Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

SWAs full results revealed for 2024

Published: 01 July, 2024

Harpers is delighted to announce the results of the revamped and rebooted Sommelier Wine Awards (SWA) which were revealed this afternoon (1 July) at Imbibe Live.

Friday read: Are specialist wine merchants in danger of becoming obsolete?

Published: 10 November, 2023

The WineBarn’s multiple award-winning founder Iris Ellmann – an early champion of dry German whites and Spätburgunder in the UK – makes the case for somms to stick with specialist importers.

Somms to be eligible for skilled worker visa

Published: 04 October, 2023

Following a review by the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC), sommeliers have been reclassified to be eligible for the skilled worker visa route.

Symington Family Estates to host inaugural Douro sommelier camp

Published: 31 August, 2022

Symington has unveiled plans to host the first edition of the Douro Somm Camp this September - an immersive educational bootcamp for the winners of 13 national sommelier competitions across Europe.

Top Sherry competition Copa Jerez returns in October

Published: 08 August, 2022

Chefs and sommeliers at restaurants across the UK are invited to enter the world's top competition for Sherry.

Co-founder of sommelier-backed canned wine brand claims “bottles are the past”

Published: 25 May, 2022

A new range of canned wines launched this week (23 May), under the brand name Djuce.

South of France to open new somm school

Published: 03 November, 2021

The Roussillon region is to host what is described as a “unique training centre” for sommeliers, planned to open in September 2022.

Rueda campaign to underpin export growth

Published: 03 November, 2021

Spain’s leading white wine export has continued its upward trajectory, with DO Rueda reporting a 15% upswing in 2020.

The post-pandemic somm

Published: 21 October, 2021

Staff shortages and supply problems are only some of the challenges sommeliers are facing today, as Jacopo Mazzeo reports.

Champagne Gosset Matchmakers 2021 open for entries

Published: 22 March, 2021

Champagne Gosset is once again reaching out to chefs and sommeliers to take part in its annual Matchmakers competition and be in with a chance of winning an all expenses paid trip to its estate.

Tesco launches charitable somms service

Published: 15 March, 2021

Tesco has launched a charitable wine service that gives shoppers access to tailored tips from sommeliers.

Grüner goes global

Published: 01 March, 2021

Austria’s star player continues to advance its international appeal, as David Kermode discovers.

Armit becomes first merchant to support The Court of Master Sommeliers

Published: 20 July, 2020

Armit Wines has been named as the first wine merchant to support The Court of Master Sommeliers.

Chaîne des Rôtisseurs 2020 award winners to be announced in November

Published: 23 June, 2020

Winners of the Chaîne des Rôtisseurs GB Young Chef and Young Sommelier 2020 competitions will be announced at an awards dinner on 20 November.

Post-pandemic staffing

Published: 22 June, 2020

With a shortage of qualified on-trade staff an industry issue pre Covid-19, what will be the outcome for those that weather lockdown? Chris Losh reports.

Thursday read: Living with lockdown - an agency view

Published: 09 April, 2020

Will Oatley, MD at Louis Latour Agencies, gives Andrew Catchpole a glimpse of the realities of life as a merchant adjusting to lockdown

One year of Trade, with Xavier Rousset

Published: 28 February, 2020

As the Soho hospitality hub hits its first birthday, Andrew Catchpole catches up with Trade’s leading light Xavier Rousset

Friday Read: Merlot

Published: 26 July, 2019

Can one film realistically change consumer attitudes to two grape varieties?

NZ Winegrowers sommelier scholarship applications open

Published: 11 July, 2018

New Zealand Winegrowers (NZW) has today opened applications for the 2019 Sommit Scholarship for sommeliers from the UK, Ireland and mainland Europe.

Moët UK's Sommelier Of The Year opens for entries

Published: 03 March, 2017

Moët & Chandon's Sommelier of the Year competition has returned for another year, once again looking to bestow the accolade on a shining star of the UK on-trade.