Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

On-trade: All points east for natural wines

Published: 01 November, 2024

James Bayley investigates the natural wine bars of east London to find they embrace informality and welcome all.

Moldova unveils new AI-produced cuvées at Prowein

Published: 12 March, 2024

The controversial world of advanced technology has taken a new direction this week, as Wine of Moldova launches two new cuvées produced by AI at the 2024 edition of Prowein.

Jerry Lockspeiser: Has wine become like religion for some?

Published: 28 November, 2023

In last month’s article for Harpers, I considered the potential for huge disruption in the UK wine trade from new rules that will allow the blending and processing of wines imported in bulk. They raise the possibility of making drinks that have all the taste and packaging characteristics of established wines while not being subject to the historic restrictions for making them.

Argentina’s ‘white revolution’ moves to newer sites

Published: 24 February, 2023

The slow but steady creep of Argentina’s white wines into new territories has entered a new chapter at Susana Balbo Wines, where the winemaking team has been experimenting with what it believes could be the Uco Valley’s first white-only appellation.

Q&A: Peter Vinding-Diers – the 'viking in the vineyard'

Published: 04 October, 2022

Viking in the Vineyard author Peter Vinding-Diers has had a one-of-a-kind winemaking life. Jo Gilbert catches up with the Danish-born vigneron on his latest venture – a selection of standout Sicilian Syrahs at his Montecarrubo winery.

Five minutes with Alex Brogan, Plumpton student

Published: 30 August, 2022

Jo Gilbert catches up with Alex Brogan about his collective winemaking venture, where customers can vote on every step of the winemaking process.

Producer Q&A: Andrés Valero, Grupo Avinea, talks organic

Published: 26 July, 2022

Eighteen months into his role as head of sustainability for Grupo Avinea (Argento), Andrés Valero explains to Andrew Catchpole how organic provides a pathway into sustainability.

WineGB Wessex appoints Jacob Leadley as new chair

Published: 13 October, 2021

WineGB Wessex has appointed Black Chalk winemaker and CEO Jacob Leadley as its new chair from 9 November.

Penfolds’ first Cali wine twenty years in the making alongside TWE restructure

Published: 17 February, 2021

Penfolds has released its first ever Californian wine – a move that forms part of a major restructure of parent company Treasury Wine Estates’ (TWE) operating model which aims to rebalance its US operations and focus on new Penfolds launches outside of Australia.

Wine & War documents trials and triumphs of winemaking in Lebanon

Published: 28 September, 2020

A new documentary film entitled ‘Wine & War: The Untold Story of Wine in the Middle East’ is to focus on the resilience of Lebanese winemaking as seen “through the lens of war and instability”.

Harpers and Argento put the spotlight on organic

Published: 14 September, 2020

Join us this week for Harpers’ latest online session where we will be delving into organic winemaking over two insight-filled sessions.

Jerry Lockspieser: looking in the rear view mirror at 30 years in wine (part 2)

Published: 03 July, 2020

In my last post I reflected on the big societal trends that created the context I worked in as a wine entrepreneur over the last 30 years. I continue here with the big trends within the world of wine itself.

New role at Doña Paula for Atkin’s ‘Viticulturalist of the Year’

Published: 26 May, 2020

Doña Paula Estate’s Martín Kaiser has taken on a new role as director of viticulture and winemaking at Doña Paula, building on 14 years as viticulturalist at this Santa Rita Estate’s-owned Argentinian winery.

Soapbox: Doug Wregg talks natural beauty

Published: 19 May, 2020

Doug Wregg considers prejudice, provenance and ideology in a spoofy wine world.

Langham winemaker leaves to establish sustainable winery

Published: 07 February, 2020

The head winemaker at Dorset winery Langham Estate has branched out on his own to embark on a sustainable winemaking venture.

Hallgarten hosts ‘minerality’ summit and tasting

Published: 09 January, 2020

Importer Hallgarten hosted a multi-media event in London yesterday to explore the subject of 'minerality' in wine. The wide-ranging discussion took place between Hallgarten's head of buying Steve Daniel and journalist Dr Jamie Goode.

Alliance adds Manos Negras to portfolio

Published: 30 October, 2019

Importer Alliance Wine has won the exclusive UK agency rights for Argentina’s Manos Negras winery.

Friday Read: Hide’s Julia Sewell on NZ setting benchmark for land custodianship

Published: 18 October, 2019

New Zealand Winegrowers’ Sommit 2019 gave 16 international somms the chance to explore 200 years of winemaking from Northland to Otago.

Trading places: Swapping the UK trade for winemaking

Published: 21 August, 2019

“I think it’s inevitable if you’re in the wine trade that you think you can make wine better than anybody else,” says solicitor turned wine importer turned winemaker Robin Baum. “So I thought I’d give it a go.”

Indigo and Goode pair up to deliver Albariño with a difference

Published: 24 June, 2019

Spain specialist Indigo Wines has teamed up with drinks writer Jamie Goode and Daniel Primack of Winerack'd UK for the latest in a growing number of forays into the world of hands on winemaking.