Trade must move with the times, says Cochrane

Traditional wine intermediaries and distributors risk going out of business if they do not adapt and move with the changing face of the industry, according to Richard Cochrane, head of Spanish producer, Félix Solís, in the UK.

Q&A: Richard Cochrane, Félix Solís UK

Bibendum's former trading director is to spearhead Félix Solís's new UK office. He tells Shirley Kumar why the direct model can offer efficiency and economies of scale to the UK

Affluent parts of UK put fizz back into Champagne sales

Champagne corks are beginning to pop again in more affluent pockets of the UK, while sparkling wine continues to be "a runaway success" across the board, according to recent trade figures.

Last call for entries to Wines of Germany's Get it On... competition

As Wines of Germany's Get it On... competition gathers pace, it is seeing more than 70 wineries jostling for listings in the UK.

Big names sign up for Wine Vision

Some of the biggest names in the global wine industry will be heading to London in November to take part in Harpers' inaugural Wine Vision conference.

Oddbins to reward inspirational teachers

On the day thousands of students receive their A-level results, Oddbins thinks it is time to reward the inspirational teachers who taught them, by asking customers to nominate 10 they think deserve a case of wine for their hard work.

US wine exports on track for new record

Exports of US wine rose by 6% in value in the first six months of 2013, putting the industry on course for a new record, despite a drop in volumes.

July heatwave boosted retail sales, says ONS

Signs that the economy is slowly improving are enhanced today with the release of the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) that confirm retail sales grew strongly in July.

Multi-site indies form new merchants' group

A leading group of multi-site independent wine merchants has teamed up with Harpers to set up a new networking group to not only help each other but offer advice and support to the rest of the independent trade.

Jerry Lockspeiser: Minimum Pricing Maximum Cost

Charles Taverner and PCA sign up for Big Bike Ride

Charles Taverner, national account manager at Maison Marques et Domaines, is taking part in The Big Bike Ride 2013 - a charity cycle race organised by the Professional Cricketers' Association, for which Louis Roederer is the official Champagne partner.

Jerry Lockspeiser: Minimum pricing, maximum cost

In March 2012 our Prime Minister described the need to introduce minimum unit pricing for alcohol in terms that suggested the very fabric of society was at stake:

AFWS seeks out UK Sake Sommelier of the Year

The Academy of Food & Wine Service (AFWS) together with the London-based Sake Sommelier Association is on the search for the UK Sake Sommelier of the Year.

Pommery Champagne pop-up at Edinburgh Fringe

Following its success as part of last year's Edinburgh Fringe Festival the Champagne Pommery pop-up café bar has once again made an appearance.

New wine-only auction site to launch in September

Fat Grape, a new wine-only auction website is set to launch in September.

Boutinot cyclists help raise nearly £8k for local cancer charity

A team of cyclists from Boutinot, the north west wine distributors, has raised nearly £8,000 for a local cancer charity.

UK consumers opt for red wine, finds research

According to research carried out by specialist wine bottler Cobevco, UK consumers prefer red wine over white, rosé and sparkling, and would rather drink it at home than at the pub or in a restaurant.

Bordeaux winemakers seek government bailout after devastating hailstorm

French wineries and vineyard owners in the Entre-deux-Mers region in south eastern Bordeaux are seeking government assistance in order to avoid bankruptcy after last weekend's "catastrophic" hailstorm, which affected an estimated 20,000ha, reported France 24.

Oz Clarke to lead European wine cruise

Wine expert and TV celebrity Oz Clarke is to lead a host of European wine travel experiences on the luxury liner Celebrity Infinity, owned by Celebrity Cruises.

Pernod Ricard to launch Spanish brandy in UK

Pernod Ricard UK is launching premium Spanish brandy Domecq 1820 Solera Reserva in a bid to attract new consumers to a category currently dominated by French brands.