Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Logistics: Coping with the cuts

Published: 21 December, 2016

The ability to cut supply chain costs while at the same time maintaining a high-quality distribution service has become a holy grail for many wine merchants and retailers.

A taste for fizz

Published: 19 December, 2016

Champagne and Britain are inextricably linked. As the region's longest-standing, largest export market, hovering steadily around the 33 million bottle mark every year, it is surprising that the sound of popping corks does not drown out all other noise.

Tax accounts for 50% of consumers' alcohol shop this Christmas

Published: 19 December, 2016

Baskets and trolleys are heavy at this time of year with alcohol for the festive season, but they would feel considerably lighter if it wasn't for the high rate of duty in the UK.

Lanchester Wines acquires majority share in The Wine Fusion

Published: 19 December, 2016

Lanchester Wines hasunveiled plans to extend its networks within the global wine sector via the acquisition of London-based wine production and agency house, The Wine Fusion.

Three new appellations awarded Côtes du Rhône Villages (with Geographical Names) status

Published: 19 December, 2016

France's second largest AOC winegrowing region has promoted three new villages within the appellation hierarchy.

Liv-ex year review: Fine wine hits five-year high as Bordeaux gets back on top

Published: 19 December, 2016

2016 was the year that Bordeaux recovered after four years of decline and the fine wine market received a significant post-Brexit boost.

Taking education to the front line

Published: 19 December, 2016

The current on-trade staffing shortage is being exacerbated by a lack of appropriate training. Harpers spoke to Matthew Cocks about Jascots' WineEd initiative designed to help plug the gap

New buying director joins Berry Bros. & Rudd

Published: 15 December, 2016

One of Britain's oldest wine merchants is welcoming a new person to head up its buying team.

Craft beer and Prosecco in 2017: Will their bark be worse than their bite?

Published: 15 December, 2016

The epic rise of craft beer and Prosecco are the two major success stories of recent times, but one market analyst has suggested that 2017 could offer a reality check for the two juggernauts as they struggle to keep up with projections.

Prosecco bursts Champagne's bubble with faster sales growth across Europe

Published: 14 December, 2016

Sales of Prosecco in the UK continue to rise faster than Champagne despite the Champagne sector's attempts to compete by dropping prices.

Patagonian wine taking steps into the multiples with Buckingham Schenk

Published: 14 December, 2016

Patagonaian wines from southern Argentina are taking steps into the UK off-trade with a new listing at Waitrose.

Jerry Lockspeiser: A great time to be in wine

Published: 14 December, 2016

I don't want to be a siren of gloom. After all Christmas is the time for good cheer. But we are racing towards the end of a year where disruptive global events - Brexit, Trump, Aleppo - have shaken our feelings of security.

Christmas could rescue the multiples from a dismal November

Published: 14 December, 2016

Shoppers might have been happy with their purchases but Black Friday failed to bring a boost to supermarkets when the shopping holiday landed on November 26.

Growers Champagne offering an alternative to Prosecco this Christmas, says Virgin Wines

Published: 13 December, 2016

Grower Champagnes having been sparking consumer interest at Virgin Wines, where wine buyers are expecting sales to flourish this Christmas.

What lies ahead for 2017?

Published: 13 December, 2016

As a tumultuous year draws to a close, Harpers asked key trade figures to highlight the challenges, ongoing trends and opportunities in 2017

Bolney Wine Estate on opening the door to 2017

Published: 13 December, 2016

When Bolney Wine Estate was started in 1972 by owners Janet and Rodney Pratt, it was one of only six commercial vineyards in the country.

Santa Rita named Chile's Winery of the Year

Published: 13 December, 2016

Major Chilean winery Viña Santa Rita has been named as Wines of Chile's 2016 Winery of the Year.

Wine trends: Predictions 2017

Published: 13 December, 2016

White from red regions, Loire and premium US whites are going to be 2017's big winners, according to Bibendum.

Boris Becker backs new Accolade Wine brand as TWE ends UK bottling deal

Published: 12 December, 2016

Tennis star Boris Becker has been revealed as a brand ambassador for a new Chilean brand from Accolade Wine as Australian wine giant Treasury Wine Estates (TWE) announced it will no longer be bottling its wine destined for the UK market at the Accolade Park base.

Around the World in 80 Drinks: Review of The Thinking Drinkers

Published: 12 December, 2016

Watching Ben McFarland and Tom Sandham at last nights Around the World in 80 Drinks at the Museum of Comedy in Holborn, you might be forgiven for thinking that the Fogg & Passepartout duo were embarking on nothing more than an hour long global booze fest; a kind of drinks pantomime that takes place from Italy to India and Korea to Venezuela.