English Whisky has secured protected Geographical Indication (GI) status, a major milestone for the sector. The new status is the result of an application by the English Whisky Guild on behalf of its member distilleries. The application has now formally been approved by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural affairs (Defra), meaning English Whisky is officially recognised as a distinctive whisky category.

DR caught up with Jo Wehring (pictured right), the former UK market manager for Wines of South Africa, to find out more about her new role as director of Wine Works Studio. She highlights three things that helped her move from an employed role to become a business owner1) Have faith in your knowledge and find your confidenceAs someone who has always enjoyed the…

The Wine and Spirit Trade Association (WSTA) has urged the chancellor of the exchequer to cut alcohol tax, warning that another increase would be a major blow to businesses already “on their knees”. In a letter to the new chancellor of the exchequer, John Healey, the trade association said that previous attempts to raise revenue with duty hikes have resulted in the…

Hallgarten & Novum Wines has added Tokaj producer Disznókő to its portfolio and will be its exclusive UK distributor. Based in Tokaj in Hungary, Hallgarten said that the maker was highly regarded as a benchmark producer in the region, known for both dry and sweet wines. The estate itself spans 104 hectares of single-block vineyards, situated on south-facing slopes of…

Nyetimber, based in West Sussex, is set to begin the first stage of its harvest next Monday, 14 September, making it the earliest picking ever. According to the producer, best known for its English sparkling wine, the harvest was initially scheduled to begin the following week but was pushed forward because certain vines had already reached optimal ripeness. The…

After two decades as chair of Österreichische Traditionsweingüter (ÖTW), Michael Moosbrugger is stepping down as chair of the Austrian winegrowers’ association. Set to begin in January 2027, his successor, Michael Malat, will become the new chairman of the association, stepping up from his existing role as a board member. A historic change, Malat’s relationship with the association stretches beyond himself, with…

Independent retailers are “powerful ambassadors” for the English and Welsh wine sector and stocking a selection of these wines can also help draw in a slightly younger demographic, according to WineGB’s CEO, Nicola Bates. Speaking to Drinks Retailing at the annual WineGB trade tasting event in London, Bates said: “Each wine retailer has a chance to be a real advocate for certain local…