Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Ten years of Tio Pepe En Rama

Published: 02 May, 2019

A decade ago, González Byass UK managed to shake up a moribund sherry category with Tio Pepe En Rama. Jo Gilbert dissects its success

Flavoured and spiced to replace white as favourite rum style in UK off-trade

Published: 30 April, 2019

Flavoured and spiced rums are storming their way to becoming the most drunk style of rum in the off-trade, and could be the most sold style in the UK by the end of the year.

Sustainability accreditation in the works for UK wine

Published: 26 April, 2019

A new sustainability and climate change mitigation scheme for the UK wine industry could be complete by the end of the year.

Côtes du Rhône targets 30-45 age group for new global campaign

Published: 25 April, 2019

The trade body for France’s Côtes du Rhône has unveiled plans to target consumers in their thirties and forties, with a new logo and marketing strapline that highlights the region’s quality, heritage and provenance.

Hardys launches on-trade foodies wine range

Published: 17 April, 2019

Hardys, the wine brand from Accolade Wines, is targeting food matching with its new on-trade exclusive ‘Foodies Range’.

UK’s top 100 bartenders announced

Published: 11 April, 2019

Diageo Reserve has announced its 2019 World Class Top 100 bartenders, putting the spotlight on the best and brightest of the UK bar world.

The Naked Gun

Published: 11 April, 2019

The Majestic brand has taken a bullet and is soon to be haemorrhaging stores, handing an opportunity to independents to fill the gap. Jo Gilbert reports

Independents prepare to fill the gap left by Majestic

Published: 11 April, 2019

The Majestic brand has taken a bullet and is soon to be haemorrhaging stores – prompting businesses to reconsider their position on the high street.

Tim Atkin MW: What Rowan Gormley could learn from Tony Laithwaite

Published: 09 April, 2019

Wine critic, broadcaster, co-chair of the IWC

Californian wine under £20 boosts UK sales

Published: 09 April, 2019

US wine exports to the UK have seen a slip in value but a rise in volume, thanks largely to a growth in buyer interest in a previously difficult-to-source section of the market.

31 Days of German Riesling returns

Published: 05 April, 2019

The annual celebration of Riesling is back, opening up yet more opportunities for the trade to promote and get behind Germany’s star player.

Shift from shop to showroom is vital for the future of retail, says Majestic CEO

Published: 27 March, 2019

The chief executive of the newly rebranded Naked Wines has defended the decision to trim down its 200-store estate while shifting investment focus to the online side of the business.

AB InBev puts Budweiser front and centre for UK rebrand

Published: 25 March, 2019

AB InBev has changed its name to Budweiser Brewing Group UK&I.

Wine in the firing line

Published: 21 March, 2019

The modern world changes fast. In the past decade, we have gone from a situation of blithely choking on carbon monoxide from second-hand smoke every time we enter a pub or restaurant to a virtual ghettoisation of cigarettes. Before the ban most people would have thought this inconceivable. But it happened.

Prowein: Record Champagne turnover, but UK and France still in decline

Published: 18 March, 2019

Total turnover for Champagne reached a new high of €4.9 billion in 2018, up 0.3% on 2017, although volumes fell by 0.8% to 301.9 million bottles.

Hardys weighs into alcohol free market

Published: 15 March, 2019

Top selling UK wine brand Hardys has tapped into the fast growing market for low and no alcohol with the launch of an Alcohol Free Chardonnay addition to the range.

MPs urged to make no ‘no deal’ official before March 29

Published: 14 March, 2019

Last night’s vote to remove the possibility of a no deal scenario from the Brexit table has resulted in a sigh of relief from the Wine and Spirit Trade Association (WSTA) as well as other corners of the trade.

China and the US drive boom in global premium wine consumption

Published: 13 March, 2019

Wine priced between $10 and $20 will be the biggest driver of value growth for still and sparkling wine over the next couple of years.

Jeroboams and Rick Stein raise £5,000 toast to The Benevolent

Published: 12 March, 2019

Jeroboams, Château d’Yquem and Rick Stein have raised an impressive charitable sum thanks to an experimental evening pairing fine wines of Bordeaux with the "best of British” seafood.

UK tops value increase for German wine exports

Published: 12 March, 2019

Quality Riesling appears to be on a roll, with the average price paid for exported German wine breaking records in 2018, while UK consumer thirst drove the biggest value increase of any export territory, according to German Wine Institute (DWI) figures.