Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Garçon appoints Angela Mount as supermarket advisor

Published: 31 March, 2021

Garçon Wines has appointed ex-Somerfield wine buyer Angela Mount to the role of supermarket advisor as part of plans to accelerate its potential in the UK.

Ethical Bordeaux wine distributor sets sights on UK

Published: 24 March, 2021

An ethical Bordeaux wine distribution start-up has announced its ambition to launch in the UK.

Lights, camera, sustainable action!

Published: 18 March, 2021

With sustainability now on legislative and commercial agendas worldwide, the gap between corporate environmental responsibility and consumer buy-in is beginning to narrow – though perhaps not fast enough, finds Jo Gilbert

NZ: Selling sustainability

Published: 15 March, 2021

Clean and green but far from its markets, New Zealand is pushing for greater understanding around shipping-related emissions, as Andrew Catchpole reports.

New UMVGB president calls for post-Covid preparation

Published: 02 March, 2021

Albéric Bichot, who has been elected president of the Union des Maisons de Vins de Grande Bourgogne (UMVGB) has called for the industry to prepare for the Post-Covid world.

New Zealand: Growth in the face of adversity

Published: 24 February, 2021

Against all the odds, New Zealand wines have continued to thrive and gain recognition in markets around the world. Andrew Catchpole reports on a remarkable achievement

Villa Maria launches first organic range

Published: 24 February, 2021

Villa Maria has unveiled its first organic range as part of its commitment to converting 100% of its company vineyards to be organically managed by 2030.

Accolade backs Scotland’s DRS

Published: 22 February, 2021

Accolade Wines has announced its support for Scotland’s Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) as a founding partner.

UK glass manufacturer creates 'world’s most sustainable glass bottle'

Published: 09 February, 2021

Glass container manufacturer Encirc has create what it claims to be the world’s most sustainable glass bottle.

SA’s Bosman Family Vineyards bolsters European team

Published: 08 February, 2021

South Africa’s Bosman Family Vineyards has bolstered its sales capacity in the European and African markets with with two senior appointments.

Absolut follows up 'paper' bottle launch with 60% recycled glass edition

Published: 01 February, 2021

Pernod Ricard’s flagship vodka brand, Absolut, has launched its latest limited-edition bottle made of 60% recycled glass, making it the brand’s most sustainable glass bottle to date.

The dry truth of drought in Burgundy

Published: 14 January, 2021

As if 2020 wasn’t bad enough, France faced a drought so bad that water restrictions were put in place. Nowhere was the lack of water felt more keenly than in Burgundy, where irrigation is illegal.

Drinking in the new sustainability

Published: 11 January, 2021

A critical mass of smaller, sustainability-focused players is helping the wine and spirits industries reach new levels of innovation and accountability, writes Jo Gilbert

Embracing sustainable thinking

Published: 07 January, 2021

Bacardi’s new plant-based, entirely biodegradable bottle marks a new era for packaging and design ambition, which aims to push sustainably crafted products to the front of the mass-market shelf.

Ex-Silicon Valley entrepreneur launches experiential wine platform

Published: 14 December, 2020

Ex-Silicon Valley entrepreneur Michael Baum, owner of Burgundy estate Chateau de Pommard, has launched an experiential wine platform with sustainability at its heart.

Joint Harpers-NZ webinar to examine myths and facts around sea-shipping emissions

Published: 07 December, 2020

With food miles increasingly under scrutiny, Harpers is partnering with New Zealand Winegrowers to host a webinar looking into misconceptions surrounding the sustainability or otherwise of transporting wines across the world’s oceans.

Q&A: Santiago Navarro, CEO and co-founder, Garçon Wines

Published: 02 December, 2020

Harpers has something of a packaging focus in this month’s issue, due to be published this Friday 4 December. As a preview, we caught up with Santiago Navarro, the creative force behind flat bottle innovator, Garçon Wines. Made from 100% recycled plastic, this innovative new format scored a major partnership with Accolades Wines this year, which will see a number of the company’s brands launch with the flat bottle format. Starting with the installation of a ‘flat’ bottling line at the company’s Bristol manufacturing base – the first of its kind in the UK – the company is now looking ahead to its imminent UK supermarket debut with the re-launch of Accolade’s eco brand, Banrock Station, in the Co-op. We spoke to Navarro about his ambition to re-shape the wine aisle.

Spain: Leading the eco charge

Published: 30 November, 2020

Spain deserves better recognition as a leader in organic and sustainable viticulture and its time may well have come, writes Andrew Catchpole.

Wine industry falling behind other sectors on creating a global sustainable standard

Published: 26 November, 2020

A global framework used by other sectors like palm oil, mining, textiles and even golfing is needed to build best practice for the wine industry, some of the world’s leading experts in environmental management have said.

Diageo launches ambitious ten-year sustainability plan

Published: 23 November, 2020

Global drinks giant Diageo has launched a new ten-year sustainability action plan featuring a range of goals involving environment issues, diversity and inclusion, and moderate drinking initiatives.