Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Paul Symington to step down as chair

Published: 26 September, 2018

Paul Symington is stepping down as chairman of Symington Family Estates at the end of this year following a 40-year career in the family business.

Facing up to climate change

Published: 02 August, 2018

The Climate Change Leadership Porto Summit gave compelling reasons for the drinks trade to take a lead on tackling global warming, as Andrew Catchpole reports.

Symington reports soaring 2016 Vintage Port sales

Published: 18 June, 2018

The Symington Family has reported ‘exceptionally strong’ demand for its 2016 Vintage Ports.

Churchill’s joins port peers in declaring 2016 a vintage year

Published: 04 June, 2018

Churchill’s has become the latest port house to declare 2016 a vintage year following unusual but ultimately beneficial growing conditions in Portugal.

The resurgence of the port industry

Published: 01 June, 2018

At first glance, it appears to be a case of “same old story” when analysing port’s prospects in the UK. According to CGA Strategy, in the 12 months to February 24, 2018, port sales (by volume, 9-litre cases) decreased by more than 11%, falling 9.8% in value. Nielsen data concurs: retail sales declined by more than 2%, remaining static in MAT TY 142,687 % CHG VS value at £77 million (MAT to March 3, 2018).

2016 Ports debut at London preview

Published: 18 May, 2018

Purity, precision and terroir were very much the buzz words at the 2016 Vintage Port Preview Tasting in London on May 17, where Symington Family Estates, The Fladgate Partnership and Quinta do Noval collaborated to show wines from the recently and unanimously declared 2016 vintage.

Port houses join Symington in declaring 2016 vintage

Published: 12 April, 2018

Quinta do Noval and Quinta do Romaneira are the latest Port houses to declare 2016 a vintage year, following the lead of top Port house Symington Family Estates.

Symington hails 2016 Vintage Port year

Published: 09 April, 2018

The Symington Family has declared 2016 a Vintage Port year, marking only the fourth Vintage declaration of all the family’s Port companies since 2000.

Trends of 2017

Published: 20 December, 2017

There has been no shortage of evolution in the drinks world over the past year, providing canny operators with plenty of openings for upping customer engagement. Andrew Catchpole reports

Symington donates 10th ambulance in wake of Douro fires

Published: 18 December, 2017

Port producer Symington Family Estates, has presented a new ambulance to the Sabrosa Volunteer Fire Brigade following the devastating fires in the region.

Guy Woodward: The great Port revival

Published: 08 December, 2017

Remember all that talk, a few years back, of the big sherry revival? About how, spurred on by the growth of tapas bars, small-plate dining, aperitif culture and cool España, fino and amontillado were the new tipples of choice for the hipster generation?

Cracking fortified

Published: 25 October, 2017

As wine’s post-prandial frontrunners seek to reposition and re-engage, James Lawrence looks at how it’s being done

King of cork Americo Amorim dies at the age of 82

Published: 17 July, 2017

America Amorim, whose family founded the Amorim natural cork empire, died on Thursday from unknown causes.

Q&A: Gonzalo Pedrosa, ex-chief executive, Sogevinus

Published: 06 July, 2017

Gonzalo Pedrosa has a refreshing take on how Port producers should collaborate in the way the Swiss watch industry did with Swatch – to boost the category as a whole. Andrew Catchpole catches up with the recently departed champion of the colheita style

The b.f.t to return in 2018

Published: 05 July, 2017

The world’s largest fair dedicated to solely to fortified wines is to return next year when it will once again unite Port and Sherry lovers from the UK and abroad.

Last Port of call for popular trade figure Tim Stanley-Clarke

Published: 26 June, 2017

The Harpers team joins many in the trade in expressing our sadness at news of the passing of Tim Stanley-Clarke, a much liked figure best known as a highly knowledgeable champion of Port, whose face was a long familiar and respected presence on the British wine scene.

David Gleave MW: 20 years of Liberty Wines

Published: 14 June, 2017

The year is 1997.

Gonzalo Pedrosa steps down as head of Sogevinus

Published: 09 June, 2017

Gonzalo Pedrosa has stepped down as head of Port company Sogevinus in what has been described as “a mutually agreed decision” between the board and the former CEO.