Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Q&A with Yann Prigent, head sommelier, Sign of the Don

Published: 10 December, 2013

?Carol Emmas talks to Yann Prigent, head sommelier of the new operation from the Don and Bleeding Heart group, the Sign of the Don.

Q&A with Yann Prigent, head sommelier, Sign of the Don

Published: 10 December, 2013

Carol Emmas talks to the Yann Prigent, head sommelier at Sign of the Don, which has opened on the site of the original Sandeman Port and Sherry cellar, alongside the original The Don and Bleeding Heart restaurant and bars.

Chix & Buck Open The Wine Parlour in Brixton

Published: 10 December, 2013

Chix & Buck first started as a pop-up endeavour and now have a permanent shop and tasting room of their own in Brixton called The Wine Parlour, which opened in August this year.

Q&A: Sandro Saadé, co-founder of Bekaa Valley's Château Marsyas and Syria's Domaine de Bargylus

Published: 05 December, 2013

The co-founder with brother Karim, of Bekaa Valley Château Marsyas and Syria's Domaine de Bargylus - described as "the finest wine produced in the Eastern Mediterranean" by Hugh Johnson - talks to Douglas Blyde about realising an ancient dream...

Q&A: Pierre Emmanuel Taittinger on why Champagne houses must work harder to protect the category

Published: 27 November, 2013

Pierre Emmanuel Taittinger, head of Champagne Taittinger, says the major Champagne houses still have a lot of work to be done to make sure Champagne continues to be sold correctly and does not suffer from heavy price discounting that can damage its long term image.

Q&A: Marie-Annick Consola, sales director, Vignobles Foncalieu

Published: 25 November, 2013

Anne Krebiehl talks to Marie-Annick Consola of Vignobles Foncalieu a collective co-operative that covers numerous appellations across the south of France and the Rhône Valley. It's 1,200 members work 5,100 hectares of vineyards and sales exceed 21 million bottles. Foncalieu's progressive management embarked on the path of premium production roughly a decade ago. Consola wasin London to introduce the 'Iconic' range, a collection of stand-out wines from distinct appellations like Saint-Chinian, Corbières, Minervois and Côteaux d'Esérune as well as the wines of Château Haut Gléon in Corbières. While Foncalieu still provides some own-label wines for Asda, it has largely moved away from the high-volume off-trade.

Q&A: Eva Minguez Lobato, marketing director of Regulatory Council for D.O RÍAS BAIXAS

Published: 21 November, 2013

Ahead of next week's Rias Baixas Mini Fair at London's Glaziers Hall on November 25 we talk to Eva Minguez Lobato about what plans the Spanish region has to build on its growing popularity in the UK.

Wine Vision's leader view: Don St Pierre Jr, ASC Fine Wines

Published: 19 November, 2013

"The US is number one at approximately 315 million cases. Of the 180 million cases consumed in China, 36 million are imported but the imported market has been growing approximately 55% a year since 2007."

Wine Vision's leader view: Simon McMurtrie, Direct Wines

Published: 19 November, 2013

"People focus more on enjoying life when they get older. Wine is part of that and if there are more people getting older, more people will be drinking wine"

Wine Vision's leader view: Paul Symington, Symington Family Estates

Published: 19 November, 2013

"Sometimes people ask me: 'Why do you sell to supermarkets?' I'm astounded by the question. If I didn't, we would have to lay off at least 80% of our staff and sack
more than 90% of our growers."

Wine Vision's leader view: Ted Baseler, ceo Ste Michelle Wine Estates

Published: 19 November, 2013

"I call our approach the 'string of pearls' - we keep each winery separate, with its own manager, its own name and winemaker. Then we have the string through the pearls which is the back-of-house admin"

Wine Vision's leader view: Christophe Salin, Domaines Barons de Rothschild

Published: 19 November, 2013

"I don't like to see amateurs getting into vineyards. They don't realise that it takes a long time for it to be profitable - as the saying goes: "How do you make a small fortune out of a vineyard? Start with a large fortune."

Q&A with Michel Roux on his link up with Everyday Bordeaux wines

Published: 11 November, 2013

Michelin star chef Michel Roux of Le Gavroche fame has teamed up with the 2013 Everyday Bordeaux collection of wines, to promote those wines considered by a panel of judges from the Association of Wine Educators to offer some of best value Bordeaux currently available in the UK.

Q&A with Justin Knock MW winemaking consultant at Cobevco

Published: 06 November, 2013

Carol Emmas talks to Justin Knock MW, winemaking consultant for Cobvevco, the specialist contract bottling company

Q&A: Siobhan Thompson, chief executive, Wines of South Africa

Published: 04 November, 2013

Siobhan Thompson starts work as the new chief executive of Wines of South Africa (WOSA) this week. Previously head of global marketing for Distell's Amarula brand, she brings with her a wealth of international experience. Claire Hu spoke to her about her views on the future direction of South African wine exports.

Q&A: Sandrine Garbay, cellar master at Chateau d'Yquem

Published: 31 October, 2013

How is the 2013 vintage looking for d'Yquem?

Q&A: Nicolas Audebert, winemaker at Cheval Des Andes

Published: 29 October, 2013

Nicolas Audebert, Montpellier graduate and winemaker at Cheval des Andes, Cheval Blanc's Argentinian winery in Mendoza, spent the initial two years of the project working with Pierre Lurton in 1999 and has held his current position for seven years, after an interval as winemaker for Krug Champagne.

Q&A: Thierry Budin, general director of Crédit Agricole

Published: 25 October, 2013

Over a tasting at seminal London restaurant, Le Gavroche, due to close for a month-long refurbishment in January, Douglas Blyde talks to Thierry Budin, general director of Crédit Agricole. The châteaux collection incorporates Bordeaux properties: Château de Rayne Vigneau (first growth Sauternes), Château Grand-Puy Ducasse (fifth growth Pauillac) and Château Blaignan (Médoc, Bourgeois). Also in the portfolio: Château de Santenay (which includes Mercurey, Aloxe-Corton, Beaune 1er Cru and Clos de Vougeot in Burgundy), and Château Saint Louis La Perdrix (Rhône).