Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

US tariffs boost trade in old Cognac

Published: 11 December, 2019

US tariffs on wine and whisky are driving the market in Cognac, a leading UK supplier has revealed.

Spirits drive UK exports to China

Published: 10 December, 2019

Sales of UK spirits to China are up 35.5% year-on-year in the first half of 2019, a new report from the Food and Drink Federation has revealed.

Spotlight on 2020: Michael Saunders, Bibendum Wine

Published: 04 December, 2019

As we prepare for the new decade, Harpers will be taking the month of December to look back over 2019 and ahead to what the coming year will bring – hopefully full of revived optimism for both politics and the trade.

Shoppers prize green values over brand loyalty, research shows

Published: 02 December, 2019

Over three-quarters of UK grocery buyers have made buying decisions based on a brand’s environmental policies in the last year, new research from data insights consultancy Kantar has revealed.

Government hit by fall in wine-duty revenues

Published: 02 December, 2019

Wine duty receipts fell back 2.1% in the first six months of the financial year, according to data released by the government.

Volumes at Rathfinny set to double as it launches first en primeur campaign

Published: 20 November, 2019

Rathfinny has launched its first ever en primeur campaign via its Classic Cuvée, which is being positioned as a more accessible entry point to the Sussex estate’s premium range.

Expansion helped insulate against climate challenges, says top Burgundy estate

Published: 13 November, 2019

Things have been tough in European vineyards over the past few years, with Burgundy appellations some of the worst hit in terms of frost damage in 2016 and 2017.

Trivento redesigns labels for Christmas

Published: 29 October, 2019

Argentinean wine brand Trivento has unveiled a time-limited Christmas-themed label for its Reserve Malbec.

London distillery launches white spiced rum

Published: 28 October, 2019

London-based start-up Silk Road Distillers has launched with a white spiced rum.

Growth slows at Pernod Ricard

Published: 18 October, 2019

Sales growth at global drinks giant Pernod Ricard has slowed, with first-quarter turnover of €2.483bn revealing underlying growth of just 1.3%, in line with expectations.

Tariffs will slash US whisky exports by 20%, SWA warns

Published: 18 October, 2019

The 25% tariff on the import of Scottish single-malt whisky to the US, which came into force last night, will lose the industry 20% of its US exports in the first year, the Scotch Whisky Association has estimated.

Veuve Clicquot to open London Champagne bar

Published: 17 October, 2019

Veuve Clicquot has partnered with award-winning US singer-songwriter Annie Clark, better known as St Vincent, to open a Champagne bar in London’s Covent Garden.

UK cocktail market passes £600m

Published: 16 October, 2019

UK spirits lovers drank £604m of cocktails in the last year, according to the latest quarterly Mixed Drinks report from market analysts CGA.

Bellavita London unveils expanded events roster

Published: 14 October, 2019

The annual Bellavita Expo London is set to return to Islington’s Business Design Centre next month with a wide range of masterclasses, tastings and discussion panels hosted by Bellavita’s wine academy, BeWine.

Michelin awards first star to UK vineyard restaurant

Published: 08 October, 2019

Interlude, the restaurant at the Leonardslee Estate and Gardens in Sussex, has become the first restaurant attached to a UK vineyard to win a Michelin star.

Co-op unveils wines for Christmas

Published: 08 October, 2019

Co-op has added 25 new wines to its range in the run-up to Christmas.

Gymkhana star takes home Sud de France UK Sommelier gong

Published: 03 October, 2019

A new winner has been crowned the Sud de France UK Sommelier of the Year after finalists went head-to-head to put their skills and knowledge to the test under the eyes of the judges.

Climate change hits Champagne harvest

Published: 27 September, 2019

Global warming cost Champagne over 10% of its potential harvest this year, the Champagne Bureau has revealed.

Italian wine poised for big growth on Liv-Ex

Published: 26 September, 2019

The price of Italian wine on the secondary market still lags behind its critical reputation, according to a new report from fine-wine trading platform Liv-Ex. But that could be changing.