Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Gallo's NZ venture

Published: 16 June, 2009

E&J Gallo is hoping to cash in on the Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc phenomenon with its first wine from New Zealand going on sale in the UK.

Romania zeros in on UK market

Published: 16 June, 2009

Romanian wine producers have joined forces in the country's most concerted bid to crack the UK market.

Tastings: Simon Woods gets his lips round eight new releases and suggests where they could fit into your wine line-up

Published: 16 June, 2009

Simon Woods gets his lips round eight new releases and suggests where they could fit into your wine line-up.

Producers celebrate U-turn on rosé

Published: 16 June, 2009

Rose wine producers in France and Italy are toasting a victory after the European Union made a U-turn over plans to allow the popular wine to be made from blends of red and white wine.

Comment: Andrew Catchpole documents the rise of the super sommelier

Published: 16 June, 2009

A new breed of wine expert has transformed the traditional role of sommelier, says Andrew Catchpole.

Profile: Hamish Anderson, the Tate's wine buyer on earning what all businesses strive for - respect

Published: 16 June, 2009

Hamish Anderson has what many in business strive for - respect - and has spent the past 11 years buying wine for the Tate.

Sticking with wine prices pays off in downturn

Published: 01 June, 2009

On-trade operators who have held their wine prices or switched to cash margin have reported successful trading despite the recession.

Philipponnat goes dry

Published: 01 June, 2009

Champagne Philipponnat is the latest fizz producer to go ultra-dry with the release of a non-dosage cuvée.

Agony Aunt; How much fuss should I make of customers celebrating a special occasion?

Published: 01 June, 2009

'A young couple came into the restaurant the other night and told me they were celebrating their first wedding anniversary. I felt that I should be doing something to make their evening that little bit more special, but I'm not quite sure what. Can you advise me on what I should do under such circumstances?'

Natasha Hughes tastes the best of Prosecco and Pomerol

Published: 01 June, 2009

Château La Conseillante, Pomerol, tasting, London, 15 May 2009

Thierry Tomasin describes the qualities of a great sommelier

Published: 01 June, 2009

What makes the difference between an average sommelier and a good one? Former sommelier turned restaurant owner Thierry Tomasin shares the fruit of his experience.

Profile: Alvaro Marcos Garcia, of Theo Randall, on being asked for ice cubes in a Bordeaux cru class and Sauvignon Blanc with steak

Published: 01 June, 2009

Award-winning sommelier Alvaro Marcos Garcia thinks wine communicator Olly Smith is from another planet and thinks the customer is always right, even if they do want a Sauvignon Blanc with their steak.

Eastern Europe tipped for success

Published: 01 June, 2009

Eastern Europe, Spain, Argentina and South Africa were the countries tipped for future wine success in the UK market by leading trade figures at the London International Wine Fair.
Speaking at the Harpers debate, Simon Baile, owner of Oddbins, Matthew Dickinson, commercial director of Thierry's and Neil Bruce, wine director at Waverly TBS, highlighted former Eastern Block countries in particular as offering good value.

Wine countries tipped for success

Published: 19 May, 2009

Three of the trade's leading figures revealed which countries they were tipping for future success at last week's Harpers Wine & Spirit debate at the LIWF.

Restaurants get creative as downturn rages on

Published: 19 May, 2009

Leading restaurateurs are launching a raft of new innovations, including starting off-sales and slashing prices of their top wines. It comes as a new survey shows the rate of insolvencies has shot up since 2008.

On-trade distributors rated in survey

Published: 19 May, 2009

Hallgarten Druitt has been named the best on-trade wine distributor in the UK in a comprehensive survey of thousands of outlets across the country.

Comments - Christine Parkinson from Hakkasan on why sommelier competitions are a good thing

Published: 19 May, 2009

Hakkasan's Christine Parkinson explains why sommelier competitions aren't just relevant to those who work in Michelin-starred restaurants

Agony Aunt - Which countries offer the best value wines in the current climate?

Published: 19 May, 2009

In these tight times, I'm looking for some wines that will give my wine list that something extra - at a reasonable price. What do you suggest?

Natasha Hughes on her favourite wines from the London International Wine Fair

Published: 19 May, 2009

Wines from the London International Wine Fair, 12-14 May 2009

Profile - Sommelier of the Year Laura Rhys on what makes her tick

Published: 19 May, 2009

Laura Rhys, a sommelier at Gerard Basset's Hotel TerraVina, has just won the Sommelier of the Year competition. Here she tells us just what it takes to be the best.