James Bayley
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Articles by James Bayley
Liberty Wines acquired by Activequity as Fergal Tynan MW takes charge
UK wine importer Liberty Wines has been acquired by specialist investment firm Activequity, with former Alliance Wine managing director Fergal Tynan MW taking over leadership of the business. The deal sees Portuguese wine group Sogrape exit its shareholding, although the two companies will continue their distribution partnership. Liberty Wines has entered a new chapter following its acquisition by Activequity, a specialist investment firm focused on the premium wine trade.
#WeekInPictures: Mouton Rothschild steals the show
Pyro Restaurant transforms its winter terrace into Baráki by Pyro, a Greek-inspired heated winter retreat near London Bridge for festive celebrations and group dining. Also in London, Carbone launched its wine dinner series with Château Mouton Rothschild, including a surprise pour of the celebrated 1982 vintage.
Wine Paris 2027 expands UK presence as no and low alcohol grows
Wine Paris is preparing to expand its international reach in 2027, with a larger British wine presence, more spirits exhibitors and a rebranded event for no and low alcohol drinks. Organisers say the changes are designed to help producers find new buyers as the global drinks industry contends with trade tensions, slowing markets and changing consumer habits.
Pubs could save £870 a year under glass packaging reforms
The Government has announced changes to packaging waste charges that could save pubs up to £870 a year, following sustained pressure from the drinks industry. Wine, spirits and beer trade bodies have welcomed plans to end double charging on glass bottles, although concerns remain over which businesses will benefit.
News / Wine Paris
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Fuller’s profits jump 25% as Christmas bookings surge
Pub operator Fuller’s has reported a 25% increase in adjusted pre-tax profits to £28.2 million, supported by strong drinks sales, favourable summer weather and the football World Cup. With Christmas bookings already 16% ahead of last year, the company expects full-year profits to exceed market forecasts despite mounting cost pressures across the hospitality industry.
Australian wine benefits from Canada’s boycott of US imports
Australia is benefiting from the collapse in US wine exports to Canada, with Hill-Smith Family Estates predicting the country could soon overtake America as its third-largest market. Speaking to the drinks business, executive director of marketing and sales Jack Glover said Canadian consumers are increasingly turning to Australian wines as the trade dispute reshapes the market.
WineGB chief executive Nicola Bates steps down
WineGB has announced the departure of chief executive Nicola Bates after three years in the role, with its existing leadership team taking responsibility for day-to-day operations during the transition. The announcement comes a day after the drinks business reported concerns among some English wine producers over the trade body’s membership value and marketing strategy.
Chapel Down completes £6m fundraising after oversubscribed share offer
English wine producer Chapel Down has completed a £6 million fundraising round after its retail share offer attracted more demand than available shares. The investment will support a new production facility in Kent as the company targets sales equivalent to 1% of global Champagne volumes by 2033. Chapel Down has announced the successful completion of its £6 million capital raising, following an oversubscribed retail share offer that closed on 9 November.
Chateau Musar reports unusually late harvest in Lebanon
Lebanon’s Chateau Musar has reported an exceptionally late 2026 harvest following an unusually cool growing season and unexpected summer rainfall in the Bekaa Valley. Despite challenging weather conditions and the continuing threat of conflict, winemaker Tarek Sakr believes the vintage could produce wines with freshness and considerable ageing potential.
Diageo braces for prolonged US downturn despite return to sales growth
Diageo expects North American sales to decline by a mid-single-digit percentage in the financial year ending June 2027, despite reporting a modest recovery in global sales on 5 November. Diageo’s return to global sales growth has done little to ease concerns about its largest market, where demand for several major spirits brands continues to weaken.
Will Champagne’s smaller harvest put pressure on prices?
Champagne production is estimated to have fallen by 38% in 2026, according to the latest figures published by France’s agriculture ministry on 6 November, even as national wine production is forecast to rise by 3%. With frost, drought and heatwaves severely reducing yields, attention is turning to whether reserve stocks can cushion the shortfall or whether consumers could face higher prices.
