The French Appellation Contrôlée system is famously based on guaranteeing the geographical origin of a wine, rather than focusing on the quality of what is actually in the bottle - something that causes a headache for those who are trying to sell French wine and the consumers who wonder what the difference is between a bottle of Bordeaux at £4 and one at £24.
Read more...
David Babich, general manager of the family-owned Babich Wines, which reaped its first vintage in Auckland's Henderson Valley in 1916, along with Dinah Kinnear, sales manager for Europe, introduced their wine range at a special event hosted by UK distributor, PLB, at London's Underground Cookery School.
Read more...
Harpers.co.uk caught up with Dr. Frank Ward of the West Indies Rum and Spirits Producers' Association (WIRSPA) to find out what the association is currently doing to raise the profile of Caribbean rum in the UK.
Read more...
Christian Seely's contention that the Quinta do Noval vineyards are producing outstanding dry red table wines was vindicated at a mid-summer vertical tasting in London. The flamboyant, bow-tie- wearing managing director of the leading port house has always believed that unfortified wines from the Douro had the potential to express Noval's terroir. A look at the estate's three dry reds - Quinta do Noval Douro DOC, Cedro do Noval and Quinta do Noval Touriga Nacional - between the period 2004-11 supported that view.
Read more...
Will Oatley, managing director of Louis Latour Agencies, talks the on-trade, poor Burgundy harvests and putting the spotlight on Champagne.
Read more...
Harpers.co.uk talks with Michael Simms, head sommelier at Sartoria in Mayfair about how he accidently fell into training to become a top sommelier.
Read more...
Hallgarten Druitt is one of the biggest and most important wine suppliers in the country. Yet, as managing director Andrew Bewes admits, there is much about the company that the trade is yet to discover. Richard Siddle digs deeper to find out
Read more...
Douglas Blyde talks with Joel Cadbury, founder of the Groucho private members club, about the wines he is serving up at his estate of Bel & Dragon Inns.
Read more...
When it comes to controlling costs in the supply chain there is no one better placed than David Mawer, managing director of logistics company, JF Hillebrand UK. Mawer talks with harpers.co.uk about the key distribution trends, growth in bulk wine and importance of long term planning.
Read more...
Douglas Blyde catches up with Katie Cooper, manager of Berry Bros & Rudd's Wine Club, on the kind of wines and service she offers its growing band of members.
Read more...
Latest reports suggest Portugal's economy can at last look forward to recovery. Yet if the country's fortunes had mirrored those of the Alentejo's wine industry, it would be enjoying the benefits of growth already, writes Justin Keay.
Read more...
Northern Ireland is not generally seen as a hotbed for wine innovation - in fact a recent survey carried out for Wine Business Solutions said the wine scene there was 15 years behind London. But although they're not great in number, Northern Ireland can boast some truly committed and innovative operators.
Read more...
Chief executive of the drinks charity, The Benevolent, explains how the trade can get behind its new Here to Help campaign
Read more...
Jon Bonné, wine editor of the San Francisco Chronicle, tells Anne Krebiehl at last week's New California tasting how what constitutes a good American wine is changing radically as new consumers start experimenting more.
Read more...
Douglas Blyde talks to Thomas Mooney, first president of the American Craft Distillers Association and co-owner and chief executive of American craft distillery, House Spirits - makers of Aviation gin.
Read more...
Michel Bataille tells Richard Siddle how he hopes Foncalieu's new export strategy will help promote wines from all price points from the Languedoc-Roussillon to the UK on- and off-trades.
Read more...
Moët Hennessy is about to launch its latest sparkling wine brand, Chandon, in the UK. Harpers.co.uk caught up with the chief executive of the wine division, Jean-Guillaume Prats, on one of his recent whistle-stop tours of London.
Read more...
Paul Schaafsma the general manager for UK, Ireland and AMESCA at Accolade Wines about a new working culture for the group and his UK wine strategy moving forward.
Read more...
It may only have been three months since John Osborne became PLB's managing director, but it's a role he has been working towards his entire career. He talks about the challenges and opportunities facing him, PLB and the industry.
Read more...
The BBC programme Michel Roux's Service focused on recruiting young people to consider the hospitality industry and in particular front-of-house as a career. It first screened in 2011, and has just been repeated on BBC Two.
Read more...
