Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Friday read: Furmint February in the spotlight

Published: 23 February, 2024

With its endless grey skies and pervading gloom, February doesn’t offer much to raise the spirits, but wine lovers can now at least associate the month with Hungary’s best-known grape. Furmint February was launched here six years ago by Wines of Hungary UK to promote awareness and consumption of the variety once best known for sweet Tokaji (Aszu), but now appearing in elegant dry wines from the variety’s native Tokaj region, with its rich volcanic soil, but increasingly across Hungary, including in Somlo and Eger.

Howard Ripley embraces Central Europe

Published: 06 September, 2022

Howard Ripley Wines has taken the plunge in Central Europe, adding eight new producers from across the region to its portfolio.

Vida launches Central and Eastern-European trade list in UK

Published: 14 April, 2022

Central and Eastern European wine specialist Vida Wines & Spirits has officially launched its Vida+ Trade offer to the quality on- and off-trades.

Round Table: Selling Central & Eastern Europe’s Appeal

Published: 18 March, 2022

The less discovered wines of central and eastern Europe offer a fantastic opportunity for UK buyers, but primarily at a more premium level.

Furmint February puts climate change in the crosshairs as only three out of ten vintages are good enough for Aszú

Published: 31 January, 2020

The extent to which climate change is impacting the production of styles of Furmint was highlighted at recent Wine of Hungary masterclass, where participants were told that making sweet wines will be the “challenge” for Tokaj over the next decade or even century.

New Tokaji release from Disznókő

Published: 14 August, 2019

Hungary’s Disznókő has added a new Tokaji to its range.

Q&A: Hemant Kotecha, founder/managing director, Myliko Wines

Published: 15 July, 2019

Widely credited as establishing Hungarian wine in the UK, Myliko Wines’ founder and managing director Hemant Kotecha caught up with Jo Gilbert to explain how importing ski jackets from Romania evolved into a pioneering wine business

Eastern promise: Bulgaria and Hungary

Published: 01 April, 2019

After a few difficult vintages in western wine countries, central and eastern Europe are piquing buyers’ interest for well-made international varieties. Countries in these regions are increasingly seen as exciting for wine drinkers, offering an array of high-quality, authentic, local grapes and good-value wines that can offer a new story for retailers and sommeliers.

Hungary calls on on-trade for Furmint February

Published: 28 January, 2019

As part of the first Furmint February to be held in the UK, participating on-trade and independent retailers have the chance of winning a trip to Hungary.

Lure of the East

Published: 14 August, 2018

Countries such as Greece, Turkey, Hungary and Romania are no longer considered off-piste when it comes to winemaking. Justin Keay looks at what’s on offer

Sign up for SITT - the only trade tastings tailored purely for independent merchants

Published: 25 July, 2018

As the autumn buying window fast approaches Harpers is once again running it’s popular independent merchant-focused Specialist Importers Trade Tastings (SITT) in London and Leeds this September, and we look forward to welcoming all indie buyers at these events.