Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Buyer’s Spotlight: Bordeaux’s 2016s

Published: 10 March, 2026

Jason Millar reports on a vintage that’s compelling in terms of both quality and pricing.

Wine GB announces ‘vintage of outstanding quality’

Published: 18 December, 2025

UK wine trade association Wine GB has rounded off the year by announcing that the 2025 harvest was a “vintage of outstanding quality”, according to its voluntary annual survey of the sector.

Ribera del Duero harvest: Abundant yield despite weather challenges

Published: 03 December, 2025

The Ribera del Duero DO has unveiled its results for the 2025 harvest. Although challenging weather and mildew marked the growing season, the resulting crop was the second most abundant in the past 10 years.

InterLoire releases 2025 harvest report

Published: 02 December, 2025

InterLoire, an interprofessional association for the Loire Valley, has released its 2025 harvest report.

Australian wine supply outstripping demand

Published: 01 December, 2025

Wine Australia has unveiled its Production, Sales and Inventory Report 2025 which detailed a worsening imbalance between supply and demand over the past year.

‘Turbo autumn’ sees top German producers negotiate early ripening

Published: 03 November, 2025

The German wine association Verband Deutscher Prädikatsweingüter (VDP) – which represents around 200 of the nation’s top producers – has announced the completion of this year’s harvest.

Taylor’s harvest: Heat causes smaller crop with intense flavour reported

Published: 29 October, 2025

After a growing season defined by extreme heat, historic Port house Taylor's is reporting that the unique conditions have afforded this year’s wines with a unique flavour profile.

German harvest set to be smallest since 2010

Published: 22 October, 2025

According to trade body The German Wine Institute (DWI) this year’s harvest in Germany is predicted to total at 7.3m hls. This figure would make it the smallest grape harvest in the country since 2010 (7.1m hls).

Promising California harvest in full swing following mild summer

Published: 25 September, 2025

Winemakers in California have begun their harvest following a long, consistent growing season. Grapes were able to mature gradually in 2025 following a mild summer which was preceded by a cool spring.

Guy Woodward: We need Gen Z in vineyards, not wine bars

Published: 19 September, 2025

There has been constant consternation in recent years over the apparent resistance of the younger generation to alcohol, particularly wine. I’ve banged on about this before – Gen Z are no great loss given they’re strapped for cash, promiscuous in their tastes, and unlikely to properly get into wine until their 30s (a view backed up by the latest IWSR study, which found that the main reason for such abstinence is economic rather than social).

Austria bounces back with stronger 2025 harvest

Published: 12 September, 2025

This year’s Austrian harvest is anticipated to see an increase compared to 2024’s small grape gathering. Austrian Wine expects a harvest of 2.5m hls which is a strong uplift compared to 2024’s 1.87m hl take.

Italy: Strong harvest anticipated though oversupply fears remain

Published: 11 September, 2025

Italy’s wine sector is expected to produce 47.4m hls of wine this year. The figure, compiled by Assoenologi, ISMEA and the Unione Italiana Vini (UIV), represents an +8% rise compared to 2024’s harvest.

Santorini: ‘Light at end of tunnel’ despite diminutive harvest

Published: 05 September, 2025

The latest harvest report from Santorini’s Domain Sigalas details another very tough year on the Greek island. The 2025 take represents the third consecutive year of reduced production with only 450 tonnes produced – the lowest ever yield. The past decade’s average stood at between 2,500 and 3,000 tonnes per year.

Promising Pinot Grigio harvest begins in DOC Delle Venezie

Published: 29 August, 2025

The 2025 Pinot Grigio harvest has begun in Italy's largest DOC, Delle Venezie, and is being hailed as promising for quality, with increased yields.

Rhône harvest commences early with 'high-quality vintage' anticipated

Published: 28 August, 2025

The 2025 harvest in the Rhône has commenced, starting 10 days earlier than last year’s grape gathering.

Symington predicts lower yield but good quality harvest

Published: 27 August, 2025

Symington Family Estates has announced its expectations for the 2025 harvest across its estates in the Douro, Alentejo and Vinho Verde regions.

Nyetimber predicts bumper harvest

Published: 20 August, 2025

English sparkling wine producer Nyetimber says it is expecting a top-quality 2025 vintage following a warm and sunny spring, then a hot and dry June.

Champagne reduces harvest yield in face of global uncertainty

Published: 24 July, 2025

The Comité Champagne has announced that the available harvest yield for 2025 will be set at 9,000 kg/ha. This decision marks the third year in a row that yields have been reduced compared to the previous, as well as being the lowest yield level since 2020 (8,000kg/ha).

South African growers report ‘exceptional’ quality harvest for 2025

Published: 08 May, 2025

The trade body South Africa Wine has shared details of what it characterises as an ‘exceptional harvest’ for wine estates in the country.

South Africa celebrates vintage of 'exceptional freshness' as harvest gets underway

Published: 19 March, 2025

In stark contrast to the drought-ravaged vintages of previous years, South African producers are optimistic that 2025 will deliver wines of “exceptional fruit expression and freshness”, with winemakers and viticulturists reporting “outstanding quality across the board”.