Mike Paul: why wine producers that see themselves as brands hold all the power

A recurring theme of most marketing orientated articles in Harpers is the need for wine producers to develop, and then promote effectively, their individuality: to communicate to  the trade and the consumer, hopefully in an inspiring way, what makes them special and  separates them from their competition.

Justin Keay discovers what it is like to be a wine tourist in Provence

Why is Provence wine - and in particular its pink or gris wines - the marmite of the wine world? I kept asking myself this question as I drove around the almost absurdly pictureseque wine region around Bormes Les Mimosas and Le Lavandou, dodging scantily dressed tourists with surely very different things on their minds.

Mike Veseth, the Wine Economist, on the global issues facing the wine industry

Mike Veseth is a specialist in globalisation who blogs as The Wine Economist. He is also professor emeritus of International Political Economy at the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma near Seattle. After reviewing his books Wine Wars and Extreme Wine for Harpers.co.uk  Jerry Lockspeiser talks to him about what he sees as the key global business issues facing the wine industry.

Stowfords Press introduces new look to push premium cider image

Leading cider brand, Stowford Press, has gone through a re-design to push more its premium credentials and focus in on the the traditional cider press image on the label which it hopes will reinforce its heritage and provenance.

Entries for Harpers Global Design Awards extended to August 22

The deadline to enter this  year's Harpers Global Design Awards has been extended by a week and now closes on August 22.

Echo Falls links up with British fashion designer for new limited edition range

Accolade Wines has introduced two new limited edition bottle designs for its leading Echo Falls wine brand that have been created by top British fashion designer, Holly Fulton.

My Choice: Mike Beavan of Coe Vintners on drinking Riesling with Aerosmith

 Mike Beavan, sales director at Coe Vintners, steps up to the plate to give his run down of faovurite wines and spirits and where he likes to drink them.

Timothy Taylor wins Best Beer in Britain award at Great British Beer Festival

TED-style DisruptWine Talks to be central focus of the 2014 DWCC conference

A series of what are being billed as "DisruptWine Talks"  will be one of the key new features at this November's Digital Wine Communications Conference taking place in Montreux, Switzerland.

James Steen takes trip down memory lane at St Bart's Brewery in Smithfield

There are several ways to reach Smithfield, home of the newly opened St Bart's Brewery. You can take the bus or a cab, or if you happen to be a side of beef or a carcass of lamb then a refrigerated van from the slaughterhouse to this ancient London meat market is the preferred option.

Price wars and discounters hit overall retail sales

Retailer price wars coupled with the ongoing impact of the hard discounters saw overall UK retail sales slip back for the first time in two years, according to the latest British Retail Consortium /KPMG figures.

Maison Sichel shows its support for independents by signing Harpers Best Practice Guidelines

Maison Sichel is the third major French wine company to support the UK independent sector by signing up to Harpers Best Practice Guidelines designed to promote open and fair trading between wine merchants and suppliers.

Bacardi produces cult graphic novel to tell its story of Cuban history

Bacardi has teamed up with cult writer Warren Ellis and artist Michael Allred to produce its very own graphic novel - The Spirit of Bacardi - that tells the stories behind the famous rum, the Bacardi family and its origins in Cuba.

Harpers.co.uk introduces new dedicated finance section

Today Harpers.co.uk introduces a new section of the website that hopes to keep you up to speed with all the latest breaking financial stories affecting the global wine and spirits industry.

Would you want to share a pint with Tom Jones?

Maison Sichel

Here Maison Sichel sets out the reasons why it has signed up to the Harpers Best Practice Guidelines and then answers what steps it is taking to comply with the seven agreed guidelines with independent merchants.

Final week to enter Harpers Global Design Awards

There is now a week to go to get your entries or nominations in for the 2014 Harpers Global Design Awards asa we look to celebrate the very best creative minds and talents in the drinks industry.

Three quarters of British adults have shopped online in 2014, says ONS

"Don't spill your wine, Del Boy!"

As we today publish our new exclusive report in to the UK on-trade, we thought it was also a good excuse to brighten up your Friday afternoon with this trip down memory lane and that comedy goal moment when Del Boy has that rather embarrassing moment when he disappears behind the bar.

Richard Clark: we're always looking for next "Crabbie's" breakthrough at Halewood

Halewood International's innovation programme has been the lifeblood of a £270m-plus turnover independent drinks manufacturer and distributor that has reinvigorated many of the markets in which it operates. Andrew Don speaks to Richard Clark, director of innovation, about the company's new product development (NPD) and the importance NPD plays in the life of a 30-year-old business that learns from both failure and success.