Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Opportunities abound

Published: 27 January, 2021

The likelihood of a free trade agreement between the UK and Australia has led to optimism among many wine producers that new possibilities lie ahead. Andrew Catchpole reports.

Lay & Wheeler snaps up further ex-Berry Bros staff

Published: 27 January, 2021

Lay & Wheeler has appointed a new head of operations, while also expanding its private clients team as part of the company’s growth strategy.

Trivento enters top 10 branded light wines

Published: 26 January, 2021

Trivento, Concha y Toro’s (CyT) Argentinean wine brand, led the charge as the company delivered strong off-trade growth for the 12-week period to 2January 2021.

Five minutes with Matthew Jukes

Published: 26 January, 2021

When wine critic Matthew Jukes turned to producing non-alcoholic alternatives to pair with Michelin-level food, his Cordialities hit a chord. By Andrew Catchpole

Calls for UK trade to help crippled SA by freeing up tank space

Published: 25 January, 2021

Richard Bampfield MW has issued a call to the UK trade to support the beleaguered South African wine industry as producers continue to suffer crippling government restriction and oversupply issues.

Vega Sicilia signs distribution deal with Berkmann Wine Cellars

Published: 25 January, 2021

Legendary Ribera del Duero winery Tempos Vega Sicilia (TVS) has recruited Berkmann Wine Cellars (BWC) to take on the exclusive distribution of its portfolio to Great Britain and the Channel Islands.

Sustainability: Join the Myths Around Food Miles debate

Published: 21 January, 2021

In just under a fortnight, Harpers and New Zealand Winegrowers is bringing together an international panel of leading trade voices for our Challenging the Myths Around Food Miles webinar.

Wine Drinkers UK calls for first tax cut in 40 years

Published: 20 January, 2021

Wine Drinkers UK (WDUK) have renewed their calls for the government to recognise wine as the UK’s favourite drink by cutting increasingly burdensome taxes.

2021 Events guide

Published: 20 January, 2021

James Lawrence rounds up the highlights of the coming year’s events calendar

‘Tariff free’ trade continues to muddy the Brexit waters

Published: 20 January, 2021

The scrapping of lab tests for EU wine heading to the UK will save the wine industry tens of millions of pounds a year. However, the new trade deal between the EU and UK has thrown up new questions around how much cross border trade in 2021 is likely to cost, with EU wine travelling via GB to Northern Ireland and other parts of the EU now entering a no man’s land where it temporarily belongs to neither region.

Majestic appoints director of subscriptions

Published: 19 January, 2021

Majestic Wine has appointed Mark Capon to the newly created role of director of subscriptions.

Rosé Prosecco launch boosts overall Prosecco growth

Published: 19 January, 2021

The Prosecco DOC Consortium has reported 2.8% volume growth for 2020 compared to the certified volumes recorded the previous year.

NZW reports strong UK off-trade performance

Published: 19 January, 2021

New Zealand Winegrowers (NZW) has reported a 23% leap in off-trade value sales of New Zealand wine in the UK.

AWMB unveils retail promotion in support of indies

Published: 19 January, 2021

The Austrian Wine Marketing Board (AWMB) has, in partnership with Harpers, launched a specialised retail promotion in support of independent retailers.

Soapbox: Talking of funny foreigners

Published: 19 January, 2021

Have you ever used the ‘F word’ during a meeting with your biggest client? I have. Several times and, to make it worse, several times during the same meeting. The client was Jon Woodriffe, now of Origin Wines, but then Sainsbury’s buyer for French wines.

SA wine exports to the UK leap 23%

Published: 18 January, 2021

South African wine exports to the UK, its leading export market, surged last year with both value and volume sales up.

Trends to watch for 2021

Published: 18 January, 2021

After a tumultuous and challenging 2020 and more to come in 2021, Harpers wrapped up last year by partnering with Bordeaux Wines for a webinar examining Current Consumer Trends in the UK.

Bodegas Frontonio joins Bancroft

Published: 18 January, 2021

Bancroft Wines has expanded its Spanish portfolio with Bodegas Frontonio.

Guy Woodward: Reasons to be cheerful(ish)

Published: 14 January, 2021

Four things I’m excited about in 2021…

The dry truth of drought in Burgundy

Published: 14 January, 2021

As if 2020 wasn’t bad enough, France faced a drought so bad that water restrictions were put in place. Nowhere was the lack of water felt more keenly than in Burgundy, where irrigation is illegal.