Richard Siddle

If you want one individual with the vision, experience and expertise to sum up the macro issues facing the global wine industry, alongside the micro challenges of running their own family wine business then it has to be South Africa’s Bruce Jack, who is as much a sage, a philosopher, and world commentator as he is a winemaker and brand owner of Bruce Jack Wines . Here in his own inimitable style he shares the highs, lows, ups and downs of 2025 and gives his unique perspective on how the global wine industry can maximise its opportunities as well as guard against the many head winds the sector faces.

“There has also never been a greater opportunity for the [drinks] industry to evolve.” That’s how Mitch Fowler, co-founder of Fero , the breakthrough funding and supply chain platform, looks back on what it has been able to achieve in a fast moving 2025 and what he is most looking forward to going into 2026 where he believes it is uniquely placed to help give drinks producers, importers and retailers the financial and business support to take their companies to the next level.

All the global wine industry’s structural and production challenges were starkly exposed at last month’s World Bulk Wine Exhibition in Amsterdam. There might have been over 240 exhibiting producers there with millions of litres of wine to sell, the big issue was finding buyers willing to pay the price they wanted for it. The combined impact of Trump’s trading tariffs, the collapse of the Chinese wine market, declining global consumer consumption and huge differences in wine supply between the major wine producing countries resulted in a seismic year in the show’s history. Where the power lay very much in the hands of increasingly ambivalent buyers willing and able to cherry pick the best deals. Richard Siddle talks to key players on both sides of the buying and selling fence to try and unpick what business was really being done at WBWE.

Is there another wine producing country in the world that has the depth and diversity of wines available from all its different wine regions? The UK wine drinker seemingly can't get enough of its wines as Italy is now the UK’s top wine exporter by volume and second by value, according to the Italian Trade Agency that is once again bringing its landmark tasting - Borsa Vini Italiani - to London in January. Here we set out what you can expect from a tasting that promises to bring you the best of what Italy can currently offer.

Looking to source a specific wine from France? Or learn more about French wineries from family-owned estates to longstanding houses and dynamic newcomers to lesser-known appellations. As VIN 2026 fast approaches, we delve behind the scenes with VIN organisers Claire Prothon (CP) and Pandora Mistry (PM), senior wine and spirits advisers at Business France who work all year round helping to matchmake UK wine buyers, merchants, retailers and on-trade buyers with the right French producers for their business needs.

The strength of Provence rosé means it has now become a must-stock style of wine within the ever expanding overall rosé category. That was one of the key conclusions made in our recent The Buyer debate, in partnership with Vins de Provence , with a panel of leading wine buyers, importers and distributors. In part two of our report the panel examines the commercial impact of Provence rosé, the opportunity to trade up and introduce more superior tier styles, whilst also being aware of the rosé competition from other regions and countries. They also have the chance to taste through a selection of wines that show the potential of aged Provence rosés and how they perform across its different appellations. ( Photography and video by Harry Siddle ).

“ Elijah Craig has the historical bonafide that no other bourbon brand can claim – without Elijah Craig the category wouldn’t exist.” As claims go that is right up there, but it is one that Bryan Fallon, managing director of Heaven Hill International , is proud to make about a bourbon brand that continues to set the benchmark for other leading bourbons to live up to. Here he explains how it hopes to expand its worldwide distribution with a particular focus on the UK.

One of the undoubted biggest success stories in the global wine industry over the last 10 years has been the phenomenal rise in the quality, demand and premiumisation of Provence wines, super-charged by the growth in pale blush Provence rosé which has become the benchmark style for rosé all over the world. To explore and better understand just how some of the UK’s biggest importers, distributors and retailers are working with Provence rosé The Buyer teamed up with Vins de Provence to bring together a panel of leading buyers from across the premium on and off-trade. As well as sharing their insights on where they see the Provence rosé category going next, they were able to taste a selection of rosés that best demonstrate the premium potential of Provence wines, presented by Provence UK brand ambassador, Ray O’Connor MW and Jeany Cronk, co-owner and founder of leading Provence producer, Maison Mirabeau , and co-chair of Vins de Provence’s marketing and communication committee. Here is part one o

Mags Jango on Coulure & creating a neighbourhood London wine bar

“I love the challenge of making great wine with as little intervention as possible…At Kosta Browne we put so much time energy and resources into growing the partnering with the best vineyard sites that I think it’s important to showcase that purity and quality in the glass without alterations.” That’s how Julien Howsepian explains his winemaking philosophy and approach to making wine at multi-award-winning Californian producer Kosta Browne , with a growing number of prestige wines being made in multiple regions across the state. The estate, which is part of the Duckhorn Portfolio , is now working in the UK with Top Selection , to widen its distribution in the premium on and off-trade.