Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Argentina's Viñalba wine brand launches two new wines

Published: 24 September, 2014

Argentina's Viñalba brand has added two new wines to its portfolio - Parrilla by Viñalba and Reservado de la Familia.

Matthew Clark appoints new wine buyer

Published: 24 September, 2014

On-trade wine supplier Matthew Clark has appointed Judith Nicholson as assistant wine buyer to help expand the group's wine portfolio.

French bulk market 'tense' in face of Languedoc shortages

Published: 23 September, 2014

The French bulk wine market is starting to look "very tense", according to one top broker, following major shortages in the Languedoc region.

Cru Bourgeois selects 267 chateaux from 2012 vintage

Published: 23 September, 2014

The Alliance des Crus Bourgeois du Médoc has chosen 267 chateaux to represent the region's best wines from the 2012 vintage - bringing numbers to their highest level in the five years since the selection was relaunched.

Kingsland ramps up its South Africa wine listings with Brand Phoenix deal

Published: 23 September, 2014

Kingsland has signed a deal to distribute Brand Phoenix's First Cape and Distell ranges throughout the impulse, convenience and wholesale markets.

Diageo's Smirnoff vodka launches £15m campaign

Published: 23 September, 2014

Smirnoff vodka has launched a £15 million marketing campaign - including TV advertising - in order to grow the category and make it more accessible.

Bolivian wine trade to head to ProWein 2015

Published: 22 September, 2014

Bolivia, newcomer to the wine trade, is making its presence felt internationally by taking a stand at next year's ProWein show in Dusseldorf.

Low alcohol wines dogged by lack of awareness and poor quality perceptions

Published: 22 September, 2014

France and the USA are the most attractive markets for lower alcohol wines, although others show great potential, says a new report from Wine Intelligence.

Scotch whisky exports plummet 11% in first half of 2014

Published: 22 September, 2014

Scotch whisky exports have fallen 11% to £1.77 billion in the first half of 2014, compared to the same period last year, with the finger being pointed at "economic headwinds and uncertainty".

RumFest aims to break rum tasting world record

Published: 22 September, 2014

RumFest in London is aiming to break the record for the world's biggest ever rum tasting with over 700 people tasting a selection of six rums on October 9.

English winery Chapel Down smashes crowdfunding records

Published: 22 September, 2014

Kent sparkling winery Chapel Down has smashed crowdfunding records by raising £2.9 million through 1,100 investors in just 10 days.

Johnnie Walker Scotch whisky boosts golf ties ahead of Ryder Cup

Published: 18 September, 2014

Johnnie Walker Scotch whisky is boosting its golf ties ahead of next week's Ryder Cup by building a mini golf course at Gleneagles for fans to play.

Northern Ireland's alcohol abuse totals £900m

Published: 18 September, 2014

Alcohol abuse in Northern Ireland costs £900 million per year - a figure that could be reduced by earlier intervention.

Scottish independence: drinks trade on tenterhooks as voters go to polls

Published: 18 September, 2014

The wine and spirits trade is on tenterhooks as the people of Scotland go to the polls over independence.

Ex-Oddbins boss, Simon Baile, says standalone wine retailing not sustainable

Published: 18 September, 2014

Former Oddbins-supremo Simon Baile says there's no future in the world of standalone wine retailing, and has changed his model to include food and entertainment.

Buckingham Schenk sees Argentina and Prosecco sales soar

Published: 18 September, 2014

Buckingham Schenk see sales of its Argentinian Viñalba brand rocket, with Prosecco also leading the charge while pre-filled goblets hit sales of 1 million.

An independent Scotland is bad news for Scotch whisky in short-term, says Rabobank

Published: 17 September, 2014

An independent Scotland will have a negative impact on the Scotch whisky industry in the short term, says a new report from Rabobank.

French harvest looking good, say estate owners

Published: 17 September, 2014

French winemakers are optimistic about the current harvest, especially given the current spell of good weather is making for perfect harvesting conditions.