The June issue of The Wine Merchant is now online, coinciding neatly with the arrival of the printed product on doormats across the land.

Plenty going on as always including some excellent analysis by David Williams on the way forward for Italy in the independent trade; a look at how vodka can give gin a run for its money on the spirits shelves; and an interview with Patrick Jouan of Le Bon Vin in Sheffield.

We also welcome our new regular columnist Adeline Mangevine, offering hasty despatches from the frontline of wine retailing. She’s a lovely lady but doesn’t mince her words … in her debut column she has a few bones to pick with wine critics.

In this issue we’re looking for examples of the best independent wine websites in the business. The ones that we select will win some fantastic goodies from Boutinot.