News / Harvest 2026
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News / English sparkling
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#WeekInPictures: The Islay makes London debut
The Islay made its London debut with three single-cask whiskies and a Scottish-inspired feast, while COMO The Halkin brought Burgundy to Belgravia. Elsewhere, Poco Vino launched its Prosecco and Spritz range in Bondi Beach, the Crus Bourgeois du Médoc returned to London and a new book explored the stories behind nine grape varieties.
News / db Conference
‘Fine wine tastes better with margins’: how should businesses prepare for the recovery? How to get Gen Z interested in fine wine How Berry Bros. & Rudd is transforming the traditional wine merchant model Silent luxury: why ‘the big sell’ is dead for fine wine By Sarah Neish
News / wine trends
Hollywood and wine: what the drinks trade can learn from cinema Premium organic Cava rises in popularity in the US The biggest wine buying trends for the festive season By Jessica Mason
Chapel Down raises £5.5m to accelerate sparkling wine expansion
English wine producer Chapel Down has raised £5.5 million from investors to expand production capacity at its Kent winery, bringing forward its target of selling 2.5 million bottles of traditional method sparkling wine annually by two years. The company has also launched a separate share offer for retail investors, potentially raising a further £500,000.
News / Chapel Down
Chapel Down looks to Asia to help win market share from Champagne Chapel Down targets 1% of global Champagne market by 2035 The best bottles from The Global Travel Retail Wine Masters Chapel Down raises £5.5m to accelerate sparkling wine expansion By James Bayley
Count Binface interview: the bin was right all along
In December 2019 I got an exclusive with a 5,900-year-old space warrior who was standing against Boris Johnson. This August that same warrior took more than a quarter of the vote off Nigel Farage. So I went back to the archive, looking for early signs that the force was strong in this bin. Laughing at power is arguably a luxury reserved for the people it is least likely to hurt (a criticism often levelled at the Count himself, who can’t be humiliated because he already wears a bin).
Drinks producers face new £200 penalties under HMRC tax reforms
Around 3,500 UK drinks producers could face new penalties for late alcohol duty returns from spring 2027, under plans HMRC announced. The proposed system would introduce £200 fines for repeated missed filing deadlines, alongside separate charges for late payments.
Chianti embraces rosé as EU approves sweeping changes to wine rules
Chianti has secured EU recognition for a new rosé category as part of an extensive overhaul of its production rules, including a reduction in the minimum Sangiovese requirement from 70% to 60%. One of Italy’s most recognisable red wines is officially making room for pink, following the publication of revised production rules for Chianti DOCG in the Official Journal of the European Union on 30 October. The amendments go considerably further than introducing Chianti Rosé.
Government’s alcohol duty reforms fail to deliver promised boost for pubs
A government evaluation of the UK’s alcohol duty reforms has found no clear evidence that Draught Relief has made drinking in pubs more competitive or increased on-trade consumption. While ministers have hailed the reforms as a success, the report also identifies limited growth among small producers and little evidence that the changes have reduced alcohol-related harm.
Budget 2026: how much more will wine, beer and spirits cost?
A bottle of wine will attract between 11p and 15p more in alcohol duty from February 2027, depending on its strength, while a standard bottle of gin or Scotch whisky will face an increase of 43p. Following the government’s latest Budget, the drinks business breaks down exactly how much extra tax consumers could pay on their favourite drinks.
b-corp Archives
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News / 67 Pall Mall
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Carlsberg and AB InBev see alcohol-free sales surge
Carlsberg and AB InBev have reported strong growth in alcohol-free beer during the third quarter of 2026, with the former recording an 11% increase in volumes and the latter a 35% rise in revenue. Soft drinks also performed strongly as both brewing giants expanded beyond traditional beer amid challenging trading conditions in China.
