OWC Here's a blast from the past for you - Claret.. Considered the byword for red Bordeaux. Its origins go back to the 12th century and is recognised for its full-bodied taste. The Bordeaux protected designation of origin has now formally validated bordeaux claret, linking it to the existing Bordeaux appellation. There is a twist however in that bottles available from the 2025 vintage will be lighter, less tannic and lower in alcohol. The shift in climate change means this much loved wine is less powerful but softer, fresher and fruitier.
OWC Brewdog is closing its distillery in Ellon, Aberdeenshire with no plans to reopen it. The closure means that the company will axe all of its spirit brands. This follows last years closure of 10 Brewdog bars across the UK. Last year the company announced job cuts following a £37 million loss in 2024. Total pre-tax losses are reported at £148 million spanning the last five years. Tough times indeed for this drinks company and its investors.
OWC Elton John has launched his own sparkling alcohol free wine. A 0% blanc de blancs bearing his name which includes a variety of ingredients including green tea and is made using cool-climate chardonnay grapes from Northern Italy.
David Furnish, Elton's partner and manager who once ran a Champagne Bar in Las Vegas stated that “It really came from something we wanted and needed in our life and in our home, both Elton and I are teetotal, and we love to entertain.”
Elton Zero is on sale at Sainsbury's with a RRP of £10 and at selected restaurants.
OWC Two in five Britons lie to their doctor about how much alcohol they drink when filling in medical forms. Many do so as they are embarrassed at being judged, a new study has found. In addition 27 per cent make up the number of units they drink because they have no idea on how many units they are consuming. The NHS limit is 14 units per week and a Confused.com ( the insurance comparison website) survey revealed that three quarters of those surveyed stated that they drank below this level. Tom Vaughn a spokesman for the website said ' Health professionals are there to help you, and being truthful about your alcohol consumption can save a lot of time and effort.'.
OWC The Hallgarten & Novum annual trade tasting event took place this week at Old Billingsgate, London and what a splendid event it was. With an array of wines from across the globe available to taste and enjoy supported by both producers and staff, the tasting was fun and informative with excellent wines ranging from Spanish reds from Bodegas Paniza at £8.90 a bottle to Champagne titans Dom Perignon, £225.28 and Krug Grand Cuvee, £249.94. ( thank you Moet Hennessey, for allowing me a second helping of Dom Perignon, it was the first time I had tasted it ..what a privilege). Visitors, of which there were many, were given a catalogue where wines were listed by section and country with table numbers and individual numbers for each bottle, where you could enter tasting notes. The event featured a guided opportunity to explore selected wines and panel discussions, each of the two days on topical wine issues. The theme of the tasting was Discover Taste Connect, which certainly lived up to its billing. 2025 was a year of accolades at Hallgarten Wines. They took a plethora of awards including two international Wine Challenge Merchant awards. Two Drinks Business awards and three Sommelier Wine Awards Merchant awards amongst a few others.
OWC A long running study in the USA, tracking thousands of adults aged 18 and over has concluded that just a couple of alcoholic drinks a night could almost double the risk of certain types of bowel cancer. The study took place over two decades. Researchers compared people's drinking habits across adulthood with who later developed bowel cancer – and found the biggest risks were seen in the heaviest regular drinkers, particularly for cancers in the rectum. Up to seven drinks a week for women and 14 for men was the yardstick, anything higher was a tipping point into heavier drinking. Researchers found that just two drinks a night over seven days had a 25% higher risk of colorectal cancer overall, and a 95% higher risk of rectal cancer, compared with lighter drinkers. The study also revealed that those who drank no more than one drink a week had no increased risk of colorectal cancer. Researchers also split people into never drinkers, current drinkers and former drinkers – and found no sign of higher risk among those who had quit, suggesting cutting back, or stopping altogether, may help protect against bowel cancer.
OWC An article in Forbes magazine suggests that vineyards located in the Canary Islands may be the most unusual in the world as the landscape does not resemble most wine regions. The Canary Islands were formed by volcanic eruptions, landslides and erosion over many thousands of years. A typical vine is planted in the centre of a shallow crater, low to the ground protected by a curved wall of lava stones. There are no trellised rows, which you immediately connect to a vineyard. With rainfall being scarce and difficult terrain for vines to flourish it hasn't stopped the islands producing quality wine since the 15th Century.
OWC The Revolution Bar chain has announced the closure of 21 venues with losses of nearly 600 jobs. The Revell Collective who also own Revolucion de Cuba and Peach pubs made the decision in October. A statement by the company, said that it had faced 'a continued period of external challenges' The type of which, I'm sure has been covered in previous blogs. Administrators have announced two deals which have secured the future of 41 sites and 1582 jobs. The remaining Peach pubs business has been bought by the new Coral pub company.
OWC Wine and Spirit prices are increasing from this month. The tax levied on alcoholic beverages will rise by 3.66% in line with the Retail Prices index inflation, a measure confirmed in November's autumn budget. Ultimately, surprise, surprise consumers will bear the brunt of additional costs. Official figures illustrate the impact: the duty on a typical 37.5 per cent alcohol by volume (ABV) bottle of gin will climb by 38p to £8.98, inclusive of VAT.
OWC Continuing the thread of price increases. Heineken is to increase the price of all its draught products by 3.1 per cent in a move which will see the cost of a pint of lager, stout and cider made by the brewer climb by around 20 cent. The price hike is likely to be even higher in some pubs in urban centres. Diageo have also said that it is increasing the cost of a pint of Guinness including adding 10% on the wholesale price of Guiness 0.0. Seems like there are three things you can't avoid now - Death, Taxes and the Increasing cost of your daily tipple.
