According to the Wine and Spirit Association consumer expenditure on Alcoholic Drinks was about £41.3b in 2006, with £14.5b spent on wine.

Certainly pub group Barracuda is pretty typical in reporting that wine sales grew 17% during the last three months of 2007 after it made a concerted effort to upsell to customers.

While beer consumption is continuing to decline in the UK (down 9.7% in November 2007, following a 7.7% drop in October and an 8.2% decline in September according to the British Beer & Pub Association), we’re all drinking far more wine.

Such is our thirst that France has recently taken the controversial decision to expand the boundaries of the Champagne region to keep up with demand for the world’s celebratory tipple of choice.

Although the Chancellor's considerable tax hike in the 2008 Budget (14p on the price of a bottle of wine) means people in Britain now pay more tax on wine than in any other European Union country, there’s still an opportunity to uncork profits with a well constructed wine list and give the supermarkets a run for their money.

Below we have, if not quite bottled, collected together the latest news, features and advice on making the most out of your wine offer from planning an effective wine list to interviews with experts in the field. Bottoms up!

Latest wine articles

Make your wine list easy to use
If your wine list is confusing to read, with no hint to the style of the wines, people will go for the cheaper, safer options every time. Get the layout of your wine list right and watch your profits soar
Read article here >>

Interview with Australian wine expert Matt Skinnner
Matt Skinner came to the public eye as Jamie Oliver's wine-loving sidekick, and over the past few years he has rubbed shoulders with a host of celebrities. Now, though, he has decided to head home to Australia. Has he had enough of the elitism in the UK wine trade? Absolutely not, he tells James Aufenast
Read article here >>

Biodynamic winemaking
If you're of a cynical bent, you might think that the world of wine couldn't possibly become more pretentious than it is. Prepare, then, for your jaw to drop at the practices of biodynamic winemaking. The strangest thing is, as Fiona Sims reports, these odd rituals actually seem to work
Read article here >>

How to improve your wine sales
How do you push wine sales without being pushy? Fiona Sims gets the lowdown from some high-flyers
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The Galvin Cup - get your entries in
The Galvin Cup, which will be staged at the Grosvenor House hotel in early June, is aimed at both student and professional bar staff, with a trophy and £1,000 for the winner plus other big prizes up for grabs. Fiona Sims sets the scene
Read article here >> 

More wine articles on Caterersearch

Gerard and Nina Basset opens latest venture Hotel TerraVina

Liven up your wine list

Apéritifs list - That something extra

Educate your front-of-house team to boost wine sales

Latest wine news on Caterersearch

Barracuda reports a rise in wine sales

3663 teams up with Bibendum to launch new wine company

Academy of Food & Wine names UK Sommelier of the Year

France's Champagne region to expand

Corney & Barrow sets its sights on expansion

MP calls for smaller wine glasses

The List on Caterersearch

Dehesa, London

The Devonshire, Chiswick, London

Summer Lodge, Evershot, Dorset

Le Cafe Anglais, London