Consumers are increasingly scrutinising what goes into their drinks, but the term ‘clean’ remains largely unregulated.

With two new co-CEOs in charge, and responding to the challenges facing the fine wine market, Britain’s oldest wine merchant, Berry Bros. & Rudd, has launched a service-led, tiered membership community called House of 1698, db can exclusively reveal.

The UK supermarket giant, reportedly in the running to buy Majestic, said that its new partnership with Uber Eats has “not cannibalised” sales. db looks at why this matters for the retailer’s Majestic bid.

Gusbourne says it cannot make enough still Pinot Noir to meet demand without taking fruit away from its sparkling wines, presenting the Kent producer with an increasingly welcome dilemma.

Two things are true: (i) the fine wine sector is seriously struggling, and (ii) AI has triggered a seismic operational shift, panellists agreed at The Drinks Business Conference last week.

UK supermarket Tesco is reportedly among the bidders making a play for Majestic as the wine retailer is put up for sale by owner Fortress Investment Group.

Diageo has secured a significant court victory over allegations that its Don Julio and Casamigos tequilas were falsely marketed as “100% agave”. A New York federal judge dismissed the lawsuit after finding that the plaintiffs had failed to provide sufficient evidence of widespread adulteration.

The UK Government looks set to bottle Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s plan for beer in football stands. It should run the trial instead, says James Bayley.

Hide and Hedonism Wines founder Evgeny Chichvarkin has revealed that reducing the premium on fine wine failed to attract more customers. Speaking at The Drinks Business Conference, he suggested restaurant mark-ups may not be the main reason fine wine consumption is falling.

Saint-Sardos will produce no wine in 2026 after the cooperative responsible for 97% of its output lost its remaining grape supply. The south-west French appellation told db that only “a maximum potential of 12 to 15 hectares remained in spring 2026”.

Chapel Down is aiming to win the equivalent of 1% of the global Champagne market by 2035 as sales of its traditional method sparkling wines continue to grow. CEO James Pennefather told the drinks business that the company sees a “clear runway” for expansion, particularly in the US.

Brewdog’s new owner has promised to put employees at the centre of the brewer’s next chapter, months after its £33 million rescue by Tilray Brands. The pledge comes as former staff and other creditors face losses following the administration of parts of the business.

French wine production is forecast to fall to almost 34 million hectolitres in 2026, putting the harvest 17% below its recent average after drought and heatwaves hit vineyards across the country.

Guinness has gone from a working-class staple to one of the most fashionable drinks in Britain, complete with a second clothing collaboration with Percival. James Bayley asks what its transformation says about the way younger consumers think about authenticity, identity and drink brands.

In the latest retaliation against Canada, US President Donald Trump has announced an import ban on bottled and canned Canadian wines, beer and spirits from 29 September, though some bulk wines are exempt from the restriction. db reports.

Featuring a who’s who of fine wine trade figures, along with industry commentators, somms, and restaurateurs, next Wednesday’s db conference in London promises to deliver one-of-a-kind insights into the market for luxury drinks.

Ahead of his opening address at the db conference in London on Wednesday 23 September, Liv-ex’s Tom Burchfield has highlighted the dramatically more complex nature of the fine wine market – and why understanding it is increasingly important for current and future success.

Such was the extreme heat and dryness in Champagne this year that winemakers risked breaking the rules of the region – which is why they have been changed. Patrick Schmitt MW finds out what has been happening.

Donald Trump’s latest escalation of the trade war with Canada could shut some Canadian alcohol out of the US from the end of this month, potentially affecting major drinks companies on both sides of the border.

The BBC spent £13,018 with its preferred alcohol supplier in 2024/25, less than half the £26,131 spent through the same route in 2016. Previously released figures give an unusually detailed look inside the broadcaster’s drinks cabinet.