“It was never the grape’s fault,” Beyerskloof winemaker Anri Truter says of the historical perception of Pinotage in the UK. The Bottelary Hills winery is a champion of South Africa’s heritage red grape – and Truter says that wineries are now treating the variety differently, in order to achieve a more modern style. He’s speaking to Drinks Retailing in the Bottelary Hills ward of Stellenbosch,…

Austria’s Neusiedlersee DAC has announced plans to champion the region and its red grape variety, Zweigelt, in the UK market. Torsten Aumüller, managing director of the Neusiedlersee DAC union said in-person activities would resume, including a series of lunches at Trivet, visits and presentations to “highlight the diversity of our region and increase attention, knowledge and profile of one of Austria’s most significant red grape…

US wine brand Apothic Red is due to launch its Smooth Sampling campaign across the UK in March. An advertising campaign will be running across Facebook and Instagram, with the brand offering 25,000 consumers a free 25cl sample bottle of Apothic Red wine. Once ordered, the wine sample will arrive within a week, alongside email communications detailing where full-sized bottles can be purchased.

E&J Gallo has rolled out a new campaign for its Californian wine brand Apothic, as it looks to tap into autumn drinking occasions. The Red October campaign, which aired in the US last year, will run in-store and online from now until November. Apothic will also support customers through the convenience retail app ‘Shopt’.  “Apothic sold a record-breaking 90 bottles a minute in the US…

East Anglian wine shop chain Adnams has introduced two own-brand organic bag-in-box wines to its drinks portfolio. The line-up comprises 2.5-litre white and red wines from Vino de la Tierra in Castilla in Spain, both priced at £19.99. The white is a Verdejo-Sauvignon Blanc blend and the red a Tempranillo-Shiraz. The Suffolk-based company said the move fitted in with its sustainability…

Litmus has launched its 2020 Orange Bacchus and 2018 Red Pinot. The latter is the first Pinot Noir released by the English Wine producer since the famed 2014 edition. 2018 was widely seen as the best growing season for wine ever experienced in England due to its hot and dry weather conditions in the Summer and Autumn months. Litmus winemaker, John Worontschak said: “We make…

The Wine & Spirit Trade Association (WSTA) said the Government’s plan to delay VI-1 wine certification for wine imported to the UK from the EU is “a huge relief”. The certification was due to come into force in July but has now been delayed until December 31, 2021. Miles Beale, Chief Executive of the WSTA said: “The delay comes as a huge relief for the…