Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Rueda wine ambassadors unveiled

Published: 14 October, 2022

As part of its ongoing push in the UK market, DO Rueda has announced its first Rueda Wine Ambassadors to help build awareness around Spain’s leading white wine region.

Agulhas spreads its wings as hotbed of cool climate possibilities

Published: 14 October, 2022

Cool, windy and remote, the Agulhas Wine Triangle sits at the southerly tip of Africa, providing a home to a growing band of winemakers drawn to the possibilities of making wines on the very edge of this continent. As such, they believe Agulhas offers some of the best and best as-yet-to-be-seen potential for South African winemaking, with the “energy of the place” delivering “inbuilt complexity and balance” from this region where the South Atlantic and Indian Ocean meet.

Small producers slip through the net for duty relief

Published: 14 October, 2022

WineGB has criticised the set up of the government’s duty relief scheme which effectively denies small wine producers support.

Tim Atkin MW: The value of honesty in wine

Published: 14 October, 2022

A good friend turned 80 recently. To celebrate, he invited a few of us round for dinner and opened a bottle of 1942 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Grands Échézeaux. I don’t often get the chance to try bottles like that. Thoughts of the German occupation goose-stepped through my head as we pulled the surprisingly small cork. The wine was glorious: fragile, sweet, gamey and appropriately autumnal.

Swains Wine Bar & Store

Published: 13 October, 2022

Highgate Road, Swain’s Lane, London NW5 1QX

Vranken-Pommery tests the waters of vine density in English ‘trials’

Published: 07 October, 2022

Vranken-Pommery’s English wine ‘trials’ at its Pinglestone Estate in Hampshire could prompt viticulture changes in Champagne, the house has said, with Pinglestone being used as a ‘laboratory’ where findings on lowering vine density could be taken across the Channel.

Q&A: Peter Vinding-Diers – the 'viking in the vineyard'

Published: 04 October, 2022

Viking in the Vineyard author Peter Vinding-Diers has had a one-of-a-kind winemaking life. Jo Gilbert catches up with the Danish-born vigneron on his latest venture – a selection of standout Sicilian Syrahs at his Montecarrubo winery.

Amarone has an image problem, says leading producer

Published: 03 October, 2022

The Amarone della Valpolicella category needs to embrace change and restore its former global cachet, according to Stefano Cesari, owner of Brigaldara winery in the Veneto region.

Fine wine policy institute releases global sustainability report

Published: 03 October, 2022

Areni Global, a think tank dedicated to the future of fine wine, has released a ground-breaking report examining the major threats, and opportunities, facing the sector today.

Affordable Burgundy leads the charge for fine wine

Published: 30 September, 2022

Burgundy emerged as the dominant force in fine wine investment for September, Winecap has revealed in the latest analysis of its fine wine index, Wine Track, as the region grows its reputation as the leading investment area for price performance on the secondary market.

Aldi launches 70 new wines with the help of consumers

Published: 28 September, 2022

Newly minted Big Four retailer Aldi has unveiled its newest roster of seasonal wines, but this time with a twist in the wine-buying tale.

Taking stock

Published: 28 September, 2022

With the cost of living crisis set to get worse, how can indies best protect their businesses? Andrew Catchpole listens to some differing views.

Burgundy optimistic about 2022 vintage, despite August heatwave

Published: 26 September, 2022

Early indications suggest that Burgundy will produce a good volume of high-quality wine from the 2022 vintage, exceeding initial expectations.

Nero d’Avola: An ancient grape for a modern era

Published: 26 September, 2022

Jo Gilbert travels to the home of Nero d’Avola in south eastern Sicily to chart the course of a success story.

Freeze on alcohol duty in mini-budget

Published: 23 September, 2022

Planned increases in alcohol duty have been ditched by new Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng in his mini-budget, as unveiled on 23 September.

Naked Wines brushes off CEO woes for first standalone tasting

Published: 22 September, 2022

It was a marriage of convenience. Naked Wines needed the cash injection. Majestic needed the online know-how in order to expand its digital footprint. After the pair’s relatively amicable breakup in 2019, Naked Wines is now very much looking to re-establish itself as a solo entity with a serious portfolio that can engage even the most sceptical wine lovers.

Nick Gillett: How red tape is paralysing the industry

Published: 20 September, 2022

In the second of our new critical mini-series, Mangrove UK’s MD calls for a serious untangling of post-Brexit red tape.

Profile: Virgin’s positive mission

Published: 20 September, 2022

With his relaxed style and ample enthusiasm, Jay Wright certainly doesn’t fit the old stereotype of a wine trade CEO. As the boss of one of the more successful online retailers, though, he is clear about the vision and values that underpin the popularity of Virgin Wines. And much of that comes down to what he believes the company – and, by extension, the wider drinks trade – actually sells.

Black-owned, all female SA wine brand to support next generation

Published: 14 September, 2022

Amandla by Her Wine Collection is a new “progressive” brand launching out of the Western Cape, landing with the UK off-trade this autumn.

Soapbox: Is keg wine a blessing or a curse?

Published: 13 September, 2022

As an experienced wine consultant specialising in the on-trade, Neil Bruce – aka wine margin optimiser at Studio Alto – turns his sights to the good, the bad and the ugly when it comes to the keg-versus-bottle ‘green’ debate.