Jason Wilson: whatever happened to Viognier becoming the next big thing?

Whatever happened to Viognier becoming "the next Chardonnay"?

California's wine regions at risk of fire caused by extreme drought

The entire state of California is now in the worst stages of drought according to new figures released on July 3, 2014 by the US Drought Monitor.

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Whisky maker William Grant & Sons donates to campaigns against Scottish independence

Spirits firm William Grant & Sons has donated money to several groups who are campaigning for a "no" vote in the upcoming Scottish independence referendum.

The Latchmere: A return of an institution

Wine merchants celebrate national Independents' Day with sales boosts of up to 30%

Independent wine merchants are going from strength to strength in the UK, with a straw poll showing sales up by between 20% and 30%.

The week that was: top news, Q&As and opinion on Harpers.co.uk

In case you missed some of the headlines this week on harpers.co.uk, we have done a review of the top online news, Q&As, and opinion stories.

Harpers Uncorked: Tweets of the Week

The Claret Pimpernel trolls the twitter-sphere looking for news but also some of the best tweets of the week

Claret Pimpernel: Still in the dark...

PR stunt of the week must go to Scotch whisky Highland Park, which sent out a flyer this week with all the details of its new Dark Origins launch hidden on what looked like a black piece of card.

Claret Pimpernel: Too cool for school?

Whether we like it or not, being cool and being in the wine trade, don't necessarily go together.

The Claret Pimpernel: Wrong shaped balls

Now football may be the country's national sport, but that is not always the case in the wine and spirits sector, where the egg-shaped rather than round ball is more popular.

Naked Wines has 50% increase in number of Angels and 40% sales growth in 2013

Naked Wines released it financial performance results today for 2013 which includes a 40% increase in sales reaching £53 million driven by a 50% increase in the number of Angel investors.

How retailers are using consumers to drive their brand image and strategy

The new, all-singing, all-dancing London Wine Fair was an apt setting for Harpers debate on how companies can harness consumer power to drive their businesses forward.

Claret Pimpernel: Doors to manual

The CP got itself stuck in the land of PC this week with the story we ran online at Harpers.co.uk about a British Airways pilot and his wife who are opening a wine merchant in Manchester called Salut Wines, offering as many as 32 wines by the glass courtesy of its Enomatic machines.

The rum doctor: Dr Frank Ward of WIRSPA

Harpers.co.uk caught up with Dr. Frank Ward of the West Indies Rum and Spirits Producers' Association (WIRSPA) to find out what the association is currently doing to raise the profile of Caribbean rum in the UK.

WSTA's Miles Beale gears up for the next battle to cut wine duty

Fresh from victory in the battle against hiking alcohol duty ever-upwards, the Wine & Spirit Trade Association's chief executive is already champing at the bit to secure a fair duty level next time around.

World Cup memories from Nik Darlington, Robin Copestick and Rachel Davey

England may have nothing but disappointment to bring home from Brazil, but here we turn to some friends in the trade to remind us of past glories and happy memories from World Cups gone by. If you would like to share your World Cup memories then send to richard.siddle@wrbm.com.

The Smith report: the rise of Scotch as an alternative to fine wine investors

According to a new report by Rabobank released in June, Scotch whisky is currently going through a boom. But Scotch producers could learn a thing or two from the wine trade in that regulating the peaks and troughs of supply and demand is necessary to increase value over the long term. So could Scotch whisky now rival fine wine as an alternative investment?

Why wine clubs need up their game to fully engage with their members

Hannah Saunders, international and UK business development director for contract publishing company, Cedar Communications, assesses the merits of the retailer wine clubs and finds many could take lessons from other sectors on how to fully engage and interact with their customers and members.

Beer drives Constellation Brands to increase financial expectations for 2015

Constellation Brands first quarter results for fiscal year 2015 beat expectations primarily due to its Crown Import beer distribution acquisitions last year and based on the results increased its fiscal year outlook.