Re-imagined Calvados sets Gen Z in its sights

Mention Calvados to a twenty-something in the UK, and there’s a vanishing slim chance that they will have heard of the spirit, let alone tried it. It’s a category whose image is more one of a past era, when the sight of elderly French workmen chugging down a tot with their Gauloises represented a romantic notion of France.

Port refresh for a new generation

Port’s postprandial image is one that has long buoyed UK sales for the Douro’s array of fortified wine producers. However, with changing tastes come changing demands. Although there will remain a strong appetite for traditional expressions of the category, Port houses both established and new are looking to appeal to a younger demographic who may be only just commencing their Port journey. Harpers spoke to producers who ply their trade in the steep-hilled valley to determine how they are seeking to appeal to this disruptive demographic.

The perfect package: Bridging producer with consumer

Don’t judge a book by its cover. But we all do. Even better for the bookworm, you can flick through the book first, read a few paragraphs and check out the reviews on the inside cover. All of this is much harder with a bottle of wine or spirits; you can very rarely sample the product before purchasing, so the extent to which the customer is led by the label design and packaging is significant.

Australian Vintage unveils premium single-serve wine range

Wine producer Australian Vintage has announced the launch of a new series of premium single-serve wines, named Poco Vino.

Harpers Design Awards 2025 open for entries

The Harpers Design Awards 2025 are now open to all drinks brands and design agencies that want to shine a spotlight on the look and functionality of their products in a range of categories.

Paper cap and bottle from Absolut

Absolut Vodka has unveiled a paper-based cap and bottle duo as part of its Future Packaging Programme to create a fully biobased bottle.

Wine GB launches Sustainable Packaging Toolkit

Wine GB has launched a Sustainability Packaging Toolkit as part of World Environment Day on 5 June, to support sustainable action in vineyards and wineries.

Robin Copestick joins Packamama board

Climate-friendly packaging company Packamama has appointed I Heart wine brand founder and Friexenet Copestick MD Robin Copestick as a non-executive director to its board.

‘Nonsensical’ EPR rules will cost millions, say hospitality businesses

Under the umbrella of UKHospitality (UKH), leading pub and hospitality businesses have written to Defra Secretary of State, Steve Reed, pushing back against a significant flaw in the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) scheme.

Design inspiration: What can BWS categories learn from each other?

Jo Gilbert tallies up the scores on BWS’ shelf appeal and explores what each category could learn from the other.

Harpers Design Awards 2024: The full rundown

Beauty may be in the eye of the beholder, but great design is a finely tuned skill. Andrew Catchpole highlights the best of the crop at this year’s Design Awards.

Ray O'Connor MW joins EcoSip

Leading wine packaging firm EcoSip has appointed Ray O’Connor as non-executive director, bringing over a decade of retail experience to the sustainability-led company.

Fines loom for businesses yet to submit packaging data WSTA warns

The WSTA has issued a warning to hundreds of businesses ahead of May’s Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) deadline.

Friday Read: Encirc on uncorking the path to Net Zero

Fiacre O’Donnell, sustainability director at glass container manufacturer Encirc, looks at the future of sustainability for wine and spirits supply, including low-carbon/alternative energy fuels and the possibilities of a digital deposit return scheme (DDRS).

Friday read: Can sustainability and luxury co-exist?

Friday read: Why bulk is the hot ticket in the face of climate change

In a rapidly warming world the wine industry needs to modernise and that means embracing bulk, argues Richard Lloyd, general manager at The Park, Europe’s largest wine packaging facility.

Paper bottle makes its way to Laithwaites

Online wine merchant Laithwaites has launched its first wine packaged in a paper bottle – continuing a packaging trend which is rapidly gathering speed.

Treasury bags new format extension as conversation around alt packaging grows

Treasury Wine Estates (TWE) has added a new bag-in-box (BiB) release to its high performing 19 Crimes portfolio, with the launch of its Revolutionary Rosé now available.

Co-founder of sommelier-backed canned wine brand claims “bottles are the past”

A new range of canned wines launched this week (23 May), under the brand name Djuce.

Spiralling production costs: the battle for bottles – and more

One of the biggest challenges facing wine producers worldwide is the shortage of glass bottles – but that’s not the only problem that will dog 2022, as James Bayley reports.