It was acknowledged as best regional wine retailer in Northern Ireland – as well as in the UK capital – at the Decanter Retailer Awards 2023, securing top gongs in a shortlist containing some of the UK’s best-known retail wine specialists.

The 46 year-old business employs more than 40 staff and has outlets in Crossgar in County Down and in Highbury, London, and supplies many of the top hotels, restaurants and wine shops throughout the island of Ireland.

Awarding its Crossgar wine retail outlet number one in Northern Ireland, judges noted JN Wine’s ‘excellent service, wide range of wines along with an efficient operation that made it a worthy winner’.

The company’s London outlet, Highbury Vintners, picked up the award for Best Regional Wine Shop in London, with one judge saying: “Highbury Vintners is exactly what you want from your neighbourhood wine merchant, offering a great range with a very proactive, educated staff – what every high street should have.”

The Highbury store was also named runner up in the Decanter Awards ‘Spain Specialist Retailer of the Year’ category.

Founded in 1975 and based in London, Decanter is the world’s leading wine media brand and is the oldest and most prestigious consumer wine publication in the UK.

The two top Decanter award wins come hot on the heels of JN Wine’s 29^th consecutive win at the International Wine Challenge (IWC) in May which saw the Co Down team pick up the title of Regional Retailer of the Year for Northern Ireland 2023. Highbury Vintners was also named Best Regional Retailer in London.

Founder James Nicholson said: “We’re over the moon with our recent award successes. They reflect the strength of the team and our consistent dedication to delivering expertise, excellent service and a wide and expanding range of carefully selected, quality wines to our customers.

“Each and every member of the team plays a key role in our collective success and I’d like to thank them for embracing our ethos of constant improvement in delivering for our growing base of loyal customers at home and in businesses across the UK and Ireland.”

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The five-star property has transformed the lawn outside the Cultra Inn into a convivial alfresco extension bringing guests together over champagne, cocktails, canapés and charcuterie boards.

As part of the experience, a stunning new menu has been designed with a selection of canapés to enjoy including Smoked Salmon Blini; Lemon and Chorizo Arancini and Irish Chicken Liver Parfait Tart.

James McGinn, Managing Director of Hastings Hotels said: “We are thrilled to introduce the new Summer Champagne Garden at the Culloden Estate & Spa. This is the fourth year we have launched a different seasonal al fresco experience and every year we are thrilled at how well it is received by our guests and I am confident that this year will be no different.

“When the sun is shining, where else can you sit back, relax in luxury and enjoy a glass or two of Bollinger and delicious seasonal food surrounded by such stunning views.”

The Summer Champagne Garden is open all summer until 10^th September (daily from 12pm -9pm).

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It follows its introduction in the Republic in January and could see a levelling up  of prices across the island of  Ireland.

Minister Swann, below, said: “I made a commitment that I would hold a public consultation on the introduction of Minimum Unit Pricing (MUP) for alcohol in Northern Ireland within a year of the launch of the new Substance Use Strategy. I launched our new substance use strategy on 7 September 2021 and today I make good on my promise and launch this public consultation so that the people of Northern Ireland can have their say on this important policy.

“For many years now alcohol has been our drug of choice in Northern Ireland and this is reflected in our high rates of alcohol specific deaths. I believe that the introduction of MUP will have a direct impact and help to reduce the number of these deaths over time.

“I have been greatly encouraged by the positive evidence coming out about the introduction of MUP within Scotland and firmly believe that its introduction here has the potential to be a key population-level health measure to address the harms related to alcohol consumption and help to prevent individuals coming to harm in the first place.

“Research has shown that the full social cost to the Northern Ireland economy of alcohol-related harm could be as high as £900m per year, with up to £250m directly borne by the health sector alone and a further £383m borne by the Justice sector. However, this financial burden can never fully describe the incalculable impact that alcohol related harm has on our society.

“The evidence is quite clear that price is a key factor in driving alcohol-related harm. Alcohol is 74% more affordable now than it was 30 years ago, and the availability of alcohol at very low prices is encouraging excessive and, most importantly, harmful consumption.

“Now I want to hear the views of the public and I would urge everyone to have their say and respond to this consultation.”

Under the new law in the Republic the minimum price is 10 cent per gram of alcohol.

That means the cheapest 750ml bottle of wine costs €7.40 (12.5% alcohol) whereas previously it cost less than €5.