#WeekInPictures: Ruinart turns rubbish into art as Venice celebrates cocktail culture
Ruinart found a new use for 500 wooden crates at Frieze London, while Venice Cocktail Week brought inventive drinks to the city’s historic bars. Elsewhere, Château Cheval Blanc hosted an intimate dinner at Annabel’s and the latest issue of dbAsia explored the changing drinks landscape across Asia Pacific. Ruinart turns packaging into art at Frieze Is some of the art at Frieze London rubbish, or are we missing something?
Pubs make just 12p profit on a £5 pint, study finds
British pubs keep just 12p profit from an average £5.01 pint, according to research on the cost of running a pub. Taxes and operating expenses account for almost the entire selling price, leaving landlords with a net profit margin of just 2.4%. For every £5.01 spent on a pint of beer in the UK, just 12p remains as profit for the pub, according to new research from business finance provider Capital on Tap.
Have you got a good-looking bottle?
Why not add a medal to your wine bottle by signing up for the Wine Design & Packaging Masters 2026 competition? Our expert judges will rigorously assess aesthetics, sustainability and packaging quality. Enter before 10 November 2026 for your chance to win a medal. Packaging appearance has become an increasingly essential criterion in the customer’s buying journey. Why not help your bottle stand out further on the shelves with a medal?
News / The Global Wine Masters Competition
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News / Global Wine Masters
All the medallists from The Global Travel Retail Masters 2026 The best bottles from The Global Travel Retail Wine Masters The sub-£15 bottles proving Spain is a hotspot for value By db staff writer
Alcohol duty rises again as pubs get lifeline
The drinks industry has condemned another inflation-linked rise in alcohol duty announced in the 2026 Budget, warning that higher taxes will put further pressure on producers and consumers. However, hospitality businesses have welcomed changes to business rates, including additional relief for pubs and thousands of smaller premises.
Heineken sales rise as Cruzcampo drives UK growth
Heineken has reported a 4.6% increase in organic net revenue during the third quarter of 2026, supported by rising beer volumes across all four regions. In the UK, Cruzcampo continued its double-digit growth, while the brewer said its Star Pubs estate outperformed the wider pub market. Heineken has reported a stronger third quarter, with global beer volumes rising 4.8% and organic net revenue increasing 4.6% as demand improved across its international markets.
UK’s 10 worst-rated nightclubs revealed ahead of Halloween
Liverpool is home to the UK’s worst-rated nightclub, according to a study of more than 145,000 Google reviews. Complaints about door staff and refused entry were the most common grievances among customers at the lowest-rated venues, while Grimsby claimed the country’s highest-rated club. The UK’s worst-rated nightclubs have been revealed ahead of Halloween, with Mansion in Liverpool finishing bottom of a ranking of 288 venues.
News / The Budget
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On-Trade Archives
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German wine harvest forecast to fall 20% below average
However, new government figures suggest the decline may be less severe than initially feared, with production forecast to increase on last year. German winegrowers are facing another below-average harvest in 2026, as prolonged drought and high summer temperatures take their toll on grape yields.
German wine harvest forecast to fall 20% below average
However, new government figures suggest the decline may be less severe than initially feared, with production forecast to increase on last year. German winegrowers are facing another below-average harvest in 2026, as prolonged drought and high summer temperatures take their toll on grape yields.
News / 2026 harvest
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Guala Closures expands US wine screwcap capacity with G3 deal
Italian packaging group Guala Closures has agreed to acquire most of the production equipment from G3 Enterprises’ aluminium wine screwcap business. The deal will expand manufacturing capacity in Mexico as the company seeks to strengthen its supply network across the Americas. Guala Closures has reached an agreement with US packaging and logistics company G3 Enterprises to acquire the majority of the production equipment used in its aluminium wine screwcap business.
