Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

50 Best Indies 2025: Watch the Top 10 reveal at our winners lunch

Published: 10 January, 2025

This week has seen the release of our 50 Best Indies 2025 results, celebrating the leading wine and spirits merchants from across the UK.

50 Best Indies 2025 ranking: 20-11 revealed

Published: 09 January, 2025

This week marks the release of our 50 Best Indies 2025 results, celebrating the leading wine and spirits merchants from across the UK.

50 Best Indies 2025 ranking: 30-21 revealed

Published: 08 January, 2025

This week marks the release of our 50 Best Indies 2025 results, celebrating the leading wine and spirits merchants from across the UK.

50 Best Indies 2025 ranking: 40-31 revealed

Published: 07 January, 2025

This week marks the launch of our 50 Best Indies 2025 results, celebrating the leading wine and spirits merchants from across the UK.

UK debut of Occitanie wine event highlights growing demand

Published: 28 October, 2024

On Tuesday, 22 October 2024, the Experience le Sud Tasting made its UK debut in London, an event organised by the Bureau de la Région Occitanie à Londres. Created to increase visibility for Occitanie wines among UK trade professionals, the tasting focused on varietals and styles that are rapidly gaining traction in the market. The event attracted key figures from the UK wine trade, including sommeliers, importers, independent merchants and journalists, who were introduced to a wide range of wines that highlight the quality and unique identity of Occitanie.

Artisanal Galician wine producer joins Bibendum portfolio

Published: 09 October, 2024

Artisanal Bierzo wine producer Estevez Bodegas y Vinedos has joined premium wine specialist Bibendum’s portfolio.

30% MUP rise in Scotland throws up challenges for retailers

Published: 03 October, 2024

The overall efficacy and knock-on effect to businesses from minimum unit pricing (MUP) is in the crosshairs once again following the news that the floor price for alcohol will rise from 50p per unit to 65p in Scotland, further adding cost and margin pressures for retailers.

50 Best Indies 2024: The full rundown

Published: 15 January, 2024

Meet our 50 Best Indies 2024, celebrating the most dynamic and quality focused merchants in this ever-vibrant sector

50 Best Indies 2024 ranking: Top 10 revealed

Published: 12 January, 2024

Today we conclude the rollout of our 50 Best Indies 2024 results with a recording of the live unveiling of our Top 10 indie merchants, who joined us at Wild by Tart in London, unveiling the best in the business in the UK.

50 Best Indies 2024 ranking: 20-11 revealed

Published: 11 January, 2024

This week we continue the rollout of our 50 Best Indies 2024 results, celebrating the top merchants from across this dynamic and ever-engaging sector

50 Best Indies 2024 ranking: 30-21 revealed

Published: 10 January, 2024

This week we continue the rollout of our 50 Best Indies 2024 results, celebrating the top merchants from across this dynamic and ever-engaging sector.

Embracing change in Rioja

Published: 20 December, 2023

Setting out to discover the renewed dynamism and diversity in Spain’s flagship DO, Harpers teamed up with Wines of Rioja to host an indie merchant buying trip to the region. Andrew Catchpole reports.

Indies short-changed in government duty consultation

Published: 14 August, 2023

Independent merchants, long considered the backbone of the quality drinks trade in the UK, were woefully underrepresented among those consulted by government over the duty changes now hitting businesses.

50 Best Indies 2023: Tune in for the results

Published: 06 January, 2023

Once again the results of our popular 50 Best Indies list are ready to be announced, with tranches of 10 being revealed each day next week (9-13 January) at 11am.

Bristol indie bucks belt tightening trend

Published: 17 October, 2022

Despite the cost-of-living crisis affecting consumer up and down the country, at least one independent has reported booming sales of its fine wines.

Taking stock

Published: 28 September, 2022

With the cost of living crisis set to get worse, how can indies best protect their businesses? Andrew Catchpole listens to some differing views.

Ukrainian wines seek independents

Published: 06 June, 2022

Against many odds, a first shipment of 8,232 bottles has left Ukraine as part of a new initiative by Propeller designed to support its producers by bringing its wines to the UK.

Nominations now open for 50 Best Indies 2022

Published: 31 May, 2022

To begin the process of shaping our annual Harpers 50 Best Indies Awards 2022, we are once again inviting the UK trade to nominate the UK Independent retailers that you believe are at the top of their game.

Indies: Fighting back against the obstacles to trade

Published: 05 May, 2022

Jason Millar looks at how the long tail of Brexit and Covid have impacted merchants looking to buy direct.

Upbeat mood at Vindependents tasting

Published: 18 January, 2022

Signs that life is returning to something closer to normal, at least for the UK’s independent merchants, were borne out in London yesterday (17 January) at a well-attended Vindependents tasting in Camden.