Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Conviviality Retail buys Wine Rack for £1.65m

Published: 02 September, 2013

Bargain Booze owner Conviviality Retail has purchased Wine Rack for £1.65 million.

Trade gears up for Savour Australia 2013

Published: 02 September, 2013

Seven-hundred and fifty guests have signed up for wine conference Savour Australia, which will take place from September 15-18 in Adelaide.

First wine car boot sale takes place in London on September 1

Published: 31 August, 2013

The first wine car boot fair is set to take place tomorrow in London which if successful could see similar events taking place in car parks and other suitable venues across the capital.

New speakers lined up for Digital Wine Communications Conference in Rioja

Published: 31 August, 2013

New speakers have been added to the impressive line-up of panellists for the renamed Digital Wine Communications Conference (DWCC), formerly knon as the EWBC, which is to be held in Rioja, Spain, between October 25- 27.

Italian producer Fulvio Luca Bressan in hot water over online racist storm

Published: 30 August, 2013

Italian wine producer Fulvio Luca Bressan of Bressan Mastri Vinai has found himself in very hot water after making what have been seen as racially offensive comments last Friday on his Facebook page regarding the Italian integration minister Cécile Kyenge ? Italy's first African-Italian minister and the recent implementation of new policies affecting undocumented immigrants in the country.

Henkell & Co Group takes a 60% stake in Copestick Murray

Published: 30 August, 2013

Sparkling wine giant, Henkell & Co Group, has acquired a 60% stake in UK wine impoorter and distributor Copestick Murray which will help take the company to the next stage of its growth and dramatically strengthen its postion in international markets.

More speakers lined up for Digial Wine Conference in Rioja

Published: 30 August, 2013

Further speakers have been added to the line-up for the Digital Wine Communications Conference to be held in Rioja, Spain between October 25-27.

WSTA's Miles Beale urges trade to do more following minimum pricing success

Published: 30 August, 2013

Miles Beale, the chief executive of the Wine & Spirit Trade Asssociation, sets out a series of fresh challenges to the drinks industry on today's Harpers.co.uk following the success of its campaign to prevent the introduction of minimum unit pricing on alcohol.

Vast majority of alcoholic drinks comply with Portman Group Code, says audit body

Published: 29 August, 2013

The drinks industry has been given a boost today with an independent audit report that states the vast majority of alcohol products conform to Portman Group responsibility standards.

UK wine educators look to bring story of Bordeaux back to the UK

Published: 29 August, 2013

Fifteen UK-based tutors have attended a specialised accredited course at L'École du Vin in Bordeaux in a bid to help spread the word in the UK about the region's wines.

Start planning your Beautiful South Tasting

Published: 29 August, 2013

With over 300 tables and 330 producers the first Beautiful South Tasting, to be held on September 11 and 12 in London's Olympia, demands a plan and the full show catalogue is now available online to download so attendees can devise a tactical plan of what producers to put on their 'must-see' list.

Wines of Argentina's Cambalache event shortlisted in industry awards

Published: 29 August, 2013

Wines of Argentina in the UK has been shortlisted for two major event and brand industry awards to recognise its breakthrough Cambalache event it held earlier this year.

California's early 2013 harvest looking to be a good vintage

Published: 28 August, 2013

While the European 2013 harvest is several weeks behind schedule, California's 2013 harvest, which began the first of August for sparkling wines produced in the region, is ahead of schedule and looking to be of a good quality and quantity.

Nyetimber signs export deal to Denmark

Published: 28 August, 2013

Nyetimber continues to expand overseas with a new contract to supply its English wines to Denmark.

Louis Jadot purchases Oregon vineyard

Published: 27 August, 2013

Maison Louis Jadot has announced that it has purchased Resonance Vineyard in Oregon's Willamette Valley for an undisclosed fee.

Valerie Lewis's move to Enotria opens door for Alex Layton

Published: 27 August, 2013

The last month has seen a number of changes amongst senior marketing and communications roles at major wine companies in the UK with Valerie Lewis, formerly of Negociants UK, replacing Ben Smith as head of communications at Enotria following his recent move to take up the same role at Concha y Toro. Alex Layton has subsequently moved from Westbury Communications to take over Lewis' head of marketing and publicity role at Negociants UK.

Wiener Gemischter Satz becomes Austria's ninth designated DAC

Published: 21 August, 2013

Following the successful creation of eight DACs (Districtus Austriae Controllatus), an official classification designating origin, grape variety and flavour profile of the wine, the historic Wiener Gemischter Satz has become the latest DAC under Austrian wine law.

The 2013 harvest begins in France and Spain

Published: 21 August, 2013

This week marks the start of the 2013 harvest in Europe, with the vineyards in Tenerife, Spain in the Canary Islands and Roussillon region in France, reports wine-searcher.com.

Bottles of wine stolen in South Lanarkshire

Published: 21 August, 2013

A lorry trailer carrying 50,000 bottles of wine worth £300,000, which was parked in a haulage yard in Uddingston, South Lanarkshire, has been stolen.

The biggest and best alcohol brands of 2013

Published: 20 August, 2013

So what were the best-performing wine and spirits brands over the past year? Here Erin Smith presents the movers and shakers in wine and spirits taken from The Grocer's Britain's 100 Biggest Alcohol Brands 2013