Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Quintessential adds two to senior team

Published: 11 February, 2020

International spirits producer Quintessential Brands has strengthened its management team with two senior hires.

Georgian wines up 60% in UK

Published: 11 February, 2020

The National Wine Agency of Georgia has announced a big push on its country’s wines for 2020 after exports rocketed 60% last year.

Brexit boost for Boris from UK consumer businesses

Published: 11 February, 2020

Consumer businesses are overwhelmingly confident that the government will negotiate a good Brexit deal, according to a new survey from financial services consultancy RSM.

Southern hemisphere wines to receive post-Brexit boost

Published: 10 February, 2020

Wines from the southern hemisphere will thrive most in post-Brexit Britain, according to the latest Wine Trade Monitor from food-and-drink communications agency Sopexa.

Majestic raises funds for Australian firefighters

Published: 07 February, 2020

Majestic has partnered with Australia’s Bird in Hand winery to raise money for the South Australian County Fire Service.

Rising price of wine threatens half of UK shoppers

Published: 07 February, 2020

The average retail price of a bottle of still wine will break the £6 barrier in the UK for the first time this year, according to new figures from the WSTA.

Wine Lister joins forces with French media giant

Published: 04 February, 2020

UK-based fine wine agency and analytics platform, Wine Lister, has been acquired by French media outfit, Groupe Figaro.

Dry January a hit with one-in-four UK drinkers

Published: 03 February, 2020

More than a quarter of UK drinkers (27%) cut their alcohol consumption entirely or in part during January, new research has revealed.

Top Selection bags award-winning Tuscan producer

Published: 03 February, 2020

London-based wine merchant Top Selection is to be the exclusive distributor for Tuscan producer Villa Saletta.

Bibendum launches major Bordeaux service

Published: 03 February, 2020

Leading UK distributor Bibendum Wine has launched a new initiative to streamline the sale of fine wines from Bordeaux to the UK on- and off-trade.

Waterkloof adds to Circumstance range

Published: 03 February, 2020

Paul Boutinot’s South African estate Waterkloof has added two new wines to its Circumstance range.

Diageo slashes 2020 expectations in wake of global volatility linked to coronavirus

Published: 30 January, 2020

Spirits giant Diageo has cut its sales expectations in global markets for the coming year, with the likelihood that the recent viral outbreak in China could further impact sales in 2020.

CIVB launches Hot 50 Bordeaux 2020 promotion

Published: 29 January, 2020

Vins de Bordeaux has announced a new initiative to promote Bordeaux wines in the UK market.

US and UK whisky industries demand action on tariffs

Published: 29 January, 2020

Whisky industry bodies on both sides of the Atlantic have issued a joint call for their respective governments to stop using tariffs on whisky as a proxy battle in unrelated trade disputes.

Essex and East Anglia primed for viticultural expansion say climate change researchers

Published: 28 January, 2020

Climate change researchers have pegged Essex and Norfolk as the next major areas to plant as warmer summers extend the area where grapes can be grown productively in the UK.

Silicon Valley entrepreneur to double capacity at Burgundy’s largest monopole

Published: 24 January, 2020

Chateau de Pommard, the Burgundy estate owned by American businessman Michael Baum, is undergoing a major winery upgrade in order to help launch the seven terroirs and soil-types of its walled vineyard Clos Marey-Monge into key markets.

Jerry Lockspeiser: The winemakers that changed the world…and those that made themselves redundant

Published: 24 January, 2020

Harpers columnist Jerry Lockspeiser is the former chairman of Off Piste Wines. Lockspeiser left at the end of 2019 after ten years at the company, which he helped to grow from ‘acorn to oak tree’ after joining back in 2010. His departure follows an investment in Off Piste just before Christmas, which will take the company into a new phase of development. Lockspeiser was also involved in the founding and building of Bottle Green in 1990 and organic wine specialist Vinceremos Wines in 1985. Here, he takes a reflective look back on 15 years that changed the wine world.

Feel Good Grapes: All you need to know about the new online retailer

Published: 23 January, 2020

UK-based wine businessman and writer Mike Turner has added a new string to his bow for 2020. As well as running Please Bring Me My Wine, a wine industry focused digital media consultancy, and co-owning Primrose Hill restaurant La Ferme, where he oversees the wine list and wine training, he has launched a new online wine merchant.

Trump trade truce puts US tariffs on French wine on hold

Published: 22 January, 2020

The USA’s threat of slapping 100% tariffs on US$2.4 billion worth of French imports including wine and Champagne seems to have been put on hold after the countries’ leaders announced a ceasefire on Twitter.