Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Q&A: Benoit Gouez, chef de cave, Moët & Chandon

Published: 07 November, 2018

Benoit Gouez talks to James Lawrence about his mission to rejuvenate the vintage category, MClll and making Burgundy in Champagne

Finding Austria’s niche

Published: 06 October, 2017

Grüner Veltliner may have been Austria’s “breakthrough” variety, but consumers need to be encouraged to investigate further, writes James Lawrence

Interview: Warren Gibson, chief winemaker Trinity Hill

Published: 24 March, 2017

Trinity Hill winemaker Warren Gibson muses on the future of New Zealand's wine industry

Battle of the Bubbles

Published: 13 February, 2017

For decades, the very mention of the word Champagne conjured up almost mystical properties for UK consumers in the market for premium sparkling wine.

Q&A: Emma Gao, winemaker-director, Silver Heights

Published: 27 January, 2017

A stalwart of Calon-Segur, Emma Gao is head winemaker at Silver Heights, China's foremost boutique winery. James Lawrence talks inspiration, investment and imperialism with the Torres China winemaker

Brexit - boom or bust?

Published: 28 November, 2016

Britain's retailers, faced with the fall in sterling and market turbulence, surely have little to celebrate in Christmas 2016.

Does the new Costa coffee hybrid proposition pose a threat to bars and pubs?

Published: 28 October, 2016

In October 2016, Costa became the latest major UK coffee chain to offer its customers two hits instead of one: caffeine and alcohol all under one roof.

Cava's upcoming new classification meeting mixed reaction from trade

Published: 27 July, 2016

The Cava de Paraje Calificado classification due in late autumn, which aims to up the focus on quality wines, alreday has the trade talking.

Analysis: Wines from the south of France's dramatic evolution

Published: 11 July, 2016

The revolution in Languedoc-Roussillon winemaking is one of the most dramatic in France's wine industry in recent times.

Insights: The future of bricks and mortar

Published: 08 June, 2016

In a tough and increasingly online retail environment why are wine shops continuing to open?

Analysis: Can Ribera del Duero compete with the Rioja in the UK?

Published: 26 May, 2016

Can Ribera Del Duero can realistically lure consumers in a Rioja-obsessed climate in the UK?

Insights: The rise of the owners club

Published: 24 May, 2016

In the space of just over 15 years, privately funded associations have become a defining feature of the global wine industry. In Europe, they arguably represent a manifestation of the growing dissatisfaction with the inadequacies of regional appellation bodies, which has subsequently encouraged winemakers to take matters into their own hands.

Q&A: Beltran Domecq, President of the Consejo Regulador de D.O. Jerez/Sherry

Published: 28 April, 2016

President of the governing body for Sherry, Beltran Domecq is fighting to make the category hip again.

Q&A: Vittorio Moretti, President of the Franciacorta Consortium

Published: 14 April, 2016

Owner of the Bellavista and Contadi Castaldi brands, Vittorio Moretti was elected president of the Franciacorta Consorzio in December 2015. He now faces an uphill struggle, in transforming Italy's premium traditional method fizz from a niche category into a household name.

Champagne's battle for the top spot

Published: 14 March, 2016

It's no secret that sparkling wine sales have been a massive success story in the UK market of late

Q&A: Bernadette Knight, Armand de Brignac

Published: 14 March, 2016

Launched in 2006 by historic house Cattier, the success of Armand de Brignac was largely built on its association with celebrities like Jay Z, who purchased the brand from Cattier in 2014. Yet, de Brignac's chief marketing officer insists that the wine's quality has chiefly contributed to the brand's success

Spain: a winemaking revolution is brewing

Published: 04 March, 2016

In January 2016, respected winemaker Telmo Rodríguez unveiled a controversial document that caused a surge of excitement across Spain's viticultural landscape

Q&A: Peter Sisseck, Pingus

Published: 04 February, 2016

Pingus owner Peter Sisseck signed a controversial manifesto in defense of Spanish terroir challenging the dominance of the country's top DOs. Sisseck explains why a village specific approach is essential for Spain's future.

Opinion: New Zealand's Sauvignon addiction - a dangerous thing?

Published: 15 January, 2016

With plantings of Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc reaching saturation point and New Zealand heavily reliant on its lead variety, James Lawrence argues that the country must necessarily evolve its offer

Analysis: Is BYOB set to rise in the UK on-trade?

Published: 17 December, 2015

With consumers increasingly expectant of value for money while dining out, it begs the important question of whether the market for BYOB is poised to grow in 2016?