The trade organisation for New Zealand wine has said the extent of the damage to vineyards caused by Cyclone Gabrielle is still being assessed. The cyclone hit the North Island on February 12, moving down the east coast – home to both the Hawke’s Bay and Gisborne wine regions. New Zealand prime minister Chris Hipkins called it the biggest natural disaster the country has faced…

The monthly round-up of what’s new in low/no, beer, cider, wine, spirits, RTDs and mixers. WINE Gosset Celebris Blanc de Blancs 2012 £200 USP: Champagne Gosset has unveiled its first ever 100% Chardonnay vintage wine. Gosset Celebris Blanc de Blancs 2012 is a limited edition of 15,000 bottles. Le Serre Nuove dell’Ornellaia 2020 £TBC USP: Described as…

It is a truth universally acknowledged that Brits love to talk about the weather. And as the UK experiences record temperatures, what does this mean for the nation’s vineyards?   The trade organisation for English and Welsh wine says cropping vineyards are “looking good”, as dry weather persists. “The dry winter, followed by a dry spring and now a dry summer has been exceptional in the…

Direct-to-consumer sales made up half of all English and Welsh wine purchases in 2020, according to new research from WineGB. The trade organisation’s CEO, Simon Thorpe MW, said that overall sales in 2020 rose by 30% to reach 7.1m bottles. Within that, 22% of sales were made via winery websites, while 28% were made at the cellar door. Thorpe said: “We’re such a young industry…

Wines of Great Britain (WineGB) is encouraging the trade to get behind this year’s English Wine Week, which will take place from June 19 to 27 and Welsh Wine Week, taking place earlier in the month, June 4 to 13. English Wine Week coincides with Father’s Day (June 20), the longest day (June 21) and Midsummer’s Day (June 24) making it “a week worthy of…

Inter Rhone has postponed Découvertes en Vallée du Rhône until 2022. The event, which is the only trade fair dedicated to the vineyards of the Rhone Valley, was originally due to take place on April 12 to 15, 2021. Instead the show will next take place on April 4 to 7, 2022. The next edition will “travel through the Rhone Valley vineyards from south to…

Waitrose has listed a “UK supermarket exclusive” premium Indian wine. The wine, from Vallonne Vineyards, India’s first boutique winery and vineyard, is a Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon. Waitrose said it has seen an increase in demand for wines from lesser-known countries and sales for these up by 91% compared with last year. As a result of this it decided to introduce the wine from “one of…