Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

BIODYNAMO

Published: 23 July, 2008

Michel Chapoutier talks to Neil Beckett about AOC, Hermitage, biodynamics, terroir and quantum physics, while tricking him into eating huge quantities of pig fat

Cigars, it seems, never go out of style. But like any consumer item, they are vulnerable to trends, peaks and sales troughs. Joanne Simon speaks to the UK's premium cigar purveyors to find out what's currently setting the stogy market alight

MORE GLOSS, MORE DROSS

Published: 23 July, 2008

Harpers' letters bag has been bulging with responses to Andrew Jefford's recent survey on Britain's wine PR and press. Key signals from his initial findings and the backlash make scary reading for British wine writers, but there's more good news for brands. Here, Andrew presents an update

Coming up ross

Published: 23 July, 2008

Provence may be best known in wine terms for ros, but not everyone in the ancient Var dpartement is keen on building a profile around the infamous pink stuff. Joanne Simon reports on a growing split among local producers

MOVE OVER NOUVEAU

Published: 23 July, 2008

The race for Beaujolais Nouveau may be over, but more serious wines have joined the fight for market share. James Aufenast reportsThe race for Beaujolais Nouveau may be over, but more serious wines have joined the fight for market share. James Aufenast reportsThe race for Beaujolais Nouveau may be over, but more serious wines have joined the fight for market share. James Aufenast reports

TOP TABLE

Published: 23 July, 2008

Renowned for its Port, the Douro Valley has been slow to make the grade as far as table wines are concerned. But, as Jamie Goode reports, a new generation of like-minded winemakers is helping to establish it as Portugal's most dynamic wine region

THE STATE OF THE FOURTH ESTATE

Published: 23 July, 2008

Wine writers spend much of the time lobbing verbal hand grenades and garlands from the safety of their PCs. Are they making and breaking the reputations of wines, or is their scribbling merely a self-indulgent irrelevance? Andrew Jefford invites the opinions of key trade figures and journalists

SUNSHINE AND SHOWERS

Published: 23 July, 2008

Europeans often fall into the trap of thinking that Southern Hemisphere summers are as consistent as ours are fickle. But the 2002 vintage confounded that notion, with Australia experiencing its coldest-ever summer in some areas, and the south of Chile one of its wettest. Harpers reviews the mixed harvest in key New World countries

THE CHANGING FACE OF WINE - PART 2

Published: 23 July, 2008

This week, Harpers concludes its review of The Fifth International Symposium of the Institute of Masters of Wine, held in Vienna between 11-13 July. In sessions and workshops, key speakers debated a range of thorny issues, from GM to RO, brands to corks, and custom-made wines to the spirit of AOC. Neil Beckett and Tim Atkin MW report

THE CHANGING FACE OF WINE

Published: 23 July, 2008

The Fifth International Symposium of the Institute of Masters of Wine was held in Vienna between 11-13 July. Neil Beckett presents the first in a two-part report on an event which saw prominent critics and producers debate the nature and desirability of changes sweeping through the world of wine

On the move

Published: 23 July, 2008

In 2000, the big news for Argentina in the UK was the establishment of a new generic office. A year on, market share has not increased greatly and the country remains in the shadow of its neighbour over the Andes. Charlotte Hey asks the trade what Argentina should do now

TURN OFF THE TAPS

Published: 23 July, 2008

Journalists may disagree, but water is the only drink strictly necessary to sustain mental and physical wellbeing, and life itself. But what other USPs are bottled water marketeers promoting, and how effective have recent campaigns been in persuading the reluctant British to splash out on stylish water features? Joanne Simon reports

NO SMOKE WITHOUT FIRE

Published: 23 July, 2008

The Brits can claim credit for elevating outdoor eating to the art form known as a picnic', but Harpers' South African representative, Joanne Simon, thinks they still have a thing or two to learn when it comes to barbecues or braais. Here, she looks at the pick of the barbecue wines on promotion this summer

NEW IDEAS FOR A NEW GENERATION

Published: 23 July, 2008

The July IWSC Showcase Tasting was the occasion for a debate on the future of the industry. The main question was: how can the wine industry attract the younger generation? Barbara Scalera reports

FIGHT FOR THE WHITE TO PARTY

Published: 23 July, 2008

There's nought, no doubt, so much the spirit calms as rum and true religion,' wrote Lord Byron. But with Bacardi swamping the white rum market, is there anything to get excited about? Joanne Simon profiles the brands seeking to loosen Bacardi's stranglehold

PULLING OUT ALL THE STOPS

Published: 23 July, 2008

Reverse osmosis, spinning cones and micro-oxygenation are three winemaking techniques in greater use than the wine trade would like to admit. How do these practices affect wine, and is the controversy surrounding their use just another stick with which to beat interventionist winemakers? Jamie Goode investigates

Champagneshire

Published: 23 July, 2008

New technology, new investment, new quality initiatives and award-winning products. Has the English wine industry finally managed to shed its "home-made, low-quality image"? David Williams reports

THE ITALIAN FORUM

Published: 23 July, 2008

The Definitive Italian Wine Tasting has provided a long-overdue platform for commercially available, mid-priced Italian wines in the UK. Harpers casts an eye over the producers and wines helping to make this year's event the biggest and brightest yet

RALLYING CALL

Published: 23 July, 2008

Drinks distributors, retailers, importers and marketers of the world unite.' It may not be the catchiest call to arms, but the recent International Federation of Wines and Spirits seminar in London sought to inspire the disparate elements of the trade to be more open to new developments - and with each other. Joanne Simon examines the key themes

2001 BORDEAUX EN PRIMEUR: BACK TO THE FUTURE?

Published: 23 July, 2008

Two months ago, Robert Parker and a group of Britain's leading merchants warned the Bordelais that unless en primeur prices came down, the market could collapse. So have prices fallen sufficiently, or are chteau owners now tinkering in the last chance saloon? Neil Beckett reports