Crémant de Bourgogne producers can now name individual vineyard sites on their labels, following a major regulatory breakthrough that ends a 15-year battle with French wine authorities.

A ministerial decree dated 2 September 2026 allows producers to identify named vineyard locations, known as lieux-dits, provided the grapes can be fully traced through harvest records, winery ledgers and stock declarations.

The change is designed to highlight the appellation's diversity, showcase exceptional sites and help drive its move upmarket, according to Pierre du Couëdic, executive director of producers' organisation UPECB.

The decision also revives a tradition that dates back to before 1938, when some producers included vineyard names on their bottles. Many growers already work with individual sites but have been unable to identify them on labels.

The move brings Crémant de Bourgogne into line with Crémant de Loire, whose producers already had the same right.
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67 Pall Mall plans to open its first Middle Eastern club in Dubai in early 2027, taking over an existing restaurant space in Zaha Hadid’s striking Opus building as it continues its international expansion.

The 12,000 sq ft site in Business Bay will feature extensive dining and lounge areas, private rooms, terraces and a 20-metre wine tunnel. The club expects to offer around 800 wines by the glass, spanning 45 countries.

Founded by Grant Ashton, 67 Pall Mall combines private membership with restaurants and an extensive fine-wine selection. Its business model relies on annual subscriptions, supplemented by food and drink sales, while keeping wine margins exceptionally low to encourage members to explore more expensive bottles.

Existing clubs operate in London, Verbier and Singapore, with a Hong Kong presence. Further projects in Shanghai, Melbourne, Bordeaux and Beaune are under development, although several have suffered significant planning and construction delays. Dubai is expected to open ahead of Shanghai in 2027.

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Republic National Distributing Company (RNDC), one of America's largest wine and spirits wholesalers, is moving towards an orderly wind-down after reaching agreements with creditors over its Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

The company has asked a US bankruptcy court to approve its liquidation plan, following a settlement that resolves several creditor objections. However, the proposal remains contested, with the US Trustee's Office also raising objections.

The scale of the collapse is significant for the drinks industry. RNDC's bankruptcy involves hundreds of millions of dollars in claims, including major suppliers such as Pernod Ricard, Proximo Spirits, Edrington and Delicato Family Wines.

The liquidation follows falling alcohol sales, mounting debt and the loss of major suppliers. Its eventual outcome could leave wineries and spirits producers facing substantial losses, while disrupting the distribution of drinks to American retailers and restaurants.

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French researchers are urging vineyard growers to rethink row orientation and ground cover as climate change extends France’s wildfire season. Rows aligned with prevailing winds could help flames spread, while dry grass may provide additional fuel.

Anne Ganteaume of France’s INRAE research institute says vineyard design and maintenance must become part of wildfire prevention, rather than relying solely on emergency services. Planting rows perpendicular to prevailing winds could help slow fires, while burying dry grass between rows would reduce combustible material.

The advice presents challenges for growers using cover crops to manage soils and encourage beneficial insects, particularly in organic vineyards. Irrigation to maintain green vegetation may offer a compromise.

Researchers warn that under a worst-case warming scenario of 4°C by 2100, the Mediterranean’s critical fire season could lengthen by more than six weeks, potentially running from late May to late October.
For wine producers, adapting vineyard layouts and ground management could become increasingly important to protecting vines, harvests and future production.

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Champagne’s long-running plan to expand its appellation has been halted, with growers voting overwhelmingly against revising the boundaries. Changing market conditions and a warmer climate have made the original proposals outdated.

The Syndicat général des vignerons de la Champagne (SGV) voted against the revision at a meeting in Épernay on 21 October. The project began in 2003 and could have increased the appellation’s vineyard area from 34,300 to around 43,000 hectares, potentially adding 40 villages.

SGV president Maxime Toubart said the technical criteria were no longer relevant, given how dramatically circumstances had changed. Exports now account for 58% of Champagne shipments, up from 41% in 2003, while rising temperatures have altered the region’s climatic classification.

However, the process is not permanently abandoned. A legal challenge means the boundaries must still be reviewed. With Champagne vineyard land worth up to €1 million per hectare, the stakes are considerable. Officials must now reconsider which terroirs belong in Champagne’s future.

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Small drinks businesses will benefit from higher business rates thresholds, but wine consumers face another alcohol duty increase. Chancellor John Healey's Budget also extends energy support for glass manufacturers.

The threshold for business rates relief for retail, hospitality and leisure businesses rises from £12,000 to £18,000 in rateable value, taking 70,000 businesses out of business rates altogether. Other business rates in the sector will be frozen in real terms for two years.

Small brewers and cider makers will receive an additional £10m in alcohol duty relief, although conventional wine producers are unlikely to benefit directly. Meanwhile, alcohol duty will rise by 4.55% from February 2027, in line with inflation.

Miles Beale, chief executive of the Wine and Spirit Trade Association, criticised the increase, warning that higher alcohol taxes would put further pressure on businesses and consumers during the cost-of-living crisis.

Energy-intensive industries, including glass manufacturers, will also benefit from an extension of the 25% electricity bill reduction until July 2027.

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