Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

PLB pledges smooth takeover of HwCg

Published: 09 September, 2009

PLB has pledged to make its purchase of HwCg's assets as smooth as possible for customers and staff of the failed agency.

VIA Wines

Published: 02 September, 2009

Established in 1998, VIA Wines is based in the San Rafael sub-region of Chile's Maule Valley. VIA Wines produces innovative wines with good expression of terroir, targeted at international consumers. VIA Wines currently owns over 1000 hectares of vineyard in the Maule, Curicó, Colchagua, and Casablanca valleys.

Keelung

Published: 02 September, 2009

As a backlash against the movement towards the Pan-Asian food culture Geoffrey Leong is on a quest to bring the true taste of Taiwan to London with his newest venture, Keelung.

Laurene Amiet

Published: 01 September, 2009

Much has happened since joining One Aldwych in 2007. The first objective I set for myself was to completely review the wine lists in all the hotel's outlets, namely its two restaurants Axis and Indigo, as well as the Lobby Bar and room service. I created new, separate lists for Axis and Indigo with a vision to be modern, innovative and approachable.

Australian generic pushes premium

Published: 01 September, 2009

Twelve of Australia's top wineries have banded together in a world-wide marketing effort to buff up the country's tarnished image in the wine trade.

Montana focuses on key varieties

Published: 01 September, 2009

Pernod Ricard New Zealand, owner of the Montana brand, is turning its back on buying Chardonnay grapes due to a slump in demand, the company has confirmed.

Sud de France launches UK Sommelier of the Year competition

Published: 01 September, 2009

Umbrella brand Sud de France has launched a new competition to find the Sud de France UK Sommelier of the Year.

The Gospel According to St John

Published: 01 September, 2009

Anyone who is anyone in the drinks or restaurant trade has been influenced by St John. But, as Terry Gulliver tells Gavin Haynes, wine is as much of a passion as food is for him and his co-founder Fergus Henderson, the men behind HG Wines.

A month in the life of Neleen Strauss

Published: 11 August, 2009

The highlight of the month was undoubtedly the sale of four half-bottles of Chåteau d'Yquem to one table. The bottle price ranged from £300-£600 depending on the vintage. The guests couldn't agree on which vintage they preferred - so they chose four different ones.

Lutyens Restaurant

Published: 11 August, 2009

Sir Terence Conran may have sold his interest in Conran Restaurants, but his latest venture with Peter Prescott in their new mini-empire of two features a couple of familiar faces.

Innovation in wine closures

Published: 11 August, 2009

A flurry of activity, mostly generated by customer demand for innovation, has seen several new closures on the market, both for premium and high volume wines. TCA has given way to OTR, new stoppers have been brought out for sparking wines, and marketeers are getting back on the act as closure choice becomes a way to differentiate brands.

The Harpers Wine Seller arrives

Published: 11 August, 2009

Harpers Wine & Spirit is launching a major new on-trade initiative at The Restaurant Show 2009.

European winemakers 'unprepared' for EU reforms

Published: 11 August, 2009

The most radical reform of EU wine law for more than a generation came into force this week amid widespread concerns that European winemakers and governments are unprepared to take full advantage of the new legislation.

The Pink Pound

Published: 11 August, 2009

With rosé in double-digit growth and bucking the general slowing-down of wine growth in the UK, it seems everyone is keen to jump on the pink bandwagon. Producers are speedily bringing out new wines, and both the on and off-trades are cashing in on the public's seemingly insatiable demand for the stuff.

New Taste: all the latest product launches

Published: 27 July, 2009

New Taste: Keep your finger on the pulse of what's new out on the market

Austrian IWC medal winners that are perfectly placed to fill a gap in your shelves

Published: 27 July, 2009

Looking for a new wine to plug a regional or stylistic gap on your shelves? First Taste aims to help, with the first in a series of features looking at medal winners from the International Wine Challenge's Discovery Tasting. The competition features the best new wines from around the world that are looking for representation, with each undergoing a rigorous tasting by an expert judging panel. First up, a focus on Austria.

A month in the life of Adrian Comesana of Iberica

Published: 27 July, 2009

The summer has supposedly arrived but to me it seems like we are in February. Like the famous Manuel says in Fawlty Towers: "We miss the sunshine". Anyway, we have two months ahead of us and in those we can sell a range of marvellous white and rose wines. Rosés are growing so fast and every summer more and more clientele are asking for summery and fresh wines.

Hilary Armstrong assesses the wines and food at London's Trishna

Published: 27 July, 2009

For the well-travelled gourmet, the name Trishna is synonymous with great seafood. The Mumbai destination restaurant is held to be one of India's - indeed the world's - best seafood restaurants.