Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Wine countries tipped for success

Published: 19 May, 2009

Three of the trade's leading figures revealed which countries they were tipping for future success at last week's Harpers Wine & Spirit debate at the LIWF.

Restaurants get creative as downturn rages on

Published: 19 May, 2009

Leading restaurateurs are launching a raft of new innovations, including starting off-sales and slashing prices of their top wines. It comes as a new survey shows the rate of insolvencies has shot up since 2008.

On-trade distributors rated in survey

Published: 19 May, 2009

Hallgarten Druitt has been named the best on-trade wine distributor in the UK in a comprehensive survey of thousands of outlets across the country.

Comments - Christine Parkinson from Hakkasan on why sommelier competitions are a good thing

Published: 19 May, 2009

Hakkasan's Christine Parkinson explains why sommelier competitions aren't just relevant to those who work in Michelin-starred restaurants

Agony Aunt - Which countries offer the best value wines in the current climate?

Published: 19 May, 2009

In these tight times, I'm looking for some wines that will give my wine list that something extra - at a reasonable price. What do you suggest?

Natasha Hughes on her favourite wines from the London International Wine Fair

Published: 19 May, 2009

Wines from the London International Wine Fair, 12-14 May 2009

Profile - Sommelier of the Year Laura Rhys on what makes her tick

Published: 19 May, 2009

Laura Rhys, a sommelier at Gerard Basset's Hotel TerraVina, has just won the Sommelier of the Year competition. Here she tells us just what it takes to be the best.

UK's top sommelier revealed

Published: 07 May, 2009

This year's UK Sommelier of the Year has been named as 27-year-old Laura Rhys from Gerard Basset's Hotel TerraVina in Southampton.

LIWF - can you afford to miss it?

Published: 07 May, 2009

There are plenty of tailored events, tastings and seminars at the London International Wine Fair between May 12-14 to help you in your restaurant business.

All water is not equal, says Noura's Nicolas Angelina

Published: 06 May, 2009

Noura's Nicolas Angelina discovers there's more to water than meets the eye

Tom Aiken's sommelier Sebastien Morice on stepping into Gearoid's shoes

Published: 06 May, 2009

Tom Aikens' sommelier, Sebastien Morice, on how to step into big shoes without tripping up and finding the elixir of life

Agony Aunt - Emily O'Hare

Published: 06 May, 2009

I was thinking of creating a whisky list to complement my wine list. How can I make the most of this new list?

Natasha Hughes gets her lips round some fizz at the annual Champagne tasting

Published: 06 May, 2009

Annual Champagne Tasting and English Wine Producers Tasting 2009

PR push for Prosecco

Published: 16 April, 2009

Increasingly popular Prosecco is to be boosted by its first ever UK public relations charm offensive as the sparkler continues to take the fizz out of Champagne sales.

Industry braces itself for Budget

Published: 16 April, 2009

The drinks industry is stepping up its campaign to persuade the government to put a freeze on alcohol duty rises ahead of the Budget (April 22).

The second part of Natasha Hughes' marathon tasting round Argentina

Published: 16 April, 2009

Argentina, 14-22 March 2009

Daniel Marzotto on how he ended up at Osteria dell'Angolo in Westminster

Published: 16 April, 2009

Daniel Marzotto, the assistant manager at Claudio Pulze's latest restaurant, Westminster's Osteria dell'Angolo, on the twin challenges of learning English and convincing customers that food and wine matching is still worthwhile in a recession.

Agony Aunt - Jade Koch

Published: 16 April, 2009

Like many people working in the wine trade, I really like German Rieslings, but so far they haven't been terribly successful on our wine list. Can you make any suggestions about the best way to get people to order them?

Comments - Duncan Watts

Published: 16 April, 2009

It's not enough just to list a good selection of wines in your restaurant, says Duncan Watts, owner and managing director of the Rocket group, you also have to find ways of making that list accessible to your customers