The topic of glass recycling is at the heart of quite different discussions in two parts of the UK. An initiative, backed by the London Wine Trade Fair is attempting to clarify the situation.
Britain is one of the three most important wine markets in the world — but its finance minister has just savagely raised the tax on wine and spirits. Robert Joseph considers the likely impact on the UK’s position as a target for exporters.
The northernmost part of the UK is planning to bring in a return scheme for bottles and cans this summer to improve its poor recycling rates. Many in the British drinks industry would prefer it not to.
The UK is now a wine producing nation, with increasingly well-regarded sparkling wines. However, as Chris Losh reveals, this is a far from easy market. (Additional reporting by Robert Joseph)
The sparkling wine category is booming, with Champagne in hot demand. this has influenced other countries such as England now producing around 10m bottles per year. Nyetimber is the UK's longest-established and largest producer.
The United Kingdom has one of the highest tax regimes on alcohol in the world. It was feared that a new regime to be applied next February would have made matters even worse, while introducing unworkable impracticality into the UK trade. Those threats have been lifted. For the moment.
In 2021, thirsty US wine drinkers popped 69% more Champagne corks than the previous year. Some of that dramatic increase can be attributed to the impact of Covid on 2020, but sales are still growing and, as Sarah Philips McCartan reveals, France’s iconic fizz is not the only beneficiary of this trend.
It’s got a wine-growing history that dates back to the Roman world. It’s got more than 220 authorised grape varieties over 55,000 hectares of vineyards, and it’s one of the most exciting wine-growing countries in Europe.
