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First Marselan harvested in South Africa

South African producer Waverley Hills has harvested its – and South Africa’s – first crop of Marselan. The estate started the project in 2009, importing its first Marselan plants which, after a one-year quarantine, were propagated by Vitiec, the vine nursery in Paarl. After several years of experimental plantings, the first commercially viable vineyard was planted in 2016. The first crop was harvested on 26 February this year and the first wine will be released in 2021. Marselan is one of the more successful crossings of modern times. It was bred in 1961 by professor Paul...

ProWein 2020 cancelled due to coronavirus

Posted in Beer, Spirits, Wine.

Messe Düsseldorf, the organiser of trade show ProWein, has revealed that the event will not take place this year, but will run as scheduled in 2021. The organiser announced at the end of last month that the show, the largest in the wine trade show calendar, was to be postponed due to the Covid-19 outbreak, and that new dates would be announced. However, has now been advised that the trade show will not take place this year. The show will instead take place in 2021 from Sunday 21 March to Tuesday 23 March. Erhard Wienkamp, managing director at Messe Düsseldorf, commented: “We...

The Three Tiers of the Alcohol Industry

Posted in Industry.

If you are interested in entering the alcohol industry, you will have to understand the workings of the alcohol industry’s three-tier system. The three-tier system in the alcohol industry follows a chain of production, distribution and sales that is not unusual across industries. What sets the three-tier system apart in the alcohol industry is that, in many states, the system is required by law. It was established post-prohibition, as an attempt to separate alcohol producers and retailers and break up the saloon-based system that was credited at the time with many social ills. Today,...

Entering the U.S. Market with a New Alcohol Brand

Posted in Beer, Industry, Spirits, Wine.

While the final numbers are not in, alcohol sales in the U.S. are expected to hit $166.4 billion for 2019. This makes the U.S. a lucrative market, but also a competitive one. There is an endless list of companies looking to secure their share of the market, but without a unique product and excellent promotion efforts, it is all too easy to get lost in the shuffle. Use these tips to develop a strategy that will help your new beverage alcohol brand successfully enter and take hold in a crowded industry. Understand the market landscape One key to successfully introducing a new brand...

db Eats: Wilder

Posted in Beer, Spirits, Wine.

db’s resident hedonist, Lucy Shaw, heads to exciting newcomer Wilder in Shoreditch for pig’s head on toast, pollock with trotter relish and a beguiling young Burgundy. The concept: While every modern British restaurant worth its Maldon salt claims to adhere to a local ethos, Wilder practices what it preaches. Opening last October within the bowels of Boundary – a former Victorian warehouse in Shoreditch owned by Sir Terence Conran boasting an all-day café and rooftop restaurant – Wilder is the dream of head chef Richard McLellan, and is named after his successful...

Portman Group under fire after upholding complaints against beers

Posted in Beer, Spirits, Wine.

UK drinks regulator the Portman Group has upheld complaints against three breweries, leading to criticism from the industry that it has caused “significant damage” to breweries with “good ethics”. The Portman Group recently issued rulings on products made by Bristol’s Lost and Grounded, Warwickshire’s Purity Brewing and United Dutch Breweries. However, its rulings have faced criticism from the likes of beer group Society of Independent Brewers (SIBA). James Calder, chief executive of SIBA, stressed the importance of self-regulation, but said...

How coronavirus is disrupting the global drinks industry

Posted in Beer, Spirits, Wine.

As tastings and trade shows worldwide have been scrapped or pushed back to mitigate the spread of coronavirus, we’re keeping tabs on the latest news from the drinks industry. On Tuesday, London’s wine trade had its first casualty. The RAW Wine Show, which was due to take place this weekend, has been postponed. Founder Isabelle Legeron MW said: “With so many producers flying in from all over the world this seems like the right decision for such a large gathering of people and such an international event.” At the same time, the bi-annual Grands Jours de Bourgogne tasting,...

Vinitaly postponed to June

Posted in Beer, Spirits, Wine.

The organisers of the leading Italian wine show, Vinitaly, have announced the 2020 edition will be postponed until June. Originally scheduled for 19-22 April, organisers Veronafiere announced today (3 March) that it was postponing the show as well the various shows revolving around Vinitaly such as the International Wine Academy and Vinitaly and the City, until June. The revised dates for the show are 14-17 June. Giovanni Mantovani, director of Veronafiere, said: “In light of the rapidly changing international situation that is creating difficulties for all trade fairs across the...

London Wine Fair ‘going ahead as planned’ as coronavirus disrupts global trade show calendar

Posted in Beer, Spirits, Wine.

The London Wine Fair will still go ahead “as planned” in May as trade shows around the world have been pushed back to mitigate the spread of Covid-19 (coronavirus). (Photo: Anthony Upton) The London Wine Fair is set to attract thousands of professionals from the wine, spirits, beer and cider industries to London’s Kensington Olympia exhibition hall between 18 and 20 May. The organisers said they are working closely with the venue, Olympia, and we will “continue to follow advice from the Government, the Department of Health and Social Care and Public Health England”,...

Organisers of Vinexpo New York say coronavirus ‘has not impacted’ event

Posted in Beer, Spirits, Wine.

The two-day Vinexpo New York 2020 opened as planned on Monday at the Jacob Javits Convention Center, but a degree of uncertainty hangs over the event as to whether coronavirus-related travel restrictions and growing American caution over contact with European visitors will dampen attendance. Officially, the word is no, and the organisers, Diversified Communications, have addressed the virus issue in the “safety” section of its website: “We… are monitoring the situation regarding the novel coronavirus, both in the U.S. and internationally. The current situation has...

Tag: Wine