Gin and vodka (40%) costs no less than €20.71 for a 700ml bottle, 700ml of whiskey (43%) at least €22.09, and a 500ml can of beer €1.70.

Scotland was the first in Europe to introduce it in 2018, followed by Wales in 2020.

The consultation document is available on-line Department of Health (health-ni.gov.uk).

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The partnership will see Craigavon-based United Wines handle all distribution for the whiskey through its extensive on- and off-trade customer base in Northern Ireland and the Republic – including more than 1,000 bars, restaurants, hotels, off licenses, cash & carries, regional wholesalers and national multiples.

“To say we are excited to have secured the exclusive distribution rights for Titanic Distillers Premium Irish Whiskey is an understatement,” said United Wines managing director Martin McAuley.

“To secure such a premium brand as Titanic Distillers is a real coup.  The whiskey itself is second to none but the plans that the company has for a distillery on the very site where the Titanic was built, gives the brand a uniqueness and an authenticity that is impossible to recreate.

“Irish Whiskey is the fastest growing spirits category of the last 10 years with sales expected to double in the next 20 years.  We’re really looking forward to working together with Titanic Distillers to promote this truly unique brand and product.”

This year promises to be a massive one for Titanic Distillers. having already secured one of the most globally recognised brand names on the planet, it has also submitted plans to convert the historic Titanic Pump-House and Thompson Dock into a new distillery and world class tourist attraction.

Titanic Distillers commercial director Stephen Symington said:  “We’re delighted to team up with United Wines as we launch Titanic Distillers Premium Irish Whiskey into the Irish market.

‘Great distilling tradition’

“We’re very aware that, in Titanic Distillers, we have a big responsibility as custodians of a huge historic global brand that is synonymous with Belfast – so we have laboured long and hard to develop and create a premium Irish Whiskey brand of which Belfast and Northern Ireland can be very proud.

“In the days before Prohibition, Belfast was once the largest producer of Irish Whiskey on the island of Ireland. We want to revive this great distilling tradition and bring Belfast back to the forefront of Irish Whiskey production.  What better way to do that than with an authentic brand that we feel embodies the very spirit of Belfast and of the workers who built the Titanic.

“We are now collaborating with stakeholders and funders, including Invest NI, on some really exciting plans for the Titanic Pump-House and Dry Dock which will only serve to reinforce this spirit.  We look forward to sharing these plans in due course.”

Titanic Distillers Premium Irish Whiskey, which is described as ‘full and rich with a smoky hint and a lingering finish’, is already listed in many of Belfast’s best-known pubs and hotels, including Bittles Bar, The Duke of York, Dark Horse and the Hastings Hotels group.

It retails at £34.95  for a 700ml bottle.

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A study led by DCU economist Anthony Foley found that out of 28 countries, across the EU and UK,  Ireland had the second highest overall rate among 28 included – with Finland in the top spot.

Responding to the findings DIGI chairman and corporate relations director at Diageo Ireland, Liam Reid, said the excise duty was “making us a far more expensive place to visit compared to other European countries”.

The research found that a 70cl bottle of Irish whiskey sold at an off-licence in Ireland is hit with an excise tax of €11.92, compared to just €2.90 for the same bottle sold in Italy.

Mr Reid added: “The Irish government takes approximately a third of the price of every drink purchased by a customer in a hospitality environment, money that could otherwise be invested by the business in maintaining employment, new staff, new premises, new technology, and new products and services

‘Central to communities’

“The French and German governments, as well as many others in Western Europe, such as Italy and Spain, recognise that their drinks industries are major employers, generate huge amounts of revenue for the economy through export and tourism, and are central to local communities and national heritage and culture.'”

The study also found that 15 of the countries it looked at included in the study do not charge any excise tax on wine, including major producers, Italy and Spain.

In response, DIGI called for the Republic’s Government to reduce excise duties on beer, cider, wine and spirits by 7.5% in October’s budget, “beginning a process to bring Ireland’s rates into line with other European countries”.

“If we truly want to rebuild and reinforce the industry and ensure that it has the capacity for growth for years to come, we need to work towards a bold new vision: to create the best drinks and hospitality industry in the world,” Mr Reid added.

“That requires removing obstacles and using the economic instruments of the State to stimulate a sustainable recovery.”

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