Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

McWilliams to target millenials with new red wine blend

Published: 02 June, 2015

Australian wine group, McWilliams has launched a new red wine blend targeting millennials.

As many as 3.4m UK middle aged drinkers are at risk of health problems despite industry warnings

Published: 01 June, 2015

Drinkaware, the alcohol education charity, found that 3.4m middle aged drinkers are "regularly drinking about the lower risk limits despite many recognising the potential health arms" according to a new report.

Villa Maria winemaker Alastair Maling moves to Foley Family Wines

Published: 01 June, 2015

Alastair Maling MW, the general manager winemaking at Villa Maria is set to leave the New Zealand winery at the end of June to join Foley Family Wine.

Hambledon reaches £2.75m crowdfunding target

Published: 29 May, 2015

Hampshire wine producer Hambledon Vineyard has secured its £2.75m crowdfunding target and has raised the investment opportunity to £3.5m.

London Wine Week gains momentum

Published: 29 May, 2015

More than 8,000 people took part in this year's London Wine Week, which saw a series of tasting events and pop-up bars help across the capital last week.

Calls for a united body to promote UK wine producers

Published: 29 May, 2015

English wine producers are calling for a new promotional body to represent producers and growers amid swelling consumer interest.

New viticulture research programme opens in Kent to boost English wine industry

Published: 28 May, 2015

A trial research vineyard is being established at the East Malling Research centre in Kent which aims to boost productivity and margins within the English wine industry.

Retailers and UK vineyards celebrate English Wine Week

Published: 28 May, 2015

English Wine Week kicked off this week on the bank holiday as vineyards, high street retailers, and independent merchants opened up to promote the burgeoning English wine industry.

Online retailer New Zealand Cellar set to open first London shop this week

Published: 27 May, 2015

Online wine retailer The New Zealand Cellar is set to open its first retail shop in London this week, which has been funded entirely through crowd-funding.

Romanian wine supplier predicts rise of indigenous grapes following supermaket boost

Published: 27 May, 2015

A Romanian wine supplier that has increased UK exports tenfold in the past five years predicts a golden dawn for the country's wines after gaining listings for premium lines made with indigenous grapes.

International demand for Japanese craft beer prompts Kiuchi Brewery expansion

Published: 26 May, 2015

Japanese family-owned brewery Kiuchi Brewery is expanding its facilities to meet increased demand from the overseas and domestic market for their range of Hatachino Nest beers.

Anne Krebiehl looks at Dom Pérignon's Three 'Plénitudes'

Published: 26 May, 2015

Anne Krebiehl fanfares the launch of Dom Pérignon's Three 'Plénitudes' - three late-released, late-disgorged vintages launched as one - at a recent London tasting pop-up.

Fruit-fusion wines reaching "critical mass', Australian Vintage boss says

Published: 26 May, 2015

Fruit-fusion wines are reaching a tipping point that is seeing them readily accepted by consumers and able to be merchandised as a new category, a leading wine brand owner has claimed.

Off-Piste Wines launches varietal-led range, from the creator of 'I Heart' brand

Published: 26 May, 2015

Off-Piste Wines has launched a new mid-tier range of varietal-led wines that is targeting younger consumers in the convenience sector.

Port family opens new visitor attraction in Douro

Published: 26 May, 2015

Port family Symingtons has opened a visitor center in the Douro, which it is aiming to become a destination for tourists to Portugal.

Uruguayan wines gain traction in the UK

Published: 22 May, 2015

Recent figures from Infonecta and Wines of Uruguay showed the value of exports to the UK increased by 74% between 2013 and 2014 with an impressive 300% increase in value between 2011 and 2014.

UK consuming 12m more bottles of wine per week than previously thought

Published: 22 May, 2015

According to a new research conducted by the journal BMC Medicine 12 million more bottles of wine are consumed per week in England than previously thought.

HMRC bust seizes 68K litres of alcohol smuggled into the UK

Published: 22 May, 2015

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) officers in combination with Border Force and French Customs seized 68,000L and three lorries in the Port of Dover in an overnight operation earlier this week.

Champagne and sparkling rises in the on-trade, but prosecco dominates the off, new report shows

Published: 22 May, 2015

Champagne and sparkling wine sales have grown in the on-trade on the back of a stabilisation of on-trade venues - but prosecco continued to dominate the off-trade, according to the fourth annual Lanson category report.

Sainsbury's works with new research centre to develop lower alcohol wines consumers want to drink

Published: 22 May, 2015

Sainsbury's has teamed up with the University of Adelaide to part-fund wine research at a new wine innovation centre in Australia that will look at developing lower alcohol wines.