Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Mediterranean wines focus on sustainability

Published: 20 October, 2017

The wine sector is to focus on improving its environmental and sustainability commitments to respond to consumer concerns.

EU and UK wines and spirits chiefs launch joint Brexit proposition paper

Published: 19 October, 2017

European and UK bodies responsible for the wider wine and spirit industry have joined together to publish a joint position paper to outline their stance on Brexit.

Napa optimistic as region begins to reopen following tragic wildfires

Published: 19 October, 2017

Napa Valley Vintners (NVV) today said that the while the volume of the 2017 vintage would be lower than average, this would have little impact on the greater volume of the Californian wine industry.

M&S targets health conscious consumers with low calorie wine trio

Published: 19 October, 2017

Marks & Spencer has joined forces with South African winery Journey’s End to produce a low calorie wine.

Major fall in Bordeaux 2017 production not expected to raise prices

Published: 18 October, 2017

Bordeaux officials have played down a potential impact on wine prices resulting from the dramatic fall in Bordeaux’s production volumes in 2017.

Plumpton College boosts wine team with new experts

Published: 18 October, 2017

Plumpton College, in East Sussex, has strengthened its wine business and production teaching team with the appointment of two international wine experts.

Rías Baixas hit by wildfires

Published: 17 October, 2017

Galicia’s Rías Baixas wine board is assessing the extent of damage to vineyards caused by wildfires, which have raged in Portugal and Spain since the weekend, killing more than 30 people.

Update: Wildfires in California

Published: 17 October, 2017

Less than ten of the approximately 1,200 wineries in the most impacted regions – Napa, Sonoma and Mendocino, have been destroyed or heavily damaged by the wildfires in northern California, according to the latest update.

Codorníu reveals plans to move HQ from Catalonia to Rioja

Published: 17 October, 2017

Spanish wine and cava giant Codorníu has announced it is moving its holding company’s headquarters from Catalonia to Rioja over the "uncertainty" surrounding the political conflict between Spain and Catalonia.

TWE turns spotlight on Wolf Blass

Published: 16 October, 2017

Treasury Wine Estates (TWE) has launched a £500,000 push for Wolf Blass, including TV spots celebrating its award-winning history.

Number of Napa wineries damaged by wildfires rises

Published: 16 October, 2017

The number of Napa wineries damaged by the wildfires ravaging northern California continued to rise this weekend, with the fires yet to be defeated.

WSTA warns of further hefty price hikes if duty is not frozen

Published: 16 October, 2017

The Wine & Spirit Trade Association (WSTA) has warned of further wine and spirit price hikes if the Chancellor fails to freeze duty in the November Budget.

UK trade reaches out as Cali fire claims homes, lives and historic vineyards

Published: 12 October, 2017

The UK trade has begun to rally around its friends and colleagues in California where fire continues to wreak havoc on residents and businesses.

Hallgarten adds more sparkle to its Champagne portfolio

Published: 11 October, 2017

Hallgarten has signed a deal as the exclusive UK distributor of Champagne Collet and certified organic producer, Champagne Lelarge-Pugeot, to the on-trade and independents.

Guy Woodward: Substance versus style

Published: 11 October, 2017

Former editor of Decanter @guyawoodward

Former Dunelm CFO joins Majestic board

Published: 10 October, 2017

Majestic Wine has appointed former Dunelm head of finance, David Stead, to its board as an independent non-executive director.

Matthew Clark bolsters wine menu with 83 tipples

Published: 10 October, 2017

Matthew Clark has bolstered its menu with an additional 83 wines, taking it to a total of more than 1,400, as part of its autumn wine release.

Wildfire devastates California wine country

Published: 10 October, 2017

Deadly wildfires which have already claimed ten lives have devastated areas of northern California which authorities are calling the worst the state has ever seen.

Data shows widening gap between average bottle price for cork and alternative closures

Published: 09 October, 2017

New data suggests there is a widening gap between the average bottle price of cork-closed wine and wine that is sealed with alternative closures.

Simpsons estate announces name of first fizz with help of British public

Published: 09 October, 2017

Charles and Ruth Simpson have revealed the name of their first British fizz after enlisting the help of crowdfunding investors in naming the inaugral release from their winery in, Barham, Kent.