Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

New Zealand wine Matua backs emerging musicians

Published: 16 April, 2014

New Zealand wine brand Matua is launching an initiative to support up-and-coming artists at a host of this summer's music festivals.

'We cannot be the chateaux' bank forever', says Bordeaux negociant

Published: 16 April, 2014

"We cannot be the bank of the chateaux forever", leading Bordeaux negociant house Ginestet has said as the 2013 en primeur campaign struggles on.

Chile and South Africa wine exports surge

Published: 16 April, 2014

Chile and South Africa saw the volume of their wine exports surge ahead last year, while Australia and Argentina faced more challenges, according to Rabobank's latest report.

Tesco ups casual dining focus as profits slide

Published: 16 April, 2014

Tesco is boosting its store refurbishment programme by opening 100 new Giraffe, Decks and Harris + Hoole outlets in the next year

Bulk wine grows to 50% of New World exports

Published: 15 April, 2014

The international wine trade hit a "watershed moment" in 2013, with half of all New World wine sales coming from bulk supplies, according to Rabobank.

Breakthrough in fight against Scotch whisky fakes in Australia

Published: 15 April, 2014

Scotch whisky has been registered as a certification trade mark in Australia, giving consumers and the industry better protection against the growing market for fake whiskies there.

UK alcohol consumption down 2.1% in 2013

Published: 15 April, 2014

UK alcohol consumption fell in 2013 by 2.1% - the seventh decline in nine years - according to new figures compiled by the British Beer and Pub Association.

Félix Solís plans for "sizeable" UK growth

Published: 15 April, 2014

Félix Solís has "ambitious growth plans" for the UK and will focus on its northern Spanish appellation wines, international varieties and core brands to deliver it.

Birmingham launches weekend wine festival

Published: 14 April, 2014

The organisers of Birmingham's first weekend wine festival are hoping to attract 2,000 consumers to the event in June.

Accolade Wine's Kumala in Mandela film tie-in

Published: 14 April, 2014

Accolade Wine's Kumala has tied in with the DVD release of Nelson Mandela film Long Walk to Freedom for a major consumer campaign.

Private label wine prices jump 7.2%, says IRI

Published: 14 April, 2014

The average price of private label wine has shot up by 7.2% in the past year to £4.78, according to data collected by IRI.

Wine trade newcomers say producers too focused on quality

Published: 14 April, 2014

Future wine industry professionals say pushing wine's quality message is not enough to engage with new consumers.

Wine investment: good idea, speculation, or Ponzi scheme?

Published: 14 April, 2014

Stephen Forward, owner of independent retailer Essentially Wine, gets hot under the collar on wine investment. He warns it is just a speculative bubble, since wine has no "inherent value" and that it will "all end in tears".

Champagne exports to UK plummet by 5.1%

Published: 14 April, 2014

The UK remains Champagne's biggest export market, despite imports falling to €447.2 million last year, a decline of 5.1% by volume and 3.8% by value.

Scotch whisky exports hold steady, despite Chinese decline

Published: 11 April, 2014

Scotch whisky exports held steady in 2013 at £4.3 billion, despite a sharp drop off in China, according to figures the Scotch Whisky Association.

'No compelling reason to buy' Bordeaux 2013, say merchants

Published: 10 April, 2014

Merchants have so far sold very little, if any, Bordeaux 2013 wines, as collectors lack any compelling reason to buy.

Virgin Wines sees "loyal customers" join its Wine Bank

Published: 10 April, 2014

Virgin Wines says strong customer loyalty has encouraged 40,000 of them to join its Wine Bank Scheme, which offers customer 20% discount.

Q&A: Virgin Wines' Jay Wright talks independence, technology and customer loyalty

Published: 10 April, 2014

Virgin Wines chief executive Jay Wright opens up on what's happened since it separated from Direct Wines last year, as well as plans around personalisation and customer loyalty.

Bordeaux 2013: the Right Bank

Published: 10 April, 2014

Panos Kakaviatos tasted his way around Bordeaux's top chateaux last week, finding out how winemakers had fared in the troubled 2013 vintage. In the final part of a three-part series, he describes Right Bank wines and how well some of the more affordable chateaux have performed.

Gun-shaped vodka bottle breaks marketing rules

Published: 10 April, 2014

Red Army Vodka, packaged in a gun-shaped bottle, has been ruled "entirely inappropriate" for suggesting a link towards violent and dangerous behaviour.