The week that was

By Andrew Catchpole

Published: 15 December, 2017

In case you missed some of the headlines this week on harpers.co.uk, here’s a review of the top online news, analysis, opinions and features.

Top stories: Investigations into alleged fake Bordeaux wines drew the most clicks this week, with readers drawn to the drama of potential reputational damage for France’s flagship region.

Predictions were also in the wintry air, with Majestic announcing that 2018 would be an “unusual” year for wine, while international logistics company Kukla warned that supply of the UKs favourite wine category would be under increasing pressure as China and the US upped their imports from Australia.

Meanwhile, some of the industry’s leading movers and shakers continued to stir the pot. Paul Schaafsma announced a major Oz distribution deal for Broadland, while Boutinot backed South Africa with a new consumer-friendly range and Alliance Wine’s Thistledown estate stepped up it’s championing of old vine Grenache.

Out among the vines, influential Languedoc producer Jean-Claude Mas spread his influence with new acquisitions and the niche producers of Tenerife announced a new PDO.

• Tenerife poised to launch new PDO

• Diageo reaches five million milestone in its efforts to tackle drink driving

• Berry Bros appoints Enotria & Coe’s Davies to lead role

• Major alleged fake Bordeaux investigation causes stir in Bordeaux

• Majestic predicts ‘unusual’ year for wine in 2018

• “Bump in the road” predicted for imports of Oz wine

• Boutinot maps South Africa with three-tiers regional range

• Schaafsma says major Oz distribution deal makes Broadland "relevant" for the future

• Thistledown champions Grenache renaissance

• Jean-Claude Mas continues quest for Languedoc domination

Analysis and Insights: Plenty of juicy insights this week, with a look at how technology is changing the way that consumers interact with brands, bringing them closer and cutting out the middleman, leading our stories.

Following the divisive Supreme Court ruling on Minimum Unit Pricing, Harpers polled the UK-wide trade, with some surprising results…

And our features editor Jo Gilbert visited several members of Spain’s Grandes Pagos de España association for an update on the country’s most exclusive but forward looking ‘winemaking club’.

• Bricks versus clicks

• Discovering Spain’s private members’ club

• Harpers’ poll on MUP reveals a trade divided

People and Opinion: Columnist Guy Woodward flies the banner for Port, celebrating its revival, while asking why sherry lags behind beyond a few hip bars in London.

And out Meet the Buyer series continued, with Louis Oliver of Seven Cellars and Tim Gardener of Beckford Bottle Shop the latest to share stories of how they became buyers, their philosophy on the role and thoughts on the trade at large.

• Guy Woodward: The great Port revival

• Meet the buyers: Louise Oliver, Seven Cellars

• Meet the buyers: Tim Gardner, Beckford Bottle Shop

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