Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Halewood secures £50m debt facility

Published: 10 March, 2017

Halewood Wines & Spirits has secured a £50m debt facility from Royal Bank of Scotland as part of its strategy to develop a balanced portfolio of spirits.

The political threat to our wine life

Published: 10 March, 2017

"Stick to wine, Tim - you're wasting time." If you spend as many hours as I do on social media channels, you get used to - and even rather enjoy - the odd spat, but this was different.

Decision not to unite Vinisud and Millésime Bio branded 'damaging'

Published: 09 March, 2017

Efforts to unite two international trade shows have been thwarted after there was a disagreement over whether they should both take place under one roof.

What the Budget means for wine and spirit prices

Published: 08 March, 2017

Wine and spirit duty is set to increase from 8p for a bottle of wine and by 43p for a bottle of gin as a result of the Chancellor's decision to make alcohol subject to inflationary rises.

Trade bodies "disappointed" by the Chancellor's decision not to cut alcohol duties

Published: 08 March, 2017

The Chancellor's decision not to cut duties on alcohol and tobacco has been meet with dismay by the Wine & Spirit Trade Association.

Lidl reports rapid growth for wine category

Published: 08 March, 2017

With a global turnover of over £70billion, and trading operations in 28 countries, the Lidl empire is continuing to grow in the UK, with 35 new stores opening in 2016, and a further 50 planned for this year.

Ade McKeon joins Accolade Wines as UK and Ireland GM

Published: 08 March, 2017

New World leader Accolade Wines has a new general manager for the UK and Ireland.

Ramón Bilbao reveals "more daring" look for Altura Tempranillo Garnacha

Published: 08 March, 2017

Bodegas Ramón Bilbao is poised to unveil a new look for its Viñedos de Altura Tempranillo Garnacha at this year's Wines from Spain tasting taking place in London tomorrow.

Why increasing duty is counterproductive to raising a new generation of educated drinkers

Published: 08 March, 2017

There seems to be little expectation in the trade that duty rises on wines and spirits will be frozen in this coming Budget, let alone cut by the 2% that the Scotch Whisky Association and WSTA have been calling for (on spirits, and wines and spirits, respectively).

Grocery market share for discounters hits record 12%

Published: 07 March, 2017

The march of the discounters continues as £1 in every £8 spent on groceries is now spent in either Aldi or Lidl.

Black Tower celebrates 50th birthday with new campaign

Published: 07 March, 2017

Black Tower - the producer of Liebfraumilch - is celebrating its 50th birthday with a new campaign and an on-pack promotion.

Stand alone Oregon and Washington State tasting returns to London

Published: 06 March, 2017

Wines from Oregon and Washington State are stepping out from California's shadow as they prepare to stage their first stand alone tasting in the UK in four years.

Two Brits on the list of four new inductees to the MW hall of fame

Published: 06 March, 2017

A co-founder of Noble Rot and a Marks & Spencer buyer are among four new names which have been added to the illustrious list of MWs.

Sales of fizz breaks Christmas barrier of 45 million bottles for first time

Published: 06 March, 2017

Sales of sparkling set yet another benchmark in the run up to Christmas, with sparkler-hungry Brits quaffing 10% more than usual in the off-trade and 37% in the on-trade.

Moët UK's Sommelier Of The Year opens for entries

Published: 03 March, 2017

Moët & Chandon's Sommelier of the Year competition has returned for another year, once again looking to bestow the accolade on a shining star of the UK on-trade.

Sales of bourbon predicted to explode in the UK over next five years

Published: 03 March, 2017

Sales of bourbon could rival those of Scotch in the UK over the next five to ten years new data has shown.

Yellow Tail receives first makeover in 15 years

Published: 03 March, 2017

The updated bottles, rolling out from this week, feature labels designed to highlight the wine's family ownership and "authentic" credentials, including the addition of John Casella's signature alongside a stronger emphasis on the brand's iconic kangaroo, 'Roo'.

The week that was: top news, Q&As and opinion on Harpers.co.uk

Published: 03 March, 2017

In case you missed some of the headlines this week on harpers.co.uk, we have put together a review of the top online news, Q&As, and opinion stories.

China poised to overtake the UK as the second biggest wine market

Published: 02 March, 2017

New data has revealed that China's still and sparkling wine market would reach US$21bn compared to US$16bn in the UK by 2020, pushing the UK into the third place in the process.

WSET debate: Education and Training

Published: 02 March, 2017

On the eve of the Wine & Sprit Education Trust's (WSET) graduation ceremony in London's Guildhall in January (see over), Harpers brought together a cross trade group of those involved in education, training and recruitment to debate the needs of the modern trade.