Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Hal Wilson: ‘Looking Back, Forging Ahead’

Published: 06 August, 2025

Cambridge Wine Merchants' Hal Wilson steps up to provide the next contribution to our Summer Q&A series.

WSTA executive board gains three new members

Published: 02 May, 2025

The Wine and Spirit Trade Association (WSTA) has added three new faces to its executive board. The decision sees fresh board representation for SMEs as well as for spirits giant Rémy Cointreau.

Cambridge’s Wilson derides ‘government incompetence’ over duty changes

Published: 27 January, 2025

Not only will the forthcoming end of ‘duty easement’ present a huge additional burden on UK wine businesses, but the current claim form for clawing back overpaid excise duty against stated abv is not yet ready, with the excise duty invoice system also not fit for the new regime in one week’s time.

Wine prices to rise as tax changes loom

Published: 04 October, 2024

Wine prices are set to increase as UK retailers brace for significant changes to wine taxation starting February 2025. Businesses warn that the new system will require six-figure investments to handle the administrative burden, with potential annual costs also running into similar sums.

Indie collaboration

Published: 02 October, 2024

With costs up and margins squeezed, Andrew Catchpole assesses the pros and cons of sharing on smaller shipments of wine.

Gran Orden de Caballeros del Vino welcomes familiar faces

Published: 14 June, 2024

Historical organisation Gran Orden de Caballeros del Vino has welcomed three new members, including Spain’s first and only female Spanish MW and Hal Wilson, owner of Cambridge Wine Merchants.

Round Table: Fermenting Furmint

Published: 22 April, 2024

Hungary’s Furmint has been making waves for both the quality and individuality of the wines, with this spring’s Furmint & Friends tasting at London’s Painters’ Hall featuring the most comprehensive spotlight yet on this grape. Harpers partnered with Wines of Hungary UK to convene a round table to analyse the positioning and potential of this exciting volcanic soil-grown variety, with regional expert Caroline Gilby MW giving an introductory overview. Panellists were also offered a taster of some exemplary styles to frame their discussion.

Cambridge gears up for 30th anniversary celebrations

Published: 13 March, 2023

Cambridge Wine Merchants is celebrating reaching three decades in the trade in 2023, with a roster of events lined up to mark the major milestone.

Rounding up Roussillon

Published: 30 November, 2022

Andrew Catchpole looks into the innovation and excitement being generated by France’s compact Catalan wine region.

Q&A: Hal Wilson MD, Cambridge Wine Merchants

Published: 09 November, 2022

With the cost-of-living crisis and import challenges ratcheting up, Andrew Catchpole catches up with our 50 Best Indies list topper Hal Wilson to discuss the path ahead.

50 Best Indies gears up for 2023 list

Published: 03 November, 2022

Harpers popular 50 Best Indies listing is delighted to confirm that Walker & Wodehouse will be joining Cambridge Distillery as a sponsor for its forthcoming 2023 edition.

Tim Atkin MW: Adapting to survive

Published: 08 December, 2020

The numbers are terrifying. With the imminent closure of 124 Debenhams stores and the loss of 12,000 jobs, the high street has arguably suffered its highest-profile casualty since Woolworths back in 2009. Stir in the 13,000 Arcadia employees who are likely to swell the unemployment statistics before long – and the probable disappearance of Sir Philip Green’s Topshop, Burton and Dorothy Perkins brands – and we are contemplating a toxic brew.

50 Best Indies 2020

Published: 11 September, 2020

Padstow’s Bin Two has romped home for a second year running with top placing in our 50 Best Indies 2020 list.

France: Shaking up the south

Published: 31 March, 2020

Off-piste wines from southern climes are increasingly drawing the spotlight, as Jo Gilbert reports.

Cambridge indies react to coronavirus uncertainty

Published: 20 March, 2020

Cambridge-based Chris Wilson gets on his bike for a taste of what it’s like for those at the sharp end of wine retail.

Cambridge noses ahead to vinous victory in Varsity taste off

Published: 12 June, 2019

Cambridge narrowly triumphed over Oxford last night in a hard fought blind tasting challenge between these rival indie merchants.

Think France: Pitching the dragons

Published: 10 April, 2019

A Dragons’ Den-style debate opened Harpers exciting new Think France day of tastings and masterclasses, promising to be both lively and informative, and so it proved on the day, delivering passionate pitches across a host of diverse ideas aimed at benefitting the French wine category.