Call Time on Duty: Beer sales up due to impact of duty cuts

Beer sales in the off trade rose 3.9% by volume in the fourth quarter of 2013, marking increases for two consecutive quarters for the first time in 10 years, following the cut in beer duty last year.

Languedoc-based winery aims to create a world class sparkling wine in Kent

A Languedoc-based winery has taken up the challenge of trying to create a world class sparkling wine in a new vineyard in Kent.

Berry Bros steps in to try and save UK juniper plants for gin production

Berry Bros & Rudd Spirits is looking to help protect juniper plants, vital in the production of gin, by providing grants for three different growing areas in the UK.

Stand out from the crowd and enter the Harpers Awards 2014

The Harpers Awards is your opportunity to be recognised and rewarded for all the hard work you do. With a host of categories across the industry and the on- and off-trade, here's how you can get involved.

Still time for you and your suppliers to get involved in Call Time On Duty campaign

There is still time to make sure your voice is heard in the industry's bid to get the Chancellor to finally Call Time On Duty and scrap the duty escalator on wine and spirits in the 2014 Budget. Harpers has also teamed up the Wine & Spirit Trade Association to give wine producers and drinks manufacturers the chance to take part in the Call Time On Duty campaign and make the government aware of the serious concerns they have about the alcohol duty levels in the UK. Here's how you and your supplier can get involved.

Aurelio craft beer launches to raise money for Prostate Cancer UK

Vineyard Safaris to offer holiday makers luxury VIP tours to Australia's most iconic wineries

Vineyard Safaris is a new Australian wine tourism project set up to provide holiday makers with luxury VIP access to some of the most exclusive vineyards and cellars in the country. 

Euromonitor reveals the key global consumer trends for 2014

The increased blurring between online and offline shopping, turning social media followers into buyers and the growing importance of ethical, green and community needs when making purchasing decisions are some of the key conclusions in a major study of consumer trends for 2014 from Euromonitor, the research specialists.

Direct Wines on course to hit annual sales target after strong Christmas performance

Direct Wines is on course to hit its annual financial targets after a strong Christmas performance, particularly online, according to group chief executive, Simon McMurtrie.

Casa Silva produces first wine from Chile's most southern wine region

Casa Silva has produced the first wine from what it claims is Chile's southern most wine region in the region of Chilean Patagonia some 350km from Bio Bio the previous most southern area capable of growing wine in the country.  

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Windsor 2014 attracts key players with collective buying power of over £222m

Up to two thirds of the buyers signed up for the Windsor 2014 Wine Buyers' Forum are from the independent on and off-trade sectors whilst the collective buying power of all the buyers attending is now over £222m.

Drinks industry takes its case to Westminster and urges MPs to Call Time on Duty

MPs from all parties came to talk to key figures of the wine and spirits industry last night at a special House of Commons event to publicise the Call Time On Duty campaign to try and get the Chancellor to freeze the alcohol duty escalator in the 2014 Budget.

Rolling update: Key drinks figures tell MPs about the damage duty increases have on UK businesses

Leading figures from across the UK wine and spirits industry joined the trade lobby that took the Call Time On Duty campaign to MPs at the House of Commons last night.

Dirty Bones brings premium hot dog dining to London's Kensington

The premium hot dog craze that hit the streets of London in 2013 looks set to continue into 2014 with the opening today of Dirty Bones in Kensington that offers street food with a difference - a "secret" restaurant inside offering high quality cocktails and wines to accompany a traditional hot dog stand during the day.

Boodles Gin hits the UK with multiple and premium on-trade listings

Chris Porter to visit all 91 football league grounds to raise money for The Benevolent

Chris Porter, chairman of the drinks charity, The Benevolent, is to set out on a fundraising attempt to visit all 91 football league league by using a combination of train, tram and bike.

Richard Siddle: how we can all play our part and Call Time on Duty

Come the end of the second week of January you have probably had your fill of end of year reviews and predictions for 2014. But if you have not already can I urge you to check out the series of 2 Good, 2 Bad memories for 2013 and 2 Hopes and Fears we ran from a number of key trade figures on Harpers.co.uk during the festive period (see related articles).

?Let's finally Call Time On Duty: how to get involved

The Wine & Spirit Trade Association is leading a new campaign, Call Time On Duty, aimed at persuading George Osborne, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, to scrap the duty escalator on wines and spirits. Here's how you, your business and your customers can get involved.

?Interview: Dan Townsend on building fine wine brands at Treasury Wine Estates

The pressure on wine brands to succeed in the UK is nowhere more intense than at Treasury Wine Estates. Richard Siddle asks its UK head, Dan Townsend, how it can succeed with both mainstream and fine-wine brands