Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Kingsland Drinks signs new partnership with The Iconic Estate

Published: 05 October, 2021

Kingsland Drinks has agreed a new partnership with Romanian wine producer – The Iconic Estate – in a move to further broaden its offering.

Producer Q&A: Niël Groenewald and Zinaschke Steyn, Nederburg

Published: 05 October, 2021

Nederburg is the largest exporter of premium wine in South Africa, carrying a torch as a standard bearer for the country worldwide. Jo Gilbert talks bans, lockdown harvests and mental health resets with two of the company’s leading figures, MD Niël Groenewald and red winemaker, Zinaschke Steyn,

Cross-industry call for permanent lower VAT rate

Published: 04 October, 2021

Following the recent call from The Wine & Spirit Trade Association (WSTA) for the Treasury to extend the hospitality VAT reduction, leading trade bodies from the hospitality and tourism sector have aligned to add their voice to the plea.

WSTA calls for duty freeze and extended VAT reduction in Budget

Published: 04 October, 2021

The Wine & Spirit Trade Association (WSTA) has called on the Treasury to freeze wine and spirit duty and extend the hospitality VAT reduction in the Autumn Budget to allow the country to climb out of the Covid-19 slump.

Casa Real joins La Place

Published: 30 September, 2021

Chile’s Casa Real has become the latest New World producer to offer wine through La Place de Bordeaux, with its 2018 Reserva Especial marked for distribution via this high-end route to market with immediate effect.

IWCA membership swells with 12 new high-profile applicants

Published: 30 September, 2021

The International Wineries for Climate Action (IWCA) grouping has accepted application for membership from 12 new wineries to join its ranks.

Long read: Raising a glass to Australian wines

Published: 30 September, 2021

The UK’s love for Australian wines shows no signs of abating. With good availability, competitive pricing, and good transport and distribution networks, supply from Australia is still extremely attractive for UK buyers and wine drinkers. Here, Paul Braydon, buying controller for Kingsland Drinks, delves into the wine trends emerging from Australia, shares insights on the category post-FTA (Free Trade Agreement), and what the UK drinks sector can expect to see next.

Wine Paris & Vinexpo Paris’ comeback planned for 2022

Published: 30 September, 2021

Wine Paris & Vinexpo Paris is returning to the city’s Expo Porte de Versailles in February 2022 for its third edition – the first time the event has been held in person since 2020.

Jerry Lockspeiser: Do you mind being lied to?

Published: 30 September, 2021

I have never been to The Sportsman pub in Seasalter near Whitstable on the Kent coast. The loss is all mine. Described as “a grotty rundown pub by the sea” it has held a Michelin star since 2008 thanks to the efforts of chef-patron Stephen Harris. I haven’t met Stephen either, but like others who have eaten at Noble Rot’s restaurant in London’s Bloomsbury, I have benefited from his skills in the kitchen. He became executive chef of NR at the outset, overseeing menus that have satisfied customers since day one.

France performs against the odds

Published: 30 September, 2021

France has emerged from the pandemic in rude health with the “staggering” performance of rosé and impressive bounce-back from Champagne only representing the tip of what this wine powerhouse has to offer, as Jo Gilbert reports.

Calling all entries for Harpers Wine Stars 2022

Published: 30 September, 2021

Harpers Wine Stars awards is gearing up for its early 2022 round of judging, with entries for the competition invited by 14 October this year.

Reasons to pick Riesling

Published: 29 September, 2021

Harpers partnered with Wines of Germany for its Big G closing debate, which mulled over the topic ‘A wine for all reasons: why German wine is the smart choice’. These extended highlights give a flavour of that far-reaching discussion and what indie retailers and restaurateurs alike can do to boost their German category sales. Andrew Catchpole reports.

New Pix wine platform on global ‘matchmaking mission’

Published: 29 September, 2021

An ambitious new wine discovery platform is soon to launch with the aim of becoming the “biggest wine platform in the world,” according to its creators.

Brits hoover up Portuguese wine as loss of tourism shows the “Portuguese don’t drink Port”

Published: 29 September, 2021

As the biggest consumers of wine per capita globally, it might be expected that domestic sales of Portuguese wines would have fared well over the course of the pandemic, where drinkers globally were largely turned onto local vinous offerings.

Petrol and driver shortages impact UK supply

Published: 28 September, 2021

A perfect storm of rising transport costs, a shortage of freight capacity and a severe lack of HGV drivers is putting increasing pressure on the UK’s drink distribution network.

Laithwaites becomes 'Official Wine Partner' of ITV Drama

Published: 28 September, 2021

Wine retailer Laithwaites has announced a new partnership with terrestrial channel ITV Drama.

Fine wine investment firm becomes 'carbon neutral plus'

Published: 28 September, 2021

Global investment and management company Cult Wines has achieved carbon neutral plus status, after both neutralising and significantly offsetting its carbon footprint.

Wines of Germany launches Retailer Partners competition

Published: 27 September, 2021

Wines of Germany has launched an innovative scheme to encourage UK independents to spread the word about Germany’s vinous offering.

Amazon locks in new approach for wine and spirits

Published: 27 September, 2021

Gated alcohol aisles in Amazon’s growing ‘just walk out’ bricks-and-mortar stores have introduced barriers for wine and spirits sales. Jo Gilbert reports

Long Read: What to do about fortified wines' straitened market?

Published: 23 September, 2021

Jacopo Mazzeo looks at what regions such as the Douro and Jerez are doing to survive in a market increasingly hostile to fortified wines and explores whether these efforts are effective. Port, for instance, is heading in two diametrically opposed directions: simplification and (extra) premiumisation, with new categories that span from youth-friendly RTDs to Tawny 50yo and White 50yo. Sherry meanwhile, has just changed a number of its regulations and now embraces unfortified wine.