The results of a Chardonnay tasting on Monday at the London Wine Fair have been revealed – and Australia has come out on top, with England not far behind.

Former Treasury Wine Estates executive Robert Foye has accused the company of pursuing a “volume chasing, order-taking mentality” across major markets as pressure mounts ahead of its investor day on 4 June.

James Bayley meets Franco-Palestinian chef Fadi Kattan and sommelier Anna Patrowicz to explore a wine region older than Burgundy, where producers navigate military checkpoints and water rationed to once every 40 days to make bottles they hope will be judged purely on what's in the glass.

A newly-formed investment company will purchase Veritas Vineyards & Winery, known for its stellar wine tourism offering, as the producer’s British founders retire.

The Miami-based trade fair, held at the end of April, reflected an industry in transition with Latin America and Gen Z firmly in the spotlight, reports Jacqueline Coleman.

Bordeaux authorities have unveiled a €20 million land fund aimed at addressing the financial pressures facing struggling growers across the region. The initiative will buy abandoned and uprooted vineyard land as part of a broader effort to reshape Bordeaux’s wine landscape.

A poll conducted at Fero’s inaugural Young Leaders event found that most young drinks professionals remain committed to long-term careers in the trade, but concerns over salaries, career progression and inclusivity remain.

From sun-soaked Greek lagers to crisp Czech pilsners, the holiday pint remains one of life’s great pleasures. As British summer begins, these are the beers worth travelling for.

Campari has reported modest organic sales growth in the first quarter and reaffirmed its full-year guidance despite challenging market conditions. The Italian drinks group said strong performances from Aperol and key international markets supported continued market share gains.

With Keith Isaac MW set to retire next month as head of Castelnau Wine Agencies UK, the wine and Champagne importer has appointed Yann Bourigault as its new general manager.

Pakistan’s oldest brewery, Murree Brewery, has begun alcohol exports to countries including the UK and Japan – despite the fact that it’s been banned for the country’s Muslim-majority population for almost 50 years.

AB InBev has posted its first quarterly sales increase in three years, buoyed by growth in premium beer, alcohol-free products and digital sales channels.

Almost two pubs a day closed across Britain during the first three months of 2026, according to new figures from the British Beer and Pub Association.

Robert Foye, former global chief operating officer of Treasury Wine Estates and now a shareholder in the business, has argued the company’s latest restructuring does not go far enough to address persistent weaknesses.

Berry Bros. & Rudd chief executive Emma Fox will leave the business later this summer after six years leading the historic wine and spirits merchant.

A bottle of Japanese sake made using space-fermented mash has fetched almost ¥110 million (£517,000), and things are still looking stellar for its producer, Dassai, which now has its sights set on making the drink on the moon.

On-trade wine sales have dropped sharply in recent years, but pockets of growth are emerging across value-driven, white and sparkling categories. Kathleen Willcox reports.

The Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) is removing the figure of Ariadne from its logo and adopting a simplified identity, as part of a wider rebrand to reflect its broader scope beyond wine.

Reaction from across the whisky sector has been swift following confirmation by Donald Trump that tariffs and restrictions on whisky imports will be removed after the state visit by King Charles III and Queen Camilla.

Having chaired the UK’s most comprehensive, annual, blind tasting competition for just Champagne – The Champagne Masters – since 2011, Patrick Schmitt MW picks out 12 observations about the character of the sparkling wine right now.

US President Donald Trump has removed barriers on Scotch and Irish whiskey imports following the state visit by King Charles. Industry figures have welcomed the relief after months of declining exports and mounting financial strain.

Monica Galetti has been appointed executive chef at 130 Primrose, a new London restaurant offering paid hospitality roles and training to people with experience of homelessness.

Online retailer Naked Wines has reported “strong progress” on cost reduction and pricing measures in a trading update confirming it is on track to hit its expectations this financial year.

Wine accounts for less than 1% of alcohol consumption in Vietnam, but within that sliver, a shift is taking place, as drinkers develop a taste for white wine. Nimmi Malhotra reports.

Most Britons consider it unacceptable for MPs to drink alcohol before late-night votes, according to new YouGov polling. The findings come amid renewed debate about parliamentary culture and expectations of conduct in Westminster.

This year’s much-anticipated Bordeaux en primeur has started with the release of Pontet Canet this morning, with the price lauded as “a strong start” to a critical campaign.