EU wine industry welcomes rejection of tougher alcohol warnings
European wine producers have welcomed a committee vote rejecting tougher language on alcohol-related health risks and restrictions on wine promotion. However, the European Parliament has yet to vote on the report, with a decision expected in November. Europe’s wine industry has welcomed a vote by MEPs that it says protects wine from tougher health warnings and restrictions on advertising.
EU wine industry welcomes rejection of tougher alcohol warnings
European wine producers have welcomed a committee vote rejecting tougher language on alcohol-related health risks and restrictions on wine promotion. However, the European Parliament has yet to vote on the report, with a decision expected in November. Europe’s wine industry has welcomed a vote by MEPs that it says protects wine from tougher health warnings and restrictions on advertising.
The English wine named after a spy who parachuted into a Bordeaux vineyard
A Surrey vineyard has uncovered an extraordinary connection to a World War II secret agent who parachuted into a French vineyard before helping the Resistance. The story behind Greyfriars’ Yvonne cuvée became even more remarkable when a descendant of the spy turned up for a vineyard tour. When Greyfriars Vineyard in Surrey decided to name a wine after wartime secret agent Yvonne Cormeau, it had little idea that a member of her family would one day walk through its doors.
Final call: The Small & Alternative Format Wine Masters 2026
The deadline is approaching for entry into The Global Wine Masters’ brand-new competition – The Small & Alternative Format Wine Masters 2025. With the growing popularity of single-serve wines and the increasing use of aluminium, plastic, bag-in-box and pouch packaging, this competition has been created to recognise and reward the very best wines presented in non-traditional formats. Although consumer acceptance of alternative packaging is on the rise, questions remain about quality.
Rosemount returns to founding family as TWE sells three wine brands
Treasury Wine Estates has agreed to sell Rosemount, Ingoldby and Secret Stone to the Oatley family as it continues to reduce its global wine portfolio. The deal will see Rosemount return to its founding family, with the sale expected to complete later this month. Treasury Wine Estates (TWE) has announced the sale of three wine brands to A.G. Oatley Wines, marking the latest stage of its restructuring programme.
Top 10 wine-related baby names
An analysis by db of three decades of birth registrations in England and Wales has found that Margaux is now the most popular wine-related name for a baby, having overtaken Chardonnay, which grew in popularity after Footballers’ Wives arrived on ITV in 2002. db trawled through every first name registered in England and Wales between 1996 and 2025, close to 40,000 of them, looking for anything borrowed from a grape, a region, a style of wine or the label of a famous bottle.
Top 10 wine-related baby names
An analysis by db of three decades of birth registrations in England and Wales has found that Margaux is now the most popular wine-related name for a baby, having overtaken Chardonnay, which grew in popularity after Footballers’ Wives aired on ITV in 2002. db trawled through every first name registered in England and Wales between 1996 and 2025, close to 40,000 of them, looking for anything borrowed from a grape, a region, a style of wine or the label of a famous bottle.
Great Wines Direct owner joins Tesco in race to buy Majestic
Komerz, the UK-based owner of Great Wines Direct, has reportedly entered the bidding for Majestic Wine Group, putting it in competition with supermarket giant Tesco. The retailer’s owner, Fortress Investment Group, is seeking a buyer seven years after acquiring the business for £95 million. Komerz, a technology-led distribution business founded in 2023, has submitted an offer for Majestic Wine Group as the auction for the UK’s largest specialist wine retailer gathers pace.
#WeekInPictures: Louis Latour makes history
This week, Eléonore Latour became the first woman to hold an executive role at Maison Louis Latour. Elsewhere, Juvé & Camps celebrated 50 years of Reserva de la Familia, Joseph Phelps unveiled its latest Insignia and Gusbourne reflected on an exceptional English harvest. Eléonore Latour makes family history Eléonore Latour, 28, became the first chief brand officer of Maison Louis Latour and the first woman to hold an executive position at the historic Bourgogne producer.
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