Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Black Chalk enters Japanese market

Published: 06 August, 2020

English wine producer Black Chalk has secured distribution in Japan in a move driven by Black Chalk director and investor, Kenya Matsumoto.

Friday Read: Covid-19 set to devastate Champagne's recovery?

Published: 17 April, 2020

Like a staunch liberal and a UKIP voter forced by coronavirus to cohabit under one roof, Champagne has enjoyed a troubled – and complex - relationship with the UK of late. Both Nielsen and CGA Strategy have tracked falling demand for Champagne over the past few years in the UK; in the 12 months to December 2019, the total volume and value of Champagne sales fell by 5.8% and 4.9% respectively in the on-trade. Meanwhile, Nielsen figures indicate that Champagne sales in the Christmas period 2019 fell well short of expectations. It's hard to rally against statistical evidence - the figures do not lie.

Freixenet unveils Italian still wine collection

Published: 05 April, 2020

Freixenet Copestick has launched its first range of still Italian wine in the UK to build on the success of the company’s Prosecco and sparkling Italian rosé.

Prosecco reports 2019 yields down but ‘exceptional quality’

Published: 29 October, 2019

Consorzio of Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCG has declared the 2019 harvest of “exceptional quality”, but said yields were down between 3% to 5%.

Friday read: How top end Prosecco can stay relevant in the face of ever changing consumer demands

Published: 11 October, 2019

Harpers sets out on the Prosecco trail to look at the region’s industrial expansion and to work out what a sustainable future looks like for the chronically popular Italian fizz

Nyetimber Releases second vintage of its 1086 prestige cuvée

Published: 23 September, 2019

Nyetimber has today released the 2010 vintage of its prestige cuvée, 1086, marking the second release of 1086 following the 2009 vintage launched last year.

Prosecco’s new hue

Published: 12 September, 2019

A new Prosecco style is poised to launch, but has it already missed the boat? Giles Fallowfield weighs up the pink fizz’s chances

UK release for Champagne Armand de Brignac’s rarest cuvée

Published: 11 September, 2019

Champagne Armand de Brignac has announced the UK arrival of its Blanc de Noirs Assemblage Three (A3) - the third assemblage of its ultra-prestige cuvée.

Can premium Prosecco put the sparkle back into sales?

Published: 17 June, 2019

Sandro Bottega, owner and managing director of Bottega Spa, has refuted suggestions the UK has reached ‘peak Prosecco’ and insisted a “new era of Prosecco premiumisation” is on the way.

Has the king of fizz gone flat?

Published: 30 April, 2019

The Champenois are working to adapt and recover Champagne’s position in the UK. But there is division among its ranks about how best to engage with younger consumers. James Lawrence reports

KFWE puts sparkling in the spotlight

Published: 03 January, 2019

Kosher Food and Wine Experience London (KFWE) has announced that all things sparkling will be a key element of this year’s show for the first time.

Billecart-Salmon appoints Mathieu Roland-Billecart CEO

Published: 07 November, 2018

Champagne Billecart-Salmon has appointed Mathieu Roland-Billecart to the position of chief executive officer.

Official launch of ‘maximum bubbles, zero waste’ fizz preserver

Published: 23 October, 2018

A Champagne and sparkling wine preserver that promises to keep fizz in optimum condition for up to four weeks has been officially launched to the on-trade following a trial in a selection of high end restaurants.

Prosecco DOC reports ‘exceptional’ harvest

Published: 11 October, 2018

The Tutelary Consortium for Prosecco DOC has announced an “exceptional” vintage for this year’s harvest.

Copestick Murray adds first Champagne to I Heart portfolio

Published: 10 September, 2018

Copestick Murray, owned by German group Henkell which recently purchased Freixenet to form the world’s largest sparkling wine supplier, has added the first Champagne to its I Heart range to replicate the success of the brand’s Prosecco.

FMV bolsters Champagne menu with Leclerc Briant

Published: 10 September, 2018

Fields, Morris & Verdin (FMV) has expanded its Champagne portfolio with the addition of Leclerc Briant.

Jascots adds Sekt producer Schloss Vaux to tap fizz trend

Published: 02 September, 2018

Jascots has added Sekt Estate producer Schloss Vaux to its portfolio to tap Brits’ continued thirst for bubbles.

Billecart-Salmon releases bicentenary cuvée and unveils new cellar

Published: 10 August, 2018

Billecart-Salmon has launched a collector’s cuvée and unveiled a new cellar as part of its bicentenary celebrations.

Fortnum & Mason adds ‘sparkling tea akin to sparkling wine' to its menu

Published: 07 August, 2018

Fortnum & Mason has unveiled a ‘sparkling tea’ range positioned as an alternative to sparkling wine.

Cottoning on to Cava

Published: 30 July, 2018

For Cava connoisseurs, Prosecco and Champagne can’t compete when it comes to quality and value for money. Jo Gilbert looks at how businesses are converting