Deadline for Harpers Awards 2014 extended for a further week

The deadline for entries to this year's Harpers Awards has been extended for another week.

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Sud de France to invest more funds to drive distribution in independents and the on-trade

The Sud de France promotional body in the UK hopes to capitalise on the good 2013 vintage in the region to help build up distribution in independents and the on-trade during the rest of 2014.

New Vinexpo chief open to idea of starting new shows around the world

Guillaume Deglise, the new chief executive of Vinexpo, said he remains open to running events in new markets around the world but only in the context of the bi-annual Bordeaux show remaining "the number-one priority".

TaxPayers Alliance calls on the public to get behind Call Time On Duty campaign

Jonathan Isaby, chief executive of the TaxPayers Alliance has thrown his weight behind the wine and spirit industry's Call Time On Duty campaign, by callling on the public to lobby their MPs to urge the Chancellor to stop the duty escalator.

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Wines of Argentina's Cambalache event to return to London in April

The ground breaking consumer tasting, Cambalache, organised by the Wines of Argentina, is to return in 2014 bringing the culture, music, art, food and wine of Latin America to London's East End.

New Scottish whisky region to be created on the Island of Harris in the Outer Hebrides

A new whisky region is being created with the buildilng of the first distillery on the Island of Harris in the Outer Hebrides.

Tim Wildman MW on the vision behind his Vineyard Safaris tourism concept Down Under

There's no hill at the Hill of Grace vineyard. This often surprises people when they visit Henschke's famous site but the name comes from a translation of the 19th century Lutheran church Gnadenberg which is adjacent to the beautiful, but relatively flat, vineyard I'm currently standing in. Its 5pm and still 35 degrees and the photographer is telling me to smile and say something funny. We're shooting for the website of my new business Vineyard Safaris and I'm wondering, as I struggle to be amusing for the hundredth time that day, how the hell did I end up here?

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Independents to receive expert advice on online retailing at PLB Manchester roadshow

Expert advice on the do's and dont's of online retailing will be part of tomorrow's PLB roadshow tasting for independent retailers taking place in Manchester.

Mike Paul: is the new EU planting wine regime a missed opportunity or pragmatic compromise?

Given the space devoted recently to predictions relating to the future of the wine business I've been surprised at the lack of attention focused on the new EU vine planting regime which is due to come into effect at the end of 2015. From that date each member state with over 50,000 hectares under vine will be able to add 1% per year to its vineyard area.

Memorial service for Michael Cox to be held on April 10 at Southwark Cathedral

The memorial service for Michael Cox, the former head of Wines of Chile in the UK and Europe, who died from cancer at the end of last month, is to be held on April 10 at Southwark Cathedral in London.

Eduardo Chadwick and Patrick McGrath pay their tributes to Michael Cox

Eduardo Chadwick, president of leading Chilean winery, Errazuriz, and Patrick McGrath, managing director, of its UK partner and importer, Hatch Mansfield, have both paid tributes to Michael Cox, the former head of Wines of Chile, who died last week.

UK buyers help pick ambassador wines to promote Vin de France

Up to nearly 90 wines thought to represent the very best of what Vin de France can offer have been picked by a trade panel to help promote Vin de France in key export markets like the UK.

Gerard Basset leads line up for Discover the Origin masterclasses around the UK

The UK on-trade is for the last time going to have the chance to literally Discover the Origin of some of the most iconic drink and food products produced in the European Union with a series of masterclasses featuring some of the trade's most well known figures including Gerard Basset MW, MS.

Specialist drinks retailers not enjoying same level of growth as rest of high street says CBI

Specialist drink and food retailers are not performing as strongly as the rest of the retail industry which has seen sales grow at their fastest pace since June 2012, according to the latest figures from the CBI.

The Week That Was: news, views and opinions on Harpers.co.uk

A week is a long time in the world of wine of spirits. Here is our round up of the main news, views and opinions that have appeared on Harpers.co.uk over the last week.

Hugh Jones: should we be using the public more when tasting and assessing wines?

The other evening I was on the phone to my friend who manages a wine shop in Mayfair, and found myself making a hasty request: "Please could you get me some white Burgundy? Let's say three bottles for about £300?" Shortly afterwards I checked my bank balance and phoned back to cancel the order. Is white Burgundy really that much better than Chardonnay made anywhere else on the planet? And is it really worth the money; would anybody even notice the difference if they tried a £10 Chardonnay next to a £30 Meursault? I adjusted my shopping list accordingly and called back a third time...

Leading industry experts to share their experiences with first Wine Buyers forum

The inaugural Wine Buyers Forum taking place in Windsor next month will give buyers from across the on and off-trades the chance to get first hand advice from leading industry figures and take part in a number of business workshops that look to address the key issues facing buyers today.