The 1988 acquisition of Irish Distillers Ltd (IDL) by Pernod Ricard is the great drinks industry acquisition that almost never happened. As the story goes, the French company – then a fraction of the size of today’s colossus – originally only wanted a small slice of the Irish whiskey pie.
Cognac producers to fund uprooting of own vines
Representing Cognac grape growers, the UGVC said "the wine industry had no choice but to take responsibility".
Fiona Holland January 28 2026









