Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Absolut for sale

Published: 23 July, 2008

By Ron Emler
The election of a new centre-right government in Sweden has
prompted speculation about the future of Absolut, the world's third biggest-selling vodka brand.

An eco-friendly acorn

Published: 23 July, 2008

Acorn House will be opening its doors to the public on 14 November and claims to be London's first truly eco-friendly training restaurant'.

Lower-alcohol wine from Banrock Station

Published: 23 July, 2008

Banrock Station, the Constellation-owned Australian brand, has launched Crimson Cabernet Sauvignon, a lower-alcohol red wine, to the UK market, following a successful launch in its homeland.

Paris in Farringdon

Published: 23 July, 2008

A Parisian-style brasserie, complete with black-and-white tiled floors and large mirrors, will be launched in London's Farringdon in October.

New Scotch distillery looking for members

Published: 23 July, 2008

A new whisky distillery in Fife, due to open next year, is looking for members to sign up and receive bottlings for the next 50 years.

Toptable expands

Published: 23 July, 2008

Toptable, the restaurant search and booking website, has bought the City eating group for an undisclosed sum.

Bowmore to release 30 year old

Published: 23 July, 2008

Islay-based Scotch producer Bowmore is to launch a 30 year-old whisky exclusively for the travel retail market.

Fentimans in miniature

Published: 23 July, 2008

Fentimans has launched a new 125ml bottle of ginger beer designed to provide a mixer for the ontrade.

Whisky TV

Published: 23 July, 2008

A new web-based TV channel devoted to single malt whisky is set to launch today: www.singlemalt.tv

News Special: Noval declares '04 vintage

Published: 23 July, 2008

By Stuart Peskett - Resplendent in his trademark bow tie, Christian Seely, MD of Axa Millsimes, was in a good mood when he announced that Quinta do Noval would be releasing a 2004 vintage Port.

New winemaker at Vidal

Published: 23 July, 2008

Hugh Crichton has been appointed winemaker at New Zealand's Vidal winery.

From blogging to cartoons: another first for Stormhoek

Published: 23 July, 2008

Stormhoek, the South African brand that brought blogging to the wine trade, has embarked on another industry first with the launch of a limited-edition series of bottle designs.

Wine Group and Grands Chais de France form strategic alliance

Published: 23 July, 2008

The Wine Group (TWG) and Les Grands Chais de France (GCF), the world's third- and fourth-largest wine producers, have formed a global strategic alliance' to cover the US and Europe.

Argentina's first Fairtrade wines

Published: 23 July, 2008

The UK's first Fairtrade wines from Argentina will hit the shelves of the Co-op next week.

Uvine into administration; MD declared bankrupt

Published: 23 July, 2008

(By Stuart Peskett)

Uvine, the wine exchange company that acts as an intermediary for the buying and selling of wine, went into administration on Tuesday - with its MD, Christopher Burr MW, declared bankrupt.

Glenrothes 1975 launched

Published: 23 July, 2008

The latest release from Speyside distillery The Glenrothes is the 1975, joining the other vintage releases of that decade.

Kingsland Wines & Spirits signs deal with Overhex

Published: 23 July, 2008

Kingsland Wines & Spirits has formalised its partnership with Overhex Wines International of South Africa and will now represent Overhex as its UK distributor of both bulk and branded wines.

New on-trade sales boss at Enotria

Published: 23 July, 2008

Enotria Winecellars has appointed Simon Treanor as its new on-trade sales director.

LVMH surprises marketq

Published: 23 July, 2008

By Ron Emler
Wines and spirits played a large part in increasing sales and profits at LVMH, the world's largest luxury goods company, in the first half of 2006.