Harpers

Sterling gained against the US dollar yesterday as concerns over the price of oil dented the US currency.

Drinks bosses have slammed evidence which says there will be up to 30,000 alcohol-related deaths in the next 20 years, claiming official statistics were ignored.

Alcohol Concern and the WSTA are at loggerheads over how supermarkets display alcohol throughout their stores.

Sterling fell on Friday as data showed that the UK economy contracted by more than had initially been anticipated for the fourth quarter of 2010.

Christie’s is expanding its global wine sales team to keep up with its 70% boom in wine sales since 2009.

The drinks industry is well ahead of new rules on online marketing since responsibility body the Portman Group has been strictly regulating it since 2003.

Blossom Hill is pushing the premium envelope with a new range of blended wines, as well as revamping its existing varietals selection.

Exports of Portuguese wines to the UK have doubled in value, showing increases up to 99.1%, according to the National Statistics Institute of Portugal.

The inaugural Discover the Roots - Wines of Turkey Conference and Tasting 2011, saw 250 wine trade and press attend the official launch of its wines to the UK market.

Seminars and tastings around the country for store managers, sommeliers and chefs will form part of a new wave of activity for the Discover the Origin campaign.