes are from a single harvest, Laurent-Perrier’s prestige cuvée is a multi-vintage expression – and we reveal the latest blend.

The Wine Society has outlined ambitious targets to grow its fine wine sales by £3.5 million this year, saying there is “real interest amongst our membership for us to take fine wine more seriously”.

Virgin Wines has launched its first mobile app, marking a significant development in the company’s digital strategy, backed by significant investment. James Bayley speaks to CEO Jay Wright about the app’s impact on the business and implications for the wider wine trade.

Global brewers in India are warning of price hikes and potential supply chain disruptions, due to a gas shortage triggered by the war in Iran.

Hundreds of protestors rallied in the streets of Damascus on Sunday (22 March), to protest a recently announced government decree that will restrict the sale and consumption of alcohol.

White Verdejo wines from Rueda in north-west Spain are seeing a sales spike in the UK. Sarah Neish investigates why demand is rising, and how 30 ‘test pits’ dug in the Spanish region could be key to its continued success.

The long-negotiated trade agreement between Australia and the European Union is set to reshape the commercial landscape for Australian wine exports. Tariff elimination and regulatory changes promise improved competitiveness in one of the world’s largest wine markets.

The High Court has appointed a liquidator for Oenofuture Limited, the company that held the majority of the Oeno Group’s wine investment, but warned that the compulsory winding up process is likely to be “very lengthy”.

Premium drinks maker, Fever-Tree, has reported a 16% drop in annual profit, after a one-off £2.8m charge over a disputed packaging levy, and cost pressures from its US arm’s partnership with Molson Coors.

Final bids for Diageo’s controlling stake in Indian Premier League team Royal Challengers Bangalore are due by the end of March, setting up a high-stakes contest between global investors.

New satellite technology is being tested in Bordeaux to help winemakers spot vine problems earlier and manage vineyards more precisely. The system can pick up subtle changes in plant health before they are visible in the vineyard.

WineGB has published its 2025 harvest report alongside the latest edition of its viticultural Green Book as the new growing season begins. Data from the Food Standards Agency confirms a sharp rise in UK wine production following what producers describe as an unusually favourable year.

Esporão will launch its ‘Nós Somos’ range in Morrisons, bringing together wines from three regions under one label in a bid to simplify Portugal for UK shoppers and engage the next generation of wine drinkers.

Running counter to much of the current sentiment surrounding the demand for fine drinks, Pol Roger Portfolio MD James Simpson MW has confidence in the future of Champagne and set a new sales record in 2025.

JD Wetherspoon delivered steady sales growth in the first half of its financial year, even as rising costs cut into profitability. Analysts say the pub chain’s long-standing reliance on high volumes and low prices faces increasing pressure as consumer spending weakens.

The private equity owner of Majestic Wine is exploring options to sell the UK’s largest specialist wine retailer. Preparations are understood to be at an early stage, with advisers being lined up for a potential process.

Apple and premium draught cider have been identified as the main trends shaping the UK hospitality sector. But what else is driving sales across the category? db looks into the opportunities.

With softer footfall on the ground, this year’s ProWein signals a more targeted approach as organisers push ahead with a strategic reset.

Attitudes to alcohol consumption are changing among adult-age Gen Z and Millennials, who are increasingly expecting more from the alcohol-free beer category, according to a new report.

According to CellarTracker founder Eric LeVine, “Dry January does not exist” – at least among his audience – though drinkers are exploring far more wine regions than in the past.

New Zealand’s largest wine region is bracing for a prolonged downturn, with growers cutting production and facing mounting financial pressure. Some industry leaders warn the road back to profitability will be slow, despite signs of global demand.

Greene King, Britain’s second-largest pub group, is considering the sale of 150 pubs, while around 20 have also been earmarked for closure.

Following the February airstrikes by the US and Israel on Iran, Sarah Neish discovers how the ongoing conflict is impacting wine businesses, from producers and merchants to closure manufacturers.

Syrian authorities have banned alcohol in Damascus restaurants and bars, except in several Christian neighbourhoods. Officials say it will “eliminate practices that violate public morals,” but critics argue it infringes on civil liberties.

US wine consumption is falling, but shifting trade policy and pricing pressures are reshaping buying habits. As tariffs disrupt imports, producers and buyers are reassessing the balance between domestic and international bottles. Kathleen Willcox reports.

A webinar earlier this month explored how AI-powered personalisation is helping the drinks trade by reducing the uncertainty of buying wine online.

From booming Chablis sales in Brazil to Italian law changes on dealcoholisation, this year’s ProWein was a hotbed of discussion. Sarah Neish and Sophie Arundel report on the topics getting the trade fired up.

50 Years of Great Wine Dinners is James Halliday’s swansong, offering a monumental record of how some of the greatest wines have tasted, from one of the industry’s greatest palates. Nimmi Malhotra reviews.

A new deal made by Waitrose and The Society of Independent Brewers and Associates (SIBA) is set to uncover the beers made by genuinely indie breweries. Jessica Mason looks at how this changes consumer perception.

Armit Wines is focusing on building its on-trade business, which it says poses a huge opportunity, despite the “existential challenges” facing hospitality from a government that “doesn’t understand business”.

Planned London Underground walkouts from March to May could disrupt a crucial trading period for bars and restaurants. Industry data suggests the impact may be severe unless operators prepare early.

The Finger Lakes in New York State is finally getting its moment in the spotlight as markets wake up to its cool-climate reds and experimental fizz. Kathleen Willcox uncovers the region’s top trends.