Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Harpers Design Awards: Deadline extended to Monday 14 September

Published: 09 September, 2026

Submissions for the Harpers Design Awards 2026 have been extended to Monday 14 September, with just five days to go.

Sustainability in Drinks unveils 2026 programme

Published: 26 August, 2026

Sustainability in Drinks has released its programme for the 2026 edition of the conference, taking place on Tuesday 20 October at London’s Christ Church Spitalfields.

Much-awaited DMO appointed for Wales’ Deposit Return Scheme

Published: 21 August, 2026

The Welsh government has announced the appointment of Exchange for Change as the Deposit Management Organisation (DMO) for its Deposit Return Scheme (DRS), which launches in October 2027.

Unusual Suspects: The wine trade remains divided on alternative packaging

Published: 21 August, 2026

Alternative wine packaging is a diverse space, with plenty of options offering something different to glass. Manufacturers of these products are often united in their desire to mitigate some of the environmental downsides of glass bottles – including emissions from transportation; energy used in production and recycling; and waste.

Don’t miss out! Two weeks left to enter Harpers Design Awards

Published: 17 August, 2026

Only two weeks remain to enter the Harpers Design Awards 2026, which are open to all drinks brands and design agencies looking to highlight their outstanding product designs across a wide range of categories.

Packaging trends: Design experts have their say

Published: 10 August, 2026

As changing regulations, sustainability issues and new technology continue to impact on consumers’ lives, Harpers canvassed the opinions of five leading design agencies as to how packaging trends are changing in the modern world.

Entries for Harpers Design Awards 2026 now open

Published: 09 July, 2026

The Harpers Design Awards 2026 are now open to all drinks brands and design agencies looking to highlight the presentation and functionality of their products in a wide range of categories.

Mangrove portfolio set to gain sustainability-oriented French vodka

Published: 17 June, 2026

Mangrove is set to become the UK distributor for French vodka brand Le Philtre. The brand’s unique bottles are produced from recycled waste glass – each glass’ colour depending on the type of waste glass used.

Convincing alternatives: The sustainable packaging debate

Published: 22 April, 2026

A diverse market for alternative wine packaging has sprung up in the past decade or so. No wonder, as making packaging more sustainable is an easy way of cutting emissions out of the supply chain. After all, between 30% and 60% of wine’s carbon footprint is a result of its packaging (Wine GB).

When in Rome acquired by North South Wines

Published: 22 December, 2025

UK-based wine distributor North South Wines has announced the acquisition of the When in Rome wine brand, marking a significant addition to its range of sustainable and alternative wine brands.

Harpers Design Awards 2025 winners announced

Published: 05 December, 2025

In Harpers’ annual celebration of all things design, deserved winners demonstrate the best of packaging style and sophistication. Our Design Awards 2025 showcases innovation across drinks categories from canned wine curiosities to remarkable redesigns.

Re-imagined Calvados sets Gen Z in its sights

Published: 21 November, 2025

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

Published: 21 November, 2025

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

Published: 13 August, 2025

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

Published: 23 July, 2025

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

Published: 30 June, 2025

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

Published: 25 June, 2025

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

Published: 02 June, 2025

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

Published: 28 April, 2025

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

Published: 20 March, 2025

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.