Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Langham winemaker leaves to establish sustainable winery

Published: 07 February, 2020

The head winemaker at Dorset winery Langham Estate has branched out on his own to embark on a sustainable winemaking venture.

Organic wine ‘big winner’ in 2019

Published: 05 February, 2020

Organic wine was the “big category winner” in 2019 as supermarkets cashed in on shoppers’ environmental concerns, according to the Soil Association Certification’s annual Organic Market Report 2020 released today.

Climate action group IWCA welcomes four new members

Published: 30 January, 2020

International Wineries for Climate Action (IWCA) has welcomed our new wineries in its mission to decarbonize the global wine industry.

Friday Read: Sustainability, organics or biodynamics – who’s got it right?

Published: 24 January, 2020

Since France’s ‘organic’ fair Millesime Bio began in 1993, France and the rest of the winemaking world have come to embrace the gamut of holistic winemaking practices, from sustainability to organics and biodynamics. But how useful, actually, are they as separate disciplines? And do they have the staying power to be truly ‘sustainable’ longterm? Mike Turner, who was in Montpellier to judge this year’s medal winners, mulls over the big questions.

Ramón Bilbao exceeds sustainability target

Published: 07 January, 2020

Ramón Bilbao has announced it has exceeded targets on its sustainability drive in both its winery and vineyards.

Wine’s darker materials: glass vs the alternatives

Published: 06 January, 2020

A rising clamour over packaging and sustainability is leading many parts of the industry to go back to the drawing board on glass and look at alternative materials. Does plastic deserve its bad reputation?

Q&A: Santiago Navarro, Garçon Wines

Published: 06 January, 2020

Santiago Navarro is out to change the world and the mass-market wine business with his flat eco wine bottle. Jo Gilbert catches up with the co-founder and chief executive

Spotlight on 2020: Mark Roberts, Lanchester Wines

Published: 16 December, 2019

As we prepare for the new decade, Harpers will be taking the month of December to look back over 2019 and ahead to what the coming year will bring – hopefully full of revived optimism for both politics and the trade.

Sustainability: Time to embrace 'boutique bulk'?

Published: 03 December, 2019

With sustainability high on the global agenda, it could be time to embrace a new approach to shipping premium wine. Andrew Catchpole reports back from a round table partnered by Lanchester Wines.

Friday read: How top end Prosecco can stay relevant in the face of ever changing consumer demands

Published: 11 October, 2019

Harpers sets out on the Prosecco trail to look at the region’s industrial expansion and to work out what a sustainable future looks like for the chronically popular Italian fizz

Hillebrand rebrand ahead of ‘journey of growth’

Published: 08 October, 2019

Global beverage and bulk liquid forwarder JF Hillebrand is unifying its various business arms, including past acquisitions such as Trans Ocean Bulk Logistics and Satellite Logistics Group, under the one Hillebrand banner.

Rock Rose goes postal with recyclable pouches

Published: 30 September, 2019

Rock Rose has signed a deal with the Royal Mail which will make it the first gin to offer fully recyclable 70cl refill pouches.

Torres calls for action on climate change

Published: 30 September, 2019

Family-run Spanish wine producer Familia Torres has renewed its call for more action on climate change and declared its support for Fridays For Future, the international youth movement inspired by activist Greta Thunberg.

Bulk savings

Published: 02 September, 2019

Importing wine into the UK in bulk used to be all about saving money. Now it’s about saving the planet, too, as Simon Jack reports.

Saving graces

Published: 29 August, 2019

As businesses large and small focus on long-term sustainability goals, Lucy Britner goes back to basics to find out what practical measures producers are taking to ensure their socio-economic and environmental longevity

Serving up sustainability

Published: 21 August, 2019

Sustainability encompasses myriad aspects of business and production. These range from the big-ticket environmental and carbon-emission concerns – seeking to mitigate and adapt in the face of now-rapid climate change – to the socio-economic, whereby workers and employees are offered a fairer deal, including aspects of pay, work conditions, education and advancement.

Sustainability: a transatlantic conversation with California Wines

Published: 13 August, 2019

Harpers and California Wine Institute hosted an insightful and far-reaching seminar at London’s Design Museum, delivering the core message that the wine world is well-placed to better engage consumers in supporting the true costs of advancing sustainability. Andrew Catchpole reports

Sustainable British winemakers to unite under WineGB banner

Published: 26 July, 2019

A new initiative created with the aim of supporting UK growers and winemakers in their efforts to produce sustainable wines has been given an official name.

Wine can drive sustainability agenda, but thinking needs ‘generational change’

Published: 12 July, 2019

Consumers need to get behind the agricultural sector to support the true costs of sustainability, but while the wine industry is well-placed to advance this message, there is still a long way to go.

Trade should stop bottling it on carbon emissions

Published: 28 June, 2019

Bottling and packaging play by far the largest role in the green house gas (GHG) emissions generated by the production and distribution of a wine, contributing 42% of the total carbon footprint, delivering a clear ‘innovation challenge’ for the trade if it is to fully join the march towards greater sustainability.