Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

South America report: Importers’ Shout

Published: 18 April, 2024

Jo Gilbert quizzes UK importers on the burning questions surrounding Chile and Argentina.

Collaborative female dozen launch The CollectEve

Published: 15 April, 2024

A group of 12 female-led wine importers have come together to form a collaborative group dedicated to ‘excellence and inclusivity and innovation’ in the wine industry.

Q&A: Fabrice Mauge, CEO, VinoVirtual

Published: 19 January, 2023

What is VinoVirtual and how does it differ from ‘run-of-the-mill’ trade shows?

Wine Importers 'looks to future' with management reshuffle

Published: 02 February, 2022

Scotland-based distributor Wine Importers, part of the Murray Capital Group, has announced key changes to its top team, anticipating “growing demand as the economy fully reopens”.

Last call to register for SITT 2021

Published: 16 September, 2021

The Specialist Importers Trade Tasting (SITT) returns to London and Manchester in physical form on 20 and 22 September respectively, in what promises to be the finest edition to date.

Italy Report: Supping on the south

Published: 24 June, 2021

Characterful and alluringly individual, Italy’s southern wines are on the rise, gaining more recognition for the blend of quality and value they can deliver. With all of this plugging into current consumer drinking trends, Andrew Catchpole surveyed a handful of Italophile importers and retailers to discover if the south’s time has arrived.

Last call for SITT Digital Day

Published: 23 February, 2021

Independent buyers across the on- and off-trade have got just one day left to wait for the Specialist Importers Trade Tastings (SITT) virtual event.

Ribera campaign looks to bring 60 wineries to the UK

Published: 22 February, 2021

Ribera del Duero has launched an initiative to introduce over 60 additional wineries to the UK market following an uptick in interest in the region over the course of the pandemic.

Brexit: Reality bites

Published: 08 February, 2021

The actualities of shipping goods from the EU are beginning to sink in as wine incurs an estimated €200 per shipment, making groupage cost-prohibitive for many. Jo Gilbert calculates the knock-on costs to the trade

Brexit red tape to hit premium trade

Published: 09 March, 2020

Government’s post-Brexit default adoption of EU regulations will pile further costs on indies, specialist importers and on-trade. Andrew Catchpole unravels the flaws in its proposed trading position

Feel Good Grapes: All you need to know about the new online retailer

Published: 23 January, 2020

UK-based wine businessman and writer Mike Turner has added a new string to his bow for 2020. As well as running Please Bring Me My Wine, a wine industry focused digital media consultancy, and co-owning Primrose Hill restaurant La Ferme, where he oversees the wine list and wine training, he has launched a new online wine merchant.

Events guide 2020: What not to miss

Published: 13 January, 2020

James Lawrence looks ahead to some of the essential trade dates across another busy year

Birse-Stewart joins Berkmann’s Scottish team

Published: 30 October, 2019

Distributor Berkmann Wine Cellars has appointed Billy Birse-Stewart as consultant director.

Gastro pubs: The challenges and joys of getting a pub wine list right

Published: 17 September, 2019

With the vast majority of pubs in the UK part of a chain where buying decisions on everything from beer and wine to crisps and peanuts are sanctioned by the chain’s owners, it can be very hard for wine merchants and importers to get an in, especially on the ground rather than in a boardroom setting.

UK Agents: are you being served?

Published: 04 January, 2018

I wish to be cremated… one tenth of my ashes shall be given to my agent, as written in my contract,” quipped Groucho Marx of the breed that acts for the stars. Finding humorous quotes at the expense of agents is easy work, whether levelled at the acting or commercial world, with these designated business representatives – popularly the “10 percenters” – coming in for flack for apparently sitting back while counting their cut for little in return.