Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Half of China's middle class population drinks imported wine

Published: 01 August, 2019

Despite falling wine import volumes, China continues to mature as a market, according to the latest country report from Wine Intelligence.

Liv-ex releases 2019 classification

Published: 01 August, 2019

Wine buyers continue to diversify away from Bordeaux, according to the latest biennial classification list from global wine-trading platform Liv-ex, released today.

Aperol continues its ascent with 22% sales spike

Published: 30 July, 2019

The apertivo movement continued to spread across Europe and the rest of the world in the first half of 2019, according to Campari’s latest results.

France rebuffs Trump on wine tax threat

Published: 29 July, 2019

Bruno Le Maire, France’s minister of finance, has rejected a threat from US President Donald Trump to impose a levy on imports of French wine into the US.

Dip in Aussie imports as Brexit stockpiling comes to an end

Published: 22 July, 2019

Sales of Australian wine in the UK have declined in the past year – partly due to brand-hesitancy surrounding Brexit.

Mini wine bottles and fruit flavoured blends help Broadland’s sales soar to £70m

Published: 16 July, 2019

Broadland Wineries has seen sales jump 11.6% to £70.6m in the 12 months to the end of March 2019 helped by fruit flavoured blends and mini wine bottles.

Anjou investors chase drier styles as sweet sales dwindle

Published: 16 July, 2019

The renaissance of dry Chenin wines, together with dwindling sales of sweet wines, have driven investors in Quarts-de–Chaumes – the Loire’s only Grand Cru appellation – to switch production from sweet to dry wines.

Tim Atkin MW: Celebrating Chenin

Published: 10 July, 2019

TIM ATKIN MW

Lebanon goes back to its roots with 100% Merwah and less focus on “blingy reds”

Published: 27 June, 2019

Lebanese winemakers are delving into their history, and are now ready to expand their repertoire from "extracted, luxurious reds” to indigenous whites and terroir-driven styles, an expert on the country has said.

Alcohol sales fall worldwide, but with recovery to follow, predicts the IWSR

Published: 31 May, 2019

Global alcohol consumption fell back by 1.6% in 2018, according to new data from the IWSR, with some 27.6 billion nine-litre cases being consumed.

Old world wines dominate on-trade in China, new research shows

Published: 31 May, 2019

Wines from France and Italy dominate the on-trade in China, according to the first in-depth research into the Chinese on-trade market.

UK retains top five status as global market for still and sparkling imports

Published: 22 May, 2019

The UK remains the world’s second biggest importer of still and sparkling wine, analysts have confirmed - despite the era of high volume wine sales being “over for good”.

UK leads the ‘non-alc’ sector with 271 premium launches in the past year

Published: 15 May, 2019

The UK is at the forefront of innovation in the ‘what to drink when you’re not drinking’ sector, new research has found – ahead of usual trendsetter, the US.

‘Temperature crisis’ could lead to a major re-shuffle of global wine production and demand

Published: 13 May, 2019

Vinegrowing and winemaking worldwide could look very different in the next 30 years, a climate change expert has announced, as the planet accelerates towards a temperature crisis fifty years earlier than expected.

The week that was

Published: 10 May, 2019

In case you missed some of the headlines this week on harpers.co.uk, here’s a review of the top online news, analysis, opinion and features.

Vineyard Cellars appoints Dave Allen as new director

Published: 09 May, 2019

Vineyard Cellars has appointed Dave Allen to the role of director as the Californian fine wine merchant looks to grow its portfolio.

Guy Woodward: On good breeding in wine

Published: 07 May, 2019

From the moment visitors touch down at Lexington’s Blue Grass airport, they are confronted with stylised images of two of Kentucky’s most prominent industries. The local tourist board seems keener, funnily enough, to promote the state’s whiskies and horses than its other famous export. Compliant stooge that I am, I took in both pursuits over the course of a whistle-stop tour last month.

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.

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.

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.