This summer, Prof Dr Simone Loose joined Richard Bampfield, MW and three other panellists at the 10th International Master of Wine Symposium in Wiesbaden, Germany to discuss the conflict between consumer demand for sustainability and for affordable wines. Here, Loose reports on the key findings from the discussion  It is well documented that wine producers are paying increasing attention to the sustainability of their business…

British spirits brand Au Vodka is set to work with ecommerce fulfilment platform Huboo as it looks to tap into the direct-to-consumer market.  Claire Gates, chief commercial officer of Huboo, said that historically, alcohol brands “have been surprisingly late to embrace direct-to-consumer ecommerce,” despite the rise in home consumption following the pandemic.  As part of the deal between Huboo and Au Vodka,…

As Casillero del Diablo launches its latest campaign, Simon Doyle, Concha y Toro’s general manager for the UK, discusses the importance of communicating directly with consumers, and how the company is navigating the challenges of inflation and duty hikes With brands such as Casillero del Diablo and Trivento under its umbrella, Concha y Toro has a strong presence in the UK off-trade, including listings…

Budweiser Brewing Group has estimated a 20% rise in off-trade beer sales compared to the first quarter of the year as consumer shopping behaviour shifts during the summer.  As the warmer weather brings about summer drinking occasions, the Budweiser Group – which produces beers such as Stella Artois and Corona – has predicted that beer sales will continue on an upward trajectory. …

Portugal’s Comissão Vitivinícola Regional do Tejo, (CVRT) has launched a new category of wine for the region, as it looks to tap into consumer trends towards lighter styles.  Campo do Tejo features an “easy drinking” range of Tejo white wines made from the region’s most famous white grape varietal, Fernão Pires, with a lower abv of 11.5%.  The category will initially launch with…

As Drinks Retailing unveils the Top 100 influential people in the industry in its latest issue, we ask four experts from the worlds of brands, marketing and consumer insight what elements most easily persuade consumers to part with their hard-earned cash Tom Harvey, co-founder, YesMore marketing agency  The word “influencer” evokes images of a Gen Z social media star creating…

As the first month of 2023 draws to a close, Nigel Huddleston rounds up recent findings from both ecommerce and bricks and mortar retailers The pandemic brought a boom in online retailing, but the increased competition in digital and general pressures on consumer spending mean that specialist wine websites are now finding things as tough as businesses in the physical world.  Naked Wines changed…