Author Archives: producer366

The Portman Group is the responsible body for drinks producers in the UK . They have recently launched the “Alcohol Sponsorship Code” which will bring together the widest ever partnership of drinks producers, retailers, rights holders and venues to support the promotion of responsible drinking. Continue reading →

An app has been created by Justin Amey and Ollie Hepworth who after a visit to the Czech Republic realised they couldn’t order a beer ! So they set out to devised an app to do just that. The app called VIVO the Czech for “beer”. Now you can order “one beer please” in 59 languages including Welsh Czech or Zulu ! Even Latin is included !

Juniper plants in Scotland have faced a number of threats recently with booming rabbit and vole populations taking their toll on plants that are already suffering from “old age”. Many juniper trees are more than 100 years old and now a new fungal disease is ripping through the Scottish junipers.

The public have been asked to help to determine the health of junipers bushes in their areas. Juniper has a blueish green appearance with dark blue to black berries. If bushes have orange or brown colours there may infected with the fungus Phytophthora austrocedrae.
Most gin distillers import their juniper berries from Italy so the Scottish problem should not effect the British gin industry.

The chef de cave at Moet & Chandon, Benoit Gouez, has stated his belief that there is still room to grow the category of rose Champagne, albeit at a slower rate than before. He said “Moet is seriously dedicated to making rose.” It is believed that rose accounts for an enormous 20% of Moet’s production. There has been steady growth since 1998. He stated that rose was not new to Champagne and especially not to Moet. He said that Napoleon Bonaparte in 1801 wrote asking specifically for “roze” to be disgorged from the 1799 vintage.

The South African producer Journey’s End is to celebrate the launch of their “Trebuchet Syrah” by commissioning a full scale, working version of the Medieval siege weapon. The project was conceived in partnership with fellow trebuchet fan, Huw Kennedy in Shropshire where Journey’s End owner Rollo Gab has a home.

The 20 m high, 12 tonne trebuchet will swing into action this week end near Bridgnorth when it will hurl several items at an old church organ and an old car. Mr Gabb is reported to have said “Combining ancient knowledge with modern technology is something that fascinates me and it seems to suit our 2008 Syrah down to the ground.”

Besides assisting in launching the wine the initiative aims to funds for local communities in both Shropshire and, where the wine is produced, in Stellenbosch. In Shropshire the funds raised will go towards a new church organ! The machine will betaken apart and moved to Stellenbosch for reconstruction and will be used to entertain visitors to the winery and also raise funds for charity.