Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Les Vignobles Foncalieu acquires Château Haut Gléon

Published: 08 November, 2012

Co-operative union Les Vignobles Foncalieu is furthering its expansion into the luxury wine sector with the acquisition of Château Haut Gléon in the Languedoc.

Wines of Germany plans significant UK investment

Published: 07 November, 2012

The German Wine Institute is "significantly" increasing its UK investment to boost its burgeoning growth of the above £5 price bracket.

Distell launches new sparkler in UK

Published: 06 November, 2012

Distell is hoping to cash in on consumer demand for lower-alcohol wines with its new sparkling white.

Rioja and Tempranillo lead Spanish charge

Published: 02 November, 2012

Rioja remains the top Spanish wine, but other Tempranillo-based wines are helping to drive the category, according to buyers.

Virgin Wines on expansion drive

Published: 02 November, 2012

Virgin Wines is on a mission to recruit 100,000 customers in the next year in a bid to swell its 250,000-strong membership even further.

Harvest shortage: producers urged to rein in prices

Published: 02 November, 2012

Distributors are urging producers to be true to long-term partnerships and not be "too greedy" when it comes to putting prices up, as the impact of 2012's short harvest is felt.

Wines of Chile holds second sommelier challenge

Published: 02 November, 2012

Wines of Chile has held the second Sommelier Chile Challenge in a bid to illustrate the country's value-for-money on-trade offering.

Italian screwcap decree is a 'crass compromise', says expert

Published: 30 October, 2012

The Italian Ministry of Agriculture has agreed to relax laws on wines allowed to be bottled under screwcap, but renowned expert David Gleave MW of Liberty says it hasn't gone far enough.

Spanish wine stalwart John Radford dies

Published: 29 October, 2012

Spanish wine champion John Radford died on October 19, aged 65.

Mike Matthews looks at new styles emerging from New Zealand at its New Release trade tasting

Published: 29 October, 2012

Albariño and Arneis may not be synonymous with New Zealand; it's a far cry from the usual fare we are used to. Add in Grüner Veltliner, Gewürztraminer, Riesling and Sauvignon Gris, the Blanc's mutant brother, and we get to build a picture of New Zealand's more adventurous side.

Pernod Ricard reports 'good sales' in Q1 but says growth slowing

Published: 25 October, 2012

Pernod Ricard has reported a "good overall performance" for the first quarter of 2012, despite the "less than favourable" economy and "softness" in western Europe.

Cellar Trends to distribute Licor 43

Published: 24 October, 2012

Distributor Cellar Trends has taken a further step in its aim to become "champion of the UK cocktail sector", by taking on Spain's most widely exported liqueur Licor 43.

John Hattersley Wines - Derbyshire

Published: 24 October, 2012

John Hattersley established his wine business seven years ago after spending 20 years in the restaurant business.

Tesco wine revamp ups the ante on exclusive labels

Published: 23 October, 2012

Tesco is radically shaking up its wine range by introducing 300 new wines, and upping the ante on exclusive label brands.

UK to become expert resource centre for global wine supply

Published: 23 October, 2012

The UK is turning itself into a global centre of excellence for wine distribution and understanding as it loses its place as the world's most critical wine market.

Port begins to shed its stuffy image

Published: 19 October, 2012

Port is beginning to shed its stuffy image and is appealing to a younger, more female-led market, according to Fells marketing controller Mark Symonds.

Entry-level wine prices up as harvest falls short

Published: 19 October, 2012

Global shortages are sending entry-level wine prices skywards, leaving UK buyers with little negotiating power and having to make speedy decisions under pressure.

Win case of Absolutely Cracking French Wines

Published: 19 October, 2012

Harpers is offering one lucky reader a case of 12 wines, personally selected by the Harpers and IWC teams from a line-up of more than 150 at the Absolutely Cracking French Wines tasting, organised by Sopexa.

Bodegas Muriel joins forces with Off-Piste Wines

Published: 17 October, 2012

Off-Piste Wines has been appointed the new UK off-trade agent for Spanish wine producer Bodegas Muriel.

United Wineries looks to Russia, China and USA for growth

Published: 15 October, 2012

Spanish firm United Wineries has restructured its senior team as it turns its focus away from the UK and other mature markets and on to the faster-growing economies of Russia, China and the USA.