Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

UK's top sommelier revealed

Published: 07 May, 2009

This year's UK Sommelier of the Year has been named as 27-year-old Laura Rhys from Gerard Basset's Hotel TerraVina in Southampton.

LIWF - can you afford to miss it?

Published: 07 May, 2009

There are plenty of tailored events, tastings and seminars at the London International Wine Fair between May 12-14 to help you in your restaurant business.

All water is not equal, says Noura's Nicolas Angelina

Published: 06 May, 2009

Noura's Nicolas Angelina discovers there's more to water than meets the eye

Tom Aiken's sommelier Sebastien Morice on stepping into Gearoid's shoes

Published: 06 May, 2009

Tom Aikens' sommelier, Sebastien Morice, on how to step into big shoes without tripping up and finding the elixir of life

Agony Aunt - Emily O'Hare

Published: 06 May, 2009

I was thinking of creating a whisky list to complement my wine list. How can I make the most of this new list?

Natasha Hughes gets her lips round some fizz at the annual Champagne tasting

Published: 06 May, 2009

Annual Champagne Tasting and English Wine Producers Tasting 2009

PR push for Prosecco

Published: 16 April, 2009

Increasingly popular Prosecco is to be boosted by its first ever UK public relations charm offensive as the sparkler continues to take the fizz out of Champagne sales.

Industry braces itself for Budget

Published: 16 April, 2009

The drinks industry is stepping up its campaign to persuade the government to put a freeze on alcohol duty rises ahead of the Budget (April 22).

The second part of Natasha Hughes' marathon tasting round Argentina

Published: 16 April, 2009

Argentina, 14-22 March 2009

Daniel Marzotto on how he ended up at Osteria dell'Angolo in Westminster

Published: 16 April, 2009

Daniel Marzotto, the assistant manager at Claudio Pulze's latest restaurant, Westminster's Osteria dell'Angolo, on the twin challenges of learning English and convincing customers that food and wine matching is still worthwhile in a recession.

Agony Aunt - Jade Koch

Published: 16 April, 2009

Like many people working in the wine trade, I really like German Rieslings, but so far they haven't been terribly successful on our wine list. Can you make any suggestions about the best way to get people to order them?

Comments - Duncan Watts

Published: 16 April, 2009

It's not enough just to list a good selection of wines in your restaurant, says Duncan Watts, owner and managing director of the Rocket group, you also have to find ways of making that list accessible to your customers

Natahsa Hughes spends a week tasting her way round Argentina

Published: 06 April, 2009

Argentina, 14-22 March 2009

Trade's fightback reaches No 10

Published: 06 April, 2009

It was not just Barack Obama who caused a stir for security guards at Downing Street this week, but a trade delegation including a wolf glove puppet also descended on Number 10 on March 31.

Business as usual for LIWF despite drop off

Published: 06 April, 2009

The organisers of next month's London International Wine Fair remain bullish despite an expected drop of up to 10% in exhibitors.

Chapel Down hogs a food-matching first

Published: 06 April, 2009

In what is thought to be the first initiative of its kind, English Wines Group has taken the idea of matching wine with food to the extreme - by creating a wine specifically to accompany a best-selling dish at a London restaurant.

Profile - Federico Graziani

Published: 06 April, 2009

Federico Graziani is in charge of the wine list at Milan's famous Il Luogo di Aimo e Nadia. Already the author of two books, he's currently continuing his research into the world of wine by studying for his MW.

Comments - Lucy Clements

Published: 06 April, 2009

Lucy Clements is not only the head winemaker at Chapel Down, she's also in charge of the wine list at the winery's restaurant, Richard Philips at Chapel Down. Here she explains why Bacchus can give your wine list a bit of a boost

Agony Aunt - how to boost Champagne sales

Published: 06 April, 2009

We've been struggling with our (normally healthy) Champagne sales over the past few months. Can you suggest any ways I can boost the turnover on this part of our list?

Profile - Franck Gerome

Published: 23 March, 2009

Franck Gerome is the head sommelier at the Sharrow Bay Hotel, and a semi-finalist in Heidsieck's Sommelier of the Year competition, having won the heats that took place in northwest England.