Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Intangible benefits: Sweet wine’s World Heritage push

Published: 14 January, 2026

Last January, leading alcohol retailer Majestic reported a 15% rise in fortified wine sales over the previous six weeks. The figure might seem positive for the category, yet sales data from the festive season – when Ports and sherries are traditionally enjoyed at celebratory gatherings – are notoriously misleading. In fact, the category has been experiencing a sustained decline in recent years. Sherry, for example, recorded its third consecutive year of falling sales globally in 2024, at around 24m litres, down from just under 32m litres in 2022 (Consejo Regulador for sherry). And Port has been following a similar trajectory, with 2024 marking its fourth year of global decline, from 124m litres in 2021 to just under 115m litres in 2024 (IVDP).

Roussillon ‘Coup de Coeur’ dozen unveiled

Published: 02 May, 2024

Roussillon may be a tenth the size of its sprawling Languedoc neighbour, but this diverse corner of France has increasingly been pushing its own credentials as a vibrant and innovative source of wines.

Wines of Roussillon launches three-year promotional campaign

Published: 08 February, 2022

The Conseil Interprofessionnel des Vins du Roussillon (CIVR) has unveiled a new three year generic campaign, designed to raise the profile of the region in the UK, supporting the commercial efforts of its wine producers and importers.

Discovering the charms of Roussillon

Published: 06 October, 2021

As the home of France’s fortified sweet wines, with a dazzling array of soils and microclimates forming a vinous bridge between France and Spain, the Roussillon deserves to be recognised as a distinct region with its own unique identify. Jo Gilbert discovers a region ready to stand on its own two feet. In partnership with Wines of Roussillon.