Terold Invest, the parent company of Argentine wine powerhouse Grupo Peñaflor, has acquired UK business Off-Piste Wines in a move it says “significantly strengthens its position”, db can exclusively reveal.

The sparkling wine giant saw flat sales in 2025, but strong performances in Prosecco, Crémant and no-alcohol products flag future growth opportunities. db finds out more.

Uruguay has formally recognised wine as a ‘living culture’ through a cross-government initiative designed to integrate cultural policy, industry strategy and international diplomacy. The programme aims to redefine the country’s wine sector as a broader expression of heritage, identity and community.

Pernod Ricard and Brown-Forman have ended discussions over a proposed merger of equals after failing to agree on key terms. The decision leaves both spirits groups reassessing their strategies as competition intensifies across the global market.

Nyetimber, which acquired The Lakes Distillery in 2024, has shut the whisky producer’s visitor centre, ending tours and hospitality operations and placing about 15 roles at risk.

Newbury-based auction house Dreweatts is selling a single-owner collection of Château Lafite from the cellar of Nathaniel Rothschild, from Stowell Park, spanning vintages from 1956 to 1997.

The aluminium can shortage is reported to be about to cause a potential ₹11,500 crore (£900k) disruption as stock from major suppliers falls to just 10-20% of normal capacity.

The relationship between the likes of Merlot and Molinara or Viognier and Vermentino is not always an easy one, but Italian winemakers are striking a balance between the glamour and marketability of international varieties and the tradition and resilience of native ones.

On his journey back from the en primeur tastings, db’s Bordeaux correspondent Colin Hay shares his initial impressions of an “incomparable vintage of great balance and harmony forged at the limits of climatic excess”.

The fallout from the Iran conflict is adding new pressure to the global wine trade, from rising costs to disrupted logistics. Producers are now accelerating efforts to build more resilient and environmentally sustainable business models. Kathleen Willcox reports.

At an event in London on Wednesday, a new celebrity-backed wine was unveiled – this time from former Queen drummer Roger Taylor. Called Cuvée Rock n’ Roll rosé, it hails from Provence. Patrick Schmitt MW finds out more.

Two new Californian brands, both involving well-known names in the trade and both donating a portion of their profits to the conservation of endangered species, are launching in the UK this summer. Sarah Neish investigates the rising trend of wildlife wines.

Vineyard sales are far from being in decline and for the investor “scarcity beats scale”, reveals the new Wealth Report by real estate consultancy Knight Frank. But which regions are “trading up” in value terms? db reports.

Last month, Upstairs at Hausu, a David Lynch-inspired hi-fi bar launched in Peckham Rye. Its co-director talks Amelie Maurice-Jones through the challenges of curating a cocktail menu by colour, and why every good bar should have an “element of misbehaviour”.

Dutch brewer Heineken has reported modest gains in revenue and volume despite uneven regional performance. Premium brands and developing markets continue to drive momentum as cost pressures linger.

Fladgate Family Wines has declared a 2024 vintage across its three main Port houses – Taylor’s, Fonseca and Croft – marking the first time all three have declared in the same year since 2017.

About 6,500 venues have been mapped to show how much visitors can expect to pay for a pint of Guinness in pubs across the UK.

New figures from HMRC show a steady but unremarkable stream of alcohol duty receipts, with little evidence that recent reforms have strengthened the public purse. Meanwhile, industry voices have argued that rising rates may be dampening demand.

The world’s largest brewer, AB InBev, has found itself recast from collaborator to subject of investigation in India’s competition case. A court intervention has now paused proceedings, adding further uncertainty to an already strained beer market.

Decorated tennis champion Serena Williams, who retired with 23 Grand Slam singles titles, is the new face of Heineken’s alcohol-free beer, claiming the drink helps her “stay active and keep moving”.

As AI reshapes discovery, wineries are engaging with the technology but still questioning its real-world value, according to a new report.

A recent masterclass held by the drinks business at Vinitaly sought to show how Italian white wines are capable of punching well above their weight in the UK market. Here, we dive deeper into why that is.

Australia’s largest wine group has announced a major restructuring plan that boosted its share price by 17% in a single day. The strategy aims to improve performance, reduce debt pressures and drive growth across key global markets.

A London-based fraudster has been sentenced in New York after orchestrating a global wine investment scam that defrauded more than 140 victims.