Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

CIVB launches Hot 50 Bordeaux 2020 promotion

Published: 29 January, 2020

Vins de Bordeaux has announced a new initiative to promote Bordeaux wines in the UK market.

TWE slashes growth predictions as US business stalls

Published: 29 January, 2020

Treasure Wine Estates (TWE) has cut its predictions of growth for 2020 from between 15% and 20% to between 5% and 10% after its first half-year figures were released yesterday.

Leading Port figure Huyshe Bower dies aged 82

Published: 28 January, 2020

Huyshe Bower, senior family member and former director of The Fladgate Partnership, has passed away.

Hattingley secures £7.5m finance facility

Published: 28 January, 2020

Hattingley Valley has secured a £7.5m finance facility from PNC Business Credit to support its continued growth plans.

Berkmann adds Lebanese producer Château Ksara

Published: 28 January, 2020

Berkmann Wine Cellars has signed a deal as the exclusive UK distributors of Château Ksara.

Hallgarten extends partnership with Ascot Racecourse

Published: 28 January, 2020

Hallgarten & Novum Wines has extended its partnership with Ascot Racecourse for a further two years.

‘Buy now’ advice for Burgundy 2018 reds as quality outstrips 2015

Published: 28 January, 2020

Bountiful crops and idyllic weather was the talk of Europe in 2018, following on from the dismal vintage shortfalls of 2017 where producers suffered bouts of frost, hail and a late spell of searing heat.

Bibendum launches ‘fine wine’ course

Published: 27 January, 2020

Bibendum Wine has launched a fine wine course - Fine Wine: Decanted.

Lanchester adds High Side to ‘boutique bulk’ range

Published: 27 January, 2020

Lanchester Wines has expanded its range of ‘boutique bulk’ wines with the exclusive UK launch of High Side - a high altitude single vineyard Malbec.

WineGB to exhibit as ‘major generic body’ at LWF

Published: 27 January, 2020

WineGB has announced it will exhibit at this year’s London Wine Fair (LWF) as a major generic body for the first time.

Friday Read: Sustainability, organics or biodynamics – who’s got it right?

Published: 24 January, 2020

Since France’s ‘organic’ fair Millesime Bio began in 1993, France and the rest of the winemaking world have come to embrace the gamut of holistic winemaking practices, from sustainability to organics and biodynamics. But how useful, actually, are they as separate disciplines? And do they have the staying power to be truly ‘sustainable’ longterm? Mike Turner, who was in Montpellier to judge this year’s medal winners, mulls over the big questions.

Jerry Lockspeiser: The winemakers that changed the world…and those that made themselves redundant

Published: 24 January, 2020

Harpers columnist Jerry Lockspeiser is the former chairman of Off Piste Wines. Lockspeiser left at the end of 2019 after ten years at the company, which he helped to grow from ‘acorn to oak tree’ after joining back in 2010. His departure follows an investment in Off Piste just before Christmas, which will take the company into a new phase of development. Lockspeiser was also involved in the founding and building of Bottle Green in 1990 and organic wine specialist Vinceremos Wines in 1985. Here, he takes a reflective look back on 15 years that changed the wine world.

Mirabeau expands team with three directors

Published: 23 January, 2020

Mirabeau has expanded its team with three new directors to drive its expansion into new markets.

Looking back on a decade - Part one

Published: 23 January, 2020

2010-2020 delivered incredible change on both a domestic and an international level. The Harpers team peers back at some of the key stories that continue to shape today’s trade

Feel Good Grapes: All you need to know about the new online retailer

Published: 23 January, 2020

UK-based wine businessman and writer Mike Turner has added a new string to his bow for 2020. As well as running Please Bring Me My Wine, a wine industry focused digital media consultancy, and co-owning Primrose Hill restaurant La Ferme, where he oversees the wine list and wine training, he has launched a new online wine merchant.

Majestic MD leaves as part of management reshuffle

Published: 22 January, 2020

Majestic MD Josh Lincoln has left the business as part of a management reshuffle.

Wine Australia reveals AUD $500m raised in charitable donations

Published: 22 January, 2020

Wine Australia has revealed that more than AUD $500m has been raised so far in charitable donations from across the globe in relation to the devastating bushfires.

Trump trade truce puts US tariffs on French wine on hold

Published: 22 January, 2020

The USA’s threat of slapping 100% tariffs on US$2.4 billion worth of French imports including wine and Champagne seems to have been put on hold after the countries’ leaders announced a ceasefire on Twitter.

Wine stars turn out for record number of WSET diploma graduates

Published: 22 January, 2020

Some of the trade’s biggest names turned out last night to celebrate the induction of a record-breaking number of diploma students into the Wine & Spirit Education Trust’s (WSET) alumni hall of fame.