Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

WineGB tasting looks to capitalise on rising sales

Published: 15 August, 2022

WineGB will be returning to London this September for a celebration of all things English wine – including another year of rising sales.

English wine comes of age at the UK’s wine ‘BAFTAs’

Published: 18 July, 2022

English and Welsh wine appears to have entered a new era of maturity, as ‘newcomers’ to the scene continue to rake in accolades alongside more established names.

The drinks trend casualties in the cost-of-living crisis

Published: 30 June, 2022

As we hover on the edge of a possible recession, with inflation reaching a 40-year year high in June, it’s no surprise that UK consumers are tightening their belts.

Gonzalez Byass welcomes portfolio tasting return along with new CEO

Published: 08 June, 2022

Highlights will include the newly released 1975 vintage sherry and the latest Tio Pepe en Rama from GB, the 2021 range from Zind Humbrecht in Alsace and two new prestige cuvees from Champagne Deutz.

Resetting Australia

Published: 01 February, 2022

With export markets yo-yoing in the wake of China’s trade tariffs, Australia is once again reassessing its place in the wine world. Andrew Catchpole reports.

Hospitality sector expands in fourth quarter, despite unprecedented challenges

Published: 20 January, 2022

Britain’s hospitality sector grew modestly in the last quarter of 2021, according to the latest CGA Market Recovery Monitor.

Bolney Wine Estate acquired by major international

Published: 17 January, 2022

Sussex-based Bolney Wine Estate has been sold to sparkling wine behemoth Henkell-Freixenet via Freixenet Copestick in the UK.

Chile tasting postponed as other physical January trade events hang in the balance

Published: 05 January, 2022

Wines of Chile has postponed its 13 January showcase tasting in London, with several other organisers of tastings this month also understood to be considering whether to still go ahead.

A month or so ago, I attended two eye-catching, if very different, launches. Both were from Bibendum Wine: the UK debut of former Dom Pérignon chef de cave Richard Geoffroy’s sake; and an unorthodox new English sparkling wine, with the charming name Harlot.

Spain inches up

Published: 02 November, 2021

Spanish wines appear to be holding ground against the broader UK wine market, with signs of uplift at the mid-to-high end. Andrew Catchpole sizes up the stats.

WineGB Wessex appoints Jacob Leadley as new chair

Published: 13 October, 2021

WineGB Wessex has appointed Black Chalk winemaker and CEO Jacob Leadley as its new chair from 9 November.

English and Welsh wine exports soar despite pandemic disruption

Published: 07 September, 2021

Exports of English and Welsh wine – both still and sparkling – have risen dramatically over the past 12 months, despite the on-going challenges of the Covid pandemic.

Black Chalk to market two versions of its signature vintage cuvées

Published: 07 September, 2021

Hampshire-based Black Chalk has unveiled plans to release two distinct interpretations of its Classic and Wild Rosé wines, based on the same vintage.

Continued plantings spell new growth for English vino at Wine GB

Published: 06 September, 2021

Continued plantings across England and Wales are expected to insulate the growing England and Welsh wine industry against climate issues and smaller-than-usual crop sizes.

Guy Woodward: Content conundrum

Published: 01 July, 2021

A new TV channel was launched last month. And I’m not talking about the ‘anti-woke’ news channel GB News. No, prepare yourself instead for something far more worthy and cerebral; 67pallmall.tv made its debut (admittedly on the members’ club’s own website, rather than a satellite TV network) with 18 hours of wine-related content every day.

Chaine’s GB young chef and somm winning duo announced

Published: 30 June, 2021

Chef Kieran Bradley and sommelier Markron Patana have been announced as the winners of the Chaine des Rotisseurs Awards, recognising up-and-coming young talent in the industry.

Delivery and takeaway has legs as May sales boom

Published: 17 June, 2021

CGA’s latest Hospitality at Home Tracker shows that takeaway and delivered sales from restaurant and pub groups in GB were 273% higher in May this year versus May 2019, despite the return of eating indoors in the second half of the month.

IWC announces 2021 winners

Published: 17 May, 2021

The International Wine Challenge (IWC) has announced the winners of its 2021 competition, with a haul of 6,800 medals being claimed across over 40 countries.

Mark McClintock crowned as GB Bartender of the Year

Published: 22 April, 2021

Diageo World Class Competition 2021 has awarded London-based Mark McClintock the title of GB Bartender of the Year.

Spirits overtake wine in shopping baskets

Published: 01 April, 2021

Spirits reached a major milestone in 2020, overtaking wine to become the largest category in terms of penetration in the off-trade for the first time in at least five years.