OWC There is a difference of opinion between sparkling wine producers regarding the use of foils on their bottlenecks. Champagne producers claim that they should be kept as they enhance the appearance and offer a luxury touch. Whilst some English wineries producing sparkling wines state that ditching them would save them between 10p-50p in production costs. On 28 August, 2023, the EU ruled that Champagne foils would became optional. The argument is extending to hygiene and environmental issues , with members of the Trade voicing their opinion that foils play a crucial role in preventing bacteria getting in to bottles. Plus getting rid of the plastic in foils can only be a long term benefit in reducing greenhouse gasses. What all parties would probably agree on is that foils make it harder to tamper with bottles. Cherie Spriggs, head winemaker at English Sparkling producer Nyetimber told the drinks business: “They add a layer of protection to the cork, it reduces the likelihood of damage and makes tampering harder. So foil sleeves are not without purpose and we will continue to use them.”
OWC As far back as 2006, researchers at the University of Glasgow were exploring whether an apple cider a day could keep the doctor away. While findings of their study were not made public, it was discovered that English cider apples contained antioxidants linked to protection against stroke and heart disease. It sounds like good news for cider drinkers, however some experts state that the harm caused by alcohol can outweigh any positives. Mark Gilbert a nutritionist for the 1:1 Diet by Cambridge Weight Plan published “Apples, even after fermentation, contain organic acids and polyphenols and very small amounts of vitamins and minerals, which have been shown to have beneficial health properties. Polyphenols include quercetin, which is particularly high in apples, and which has been shown to reduce inflammation and may be good for heart health. “There is not enough published research on cider to say whether it is more or less healthy than beer or wine but it stands to reason that healthy fruits, like the grapes and apples that make up wine and cider respectively, would be more healthful than beer or other grain-based alcoholic drinks.”
OWC American rye whiskey is experiencing a renaissance, capturing the attention of enthusiasts and judges alike with its bold spice and rich complexity. At the 2025 Beverage Testing Institute judging—one of the most respected spirits competitions—12 rye whiskeys earned gold medals, showcasing the depth and diversity of the category. Leading the pack, Heaven Hill’s “Grain To Glass” Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey claimed the title of Best American Rye Whiskey, standing as a benchmark for quality in this resurgent style. Heaven Hill ‘Grain To Glass’ Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey, 52.6% ABV, 750 ml. 95 Points, Gold Medal. It is the largest of the family-owned and operated distilleries in the U.S., with a legacy dating back to 1935. Its “Grain to Glass” series emphasizes traceability, using estate-grown grains and in-house fermentation and distillation. It’s based on a mash bill of 63% rye, 24% corn and 13% malted barley.
OWC Chelsea and England star Cole Palmer has been locked in a legal battle with a French vineyard, Chateau Palmer, over trademarking his name. Palmer reportedly wanted to trademark his famous "ice cold" goal celebration with the name "Cold Palmer", but the England international's application is now facing a legal challenge from a winery based out of Bordeaux. By trademarking his name, Palmer hopes to use the moniker for a wide range of products from toiletries to clothes, while his application also asked for legal protection to market wine.
OWC A dark porter brewed close to the tracks of the Croydon tram network has been named Beer of the Year. Anspach and Hobday’s London Black has been voted the No1 British Beer of 2025 in the Top 50 UK Beer Awards. Their London Black is brewed at their Croydon brewery on the Valley Point Industrial Estate, just a short walk from Therapia Lane tram stop. Paul Anspach, the brewers co-founder said “The whole team is incredibly proud and grateful for this award, London Black is the lifeblood of Anspach and Hobday, and is a distillation of who we are as a brewery and a business. As our contribution to London’s rich and diverse brewing scene, we are proud to be reaffirming porter as the original beer of London.”
OWC The US wine & spirits industry could face nearly $2bn in lost sales and 25,000 job losses if tariffs on EU imports aren’t lifted, warns the Toasts Not Tariffs Coalition. 57 industry bodies have urged President Trump to secure a reciprocal, tariff-free trade deal with the EU instead of the 15% imposed in August.
OWC A leading organic winery in Blenheim, Marlborough, has already attracted interest from both domestic and international buyers after hitting the market earlier this month. Included in the sale of Fromm Winery is 8.4 hectares of freehold land, along with all buildings, including the winemaking plant and associated equipment, plus “a substantial amount of stock” and an established national and international distribution network. Founded in Marlborough’s Southern Valleys in early 1992 by Swiss winemakers Georg Fromm and Hätsch Kalberer, Fromm made its first vintage that same year. The Fromms later returned to Switzerland in 2008 to focus on their family winery there, leaving the New Zealand property in the care of four directors. Over the decades, Fromm’s Marlborough arm has gained something of a cult reputation for its single-vineyard wines, made using organic practices and Burgundian winemaking techniques. Crucially, all of Fromm’s vineyards are now fully certified BioGro organic, having undergone conversion in 2005, with 60% of the producer’s vines dry-farmed. Among the varieties planted are Pinot Noir, Syrah, Malbec, Chardonnay, Riesling and Pinot Gris. But unlike most wine producers in Marlborough, Sauvignon Blanc is only harvested “during excellent vintages". Only around 3,000 cases are produced.
OWC In the 1960s, the late actor Terence Stamp bought several dozen cases of Château d’Yquem, the legendary Sauternes. He never drank them, but decades later, the bottles kept him afloat when his career stalled. In the 1990s, he spoke of being so short of money that he could not always afford a bus ticket. Again, he fell back on his Sauternes reserves. “Fortunately, I’d bought all this white wine, Château d’Yquem, in the Sixties. I hadn’t drunk much of it, so, whenever things got tight, I could sell a case and that would tide me over”. Classified in 1855 as Premier Cru Supérieur, it has long been regarded as one of the world’s greatest sweet wines. it can age for a century or more, developing layers of honey, spice and dried fruit character, and commands some of the highest prices at auction.
OWC Eight pubs are closing in the UK every week amid fears the trend will accelerate as the industry struggles to cope with rising costs and taxes. More than 200 pubs have closed in the last six months, the hardest hit area being the South East. UK pubs are part of our heritage, who we are, a focal point for relaxation and friendship and we are losing them. A staggering 2283 pubs have vanished from communities across England and Wales since the start of 2020. Many pubs have been hit by changes to discounts on business rates, the property tax affecting high street businesses. Hospitality businesses received a 60% discount on their business rates up to a cap of £110,000 - but this was cut to only 25% in April.
OWC Phylloxera has been detected for the first time in the Canary Islands, with confirmed cases in two locations on Tenerife. Until now, the Canaries were considered one of the few viticultural regions in the world untouched by the pest, an insect that feeds on vine roots and leaves. There is currently no cure or chemical control, neither are there mitigation measures for phylloxera. Producers believe the outbreak began when a local resident planted infected vines in their garden. The pest is thought to have spread from there to an abandoned vineyard in Valle de Guerra, where its presence was confirmed on 1 August. A second suspected case was reported in La Matanza de Acentejo, also in northern Tenerife.
