19 Crimes is expanding its limited-edition Universal Monsters collection with the debut of an Argentinian Malbec called The Wolf Man. The line-up, formed in partnership with Universal and now in its second consecutive year, has reportedly become a Halloween tradition for fans of horror, pop culture, and wine. The bottles feature glow-in-the-dark labels and interactive augmented reality (AR) experiences that bring Universal…

Following an initial forecast that the French wine harvest would be the smallest in 30 years, a revised estimate now suggests it could be the lowest in a century.  According to the latest forecast, extreme heat and drought this summer mean that France’s wine output will likely be around 34.9 million hectolitres.  This revised estimate is down 2% compared to last…

The Prosecco DOC Consortium has reinforced its focus on the UK with a major advertising investment running until mid-October.  Spanning the London Underground and Prime Video, the DOC said the campaign aims to attract new consumers in one of its most important markets.  Across the London Underground, six-sheet posters are now across 61 stations, complemented by digital video sharing imagery associated…

Former Jackson Family Wines CEO Rick Tigner has joined the executive team at El Tequileño, the tequila brand owned by Paradise Spirits.  According to Paradise, Tigner brings more than three decades of experience building and scaling premium beverage brands.  Tigner first joined Jackson Family Wines, then named Kendall-Jackson, in 1991.  The drinks veteran rose through a series of senior commercial…

Gusbourne has described its 2026 harvest as an exceptional year and a “big personality” vintage, following an unusually early picking season.  Picking began on 26 August and finished on 18 September, two weeks earlier than in 2025, with the warm summer requiring close attention to sugar and acidity levels.  Head vineyard manager Jon Pollard said Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier were particularly…

ProWein has rebranded its alcohol-free area as ProWein Zero+, expanding its focus on the growing alcohol-free drinks category.  The trade fair said the addition of the plus sign reflects a broader approach to a category that is becoming increasingly diverse.  At the March trade fair, the area will bring together tastings, education, expert insight and discussions on the future of alcohol-free…

Parfetts, the employee-owned wholesaler, has expanded into Carlisle with its off-license fascia, The Local.  Opening four new off-licenses located on Old Raffles Parade, Denton Holme, Harraby and Furze Street, the deal was made with independent retailer Mark Duckworth.  The move sees all four shops transform from their previous Bargain Booze fascias, under which they had traded for 20 years.  Now,…

Grey Goose has launched its Berry Rouge flavoured vodka in the UK, in a move brand owner Bacardí described as the vodka brand’s biggest flavour launch in more than a decade. The company said Berry Rouge had already performed strongly after being introduced in France, the US and global travel retail. Bacardí said Berry Rouge was the biggest launch for Grey Goose…

Non-alcoholic aperitivo Botivo has reported 400% year-on-year growth in the retail sector, 22 times faster than the wider non-alcoholic spirits category.  By the end of 2026, Botivo said it expects to have more than 1,000 stocking points across four leading supermarkets.  It added that its can distribution is set to increase 4.6-fold over the same period, with the growth prompting the…

Brewdog has launched a national campaign urging beer drinkers in the UK to “choose craft”. The latest campaign comes just two weeks after new owner Tilray put ads on the London Underground aimed at distancing itself from the controversies the Scottish brewer faced under its previous owners. The Chose Craft activity includes murals in prominent locations in Edinburgh and Manchester, supplemented by…