Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Port company Sogevinus to launch comms push in UK

Published: 20 March, 2015

Port company The Sogevinus Group is set to ramp up its focus on the UK trade after appointing Sopexa UK to head up a new two-year comms strategy.

Chief of the Week: Cockburn's Vintage Port

Published: 13 March, 2015

OK admittedly it seems strange to bestow our "Chief of the Week" honour on simply a vintage Port house. But then Cockburn's, now safely ensconced in the paternal ownership of Symington Family Estates, is not your average vintage Port company.

Port on course to overtake sherry in the off-trade says Paul Symington

Published: 12 March, 2015

Port is set to overtake sherry in value sales in the off-trade in the next two years if current trends continue, according to Paul Symington, chairman of Symington Family Estates.

Cockburn's Port lines up year of celebrations for bicentenary

Published: 20 January, 2015

Cockburn's Port is embarking on a year of celebration in 2015 to mark the company's bicentenary - including launching a commemorative edition of its Special Reserve.

Cockburn's Port looks to capture spirit of family Christmas with new festive campaign

Published: 13 November, 2014

Cockburn's Port is hoping to capture the spirit of Christmas with a new print and online advertising campaign that breaks this week.

Glynn Davis: a postcard from Porto

Published: 30 October, 2014

Glynn Davis sends us a postcard from Porto, where he finds out what else is on offer besides the fortified wine.

Ports, sherries and fortifieds get ready for Christmas

Published: 03 October, 2014

The tapas craze helped boost sherry sales temporarily but the category is now in decline, and Port is still struggling to shake its fusty and festive image. Gemma McKenna and Erin Smith look at how fortified wines can carve a niche

Symingtons release "personal" tribute to AJ Symington with Graham's Ne Oublie 1882

Published: 19 June, 2014

Port family, the Symingtons, has released a special Port - Ne Oublie - that dates back to 1882 and the days when Andrew AJ Symington, aged 18, first went to the Douro Valley to work at Graham's.

Portugal's wine industry struggling for survival, says Paul Symington

Published: 05 June, 2014

Portugal's wine industry is being decimated by high costs of production and regulation and "something's gotta give", says leading Douro producer Paul Symington.

Port wine producer Symington Family Estates releases three 'en primeur' 2012 Ports

Published: 25 April, 2014

Symington Family Estates is releasing three very limited 2012 Ports that are up for sale prior to the public release of the wines, which in some cases won't be available to the market until 2020 at the earliest.

Sandeman vintage Ports spanning eight decades to sample in London

Published: 24 April, 2014

Port wine is having a renaissance and London restaurant "The Sign of the Don", in partnership with the Sandeman Port wine, is offering the public a rare chance to sample the wines which go as far back as 1944.

Fladgate releases three 2012 vintage ports

Published: 23 April, 2014

The Fladgate Partnership has declared the release of three 2012 vintage Ports from Taylor's Quinta do Vargellas, Fonseca's Guimaraens and Croft's QUinta do Roêda on St George's Day.

?The Big Fortified Tasting to be held at the end of April

Published: 04 April, 2014

The Big Fortified Tasting (the b.f.t.), the single largest wine fair in the world which is solely dedicated to fortified wines, will be held on April 24, 2014, at the Church House Conference Centre, Westminster.

?How the success of the 2011 vintage is giving Port a new lease on life in the UK

Published: 04 April, 2014

Hot on the heels of the 2011 vintage declaration, Port is making a big comeback and harpers.co.uk talks with some of Port's most iconic brand owners.

Portugal claims its wine sales are 'misrepresented' in UK

Published: 06 March, 2014

Portugal says its wine sales are being misrepresented in the UK off-trade - it claims it should be ahead of Argentina and among the top 10 importing countries.

Douglas Blyde hears history, gains insight and tastes wines at Fells first summit

Published: 26 February, 2014

Combine one part history lesson with another part insight into the runnings of five family businesses, with a final part of tutored wine tastings, and the first Fells wine forum would result.

Taylor's to release 50 year old Port

Published: 16 December, 2013

The Fladgate Partnership is set to release a collection of 50 year old single harvest Ports under the Taylor's brand

Taylors to release 50 year old Port

Published: 16 December, 2013

The Fladgate Partnership is set to release a collection of 50 year old single harvest Ports under the Taylor's brand.

The Symingtons purchase highly coveted Quinta da Sarbordela

Published: 09 December, 2013

Symington Family Estates has bought the much coveted 30 hectare Quinta da Sabordela vineyard in the Douro valley which will now be incorporated in to the neighbouring Quinta do

Port houses stung further by increased costs in brandy says Symington Family Estates

Published: 22 November, 2013

Port producers continue to struggle with the large increases in wine brandy used in the port making that is putting serious pressure on their cost base, according to Symington Family Estatesone of the biggest players in the sector.