Andrew Bewes on Hallgarten Druitt's insights and sales driven strategy

Hallgarten Druitt is one of the biggest and most important wine suppliers in the country. Yet, as managing director Andrew Bewes admits, there is much about the company that the trade is yet to discover. Richard Siddle digs deeper to find out

Tim Atkin MW: How do we turn "cool" sherry into hard sales?

Tim Atkin MW weighs in on the growing popularity of sherry....yes that's right-sherry!

Jason Wilson on falling back in love with Gewürztraminer

The Boozehound draws a parallel between a buddy from Jersey, a Diva and Gewürztraminer

Richard Siddle: do you know what really turns your business partner on?

It is said the most important factor in a successful relationship is the ability to listen to the needs and wishes of your partner.

Tesco's Laura Jewell MW on what she wants from wine suppliers

In the first of a series of buyer-to-buyer interviews, Angela Mount talks to Laura Jewell MW about her role as Tesco's wine category product development manager and what she is looking for from her suppliers

Joel Cadbury on driving wine sales and training at Bel & Dragon Inns

Douglas Blyde talks with Joel Cadbury, founder of the Groucho private members club, about the wines he is serving up at his estate of Bel & Dragon Inns.

David Mawer of JF Hillebrand UK on logistics and bulk wine trends

When it comes to controlling costs in the supply chain there is no one better placed than David Mawer, managing director of logistics company, JF Hillebrand UK. Mawer talks with harpers.co.uk about the key distribution trends, growth in bulk wine and importance of long term planning.

Jerry Lockspeiser is enthralled by the wine business insights of Mike Veseth

Mike Veseth is an unusual academic. Professor emeritus of international political economy at the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, Washington, and an economist who studies global wine markets, he writes about wine business issues with a down to earth populist ease that Nigel Farage would be proud of. His enthusiastic, chatty style resembles a conversation over a glass of Merlot in a wine bar. He makes his subject highly accessible and clearly loves this world.

Heather Dougherty to be chairman of the Association of Wine Educators

Heather Dougherty has been appointed as the new chairman of the Association of Wine Educators.

Katie Cooper on why the Berry Bros' Wine Club stands out from the pack

Douglas Blyde catches up with Katie Cooper, manager of Berry Bros & Rudd's Wine Club, on the kind of wines and service she offers its growing band of members.

Mark Fiddes on why when it comes to drinks adveritising it is time to think outside the gogglebox

First, social marketing was king. Then mobile was king. Then native advertising was king. So many monarchs, gadzooks, it's getting to look a lot like Shakespeare.

Katherine Canfield on how California is leading the way in wine tasting experiences

Whist other wine regions still struggle with establishing a successful wine tourism industry, California, which has long gone above and beyond welcoming visitors and offering tastings to create an all-encompassing experience for winery visitors, is now employing this approach in other areas of the industry, such as trade and consumer tasting events.

Mike Matthews welcomes the arrival of Mo?t & Chandon's Argentinian fizz

Mo?t & Chandon's first venture outside of France goes all the way back to 1959 where the then president of Mo?t, Count Robert Jean de Vogüe, along with oenologist, Renaud Poirier, identified  Argentina's Mendoza district of Agrelo as the ideal spot to create Moët & Chandon's first winery outside of France.

World Cup could be a lost sales opportunity, warns John Nevens

Failure to target the shopper as well as the consumer could see the World Cup as a missed retail opportunity, says John Nevens, co-founder of customer marketing experts, Bridgethorne. 

Louis Latour Agencies boosts its London sales team

Louis Latour Agencies has boosted its London sales team with the appointment of David Hargreaves and Sophie Cruise.

Richard Siddle's tongue in cheek guide to "What to know about wine" in new Kitchen Magpie

Richard Siddle, editor of Harpers Wine & Spirit, was asked by award winning author and journalist, James Steen,  to write a tongue in cheek chapter for his new book, The Kitchen Magpie, on "What to know about wine". Which you can read below.

Neil Anderson on why Kingsland it is going to London Wine Fair 2014

Today we start a new series of opinion pieces from leading figures in the trade on why they are going to next month's London Wine Fair, and what we can expect from their stand. First up is Neil Anderson, marketing director, of Kingsland.

Jerry Lockspeiser: Call My Wine Bluff proves people just want to have fun with wine!

As reported in Harpers in March we aimed to raise enough at this year's Call My Wine Bluff to pass £1 million since our first event 6 years ago. Thanks to the generosity and spirit of the 180 people who laughed, listened, chatted and drank their way through the evening (no one was spitting thank God) we did - by some way.

Matthew Clark's Simon Jerrome on why the wine trade needs to completely overhaul trade tastings

With the new-look London Wine Fair round the corner the changing face of trade tastings is high on the industry agenda. The wine trade landscape is looking for a new and more engaging approach to tastings and customer events.  This year has seen some of our competitors cancel annual tastings in favour of smaller events, while the Australia Day tasting saw a move from the traditional approach to introduce a focus on food to attract the on-trade. 

Katherine Canfield on why Californian winemakers are ditching "big and bold" for more restrained European style wines