Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Wine tourism website launches online wine shop to help during coronavirus

Published: 05 April, 2020

Wine Cellar Door, the website set up to help people find visitor-friendly vineyards in the UK, has launched an online wine shop.

Cramele Recas donates further trio of ventilators and medical equipment

Published: 03 April, 2020

Cramele Recas has donated a further three ventilators and medical equipment to hospitals in Timisoara, Romania, to help frontline healthcare workers deliver the best care in the fight against coronavirus (Covid-19).

WoSA expects ‘exceptional’ vintage despite coronavirus

Published: 03 April, 2020

Wines of South Africa (WoSA) has announced it expects the country’s 2020 wine grape crop to yield “exceptional wines”.

Independents: Open to trade

Published: 03 April, 2020

With merchants fast adapting to survive, Andrew Catchpole surveyed the indie scene to discover how companies are adapting.

Guy Woodward: Back in the drinks world

Published: 02 April, 2020

With perfect timing, I start a new job this week. Yep – all the boxes are ticked: world in lockdown, nose-diving economy, stalled investments, uncertain future.

Polarisation in the drinks market

Published: 02 April, 2020

A new report revealed both mainstream and super-premium categories were growing pre-pandemic, while highlighting the opportunities for retailers. Lisa Riley looks at some of the trends that may re-emerge down the line.

Berkmann launches new scheme to support hospitality sector

Published: 02 April, 2020

Berkmann Wine Cellars has launched a new online platform to raise funds for the hospitality sector through consumer sales.

WSTA survey reveals ‘overwhelming’ support for tax break

Published: 01 April, 2020

Almost 95% of companies taking part in a new members survey by the WSTA have agreed with the industry body’s call on the government to suspend excise duty for six months.

French wines weaken on fine-wine market

Published: 01 April, 2020

France’s premier wine regions continue to weaken on the fine-wine market, according to the first-quarter 2020 trading data released this morning by Liv-ex.

Climate crunch

Published: 01 April, 2020

New mathematical forecasting is helping scientists plot vine suitability against an ever-changing climate map. Jo Gilbert looks at the challenges to 2050 and beyond.

Coronavirus could kickstart "radical change in stagnant" wine trade, tech entrepreneur predicts

Published: 01 April, 2020

The coronavirus (Covid-19) crisis could kickstart radical change in the wine trade, a Silicon Valley entrepreneur has predicted.

Enotria goes into bat at Lord's

Published: 01 April, 2020

Enotria & Coe has announced a new three-year partnership with MCC which will see it become the official suppliers of wine and spirits at Lord’s Cricket Ground.  

Chapel Down says “very well placed” to weather the crisis but temporarily stops beer production

Published: 01 April, 2020

Chapel Down has said it believes it is “very well placed to weather the crisis and thrive in the aftermath”, but has temporarily closed its beer and cider arm, Curious Brewery.

Beaujolais UK sales skyrocket

Published: 31 March, 2020

Beaujolais has continued its revival in the UK, with 2019 exports up 17% by value and 22% by volume year on year, according to new figures from Inter Beaujolais.

Restructured Armit comes out fighting

Published: 31 March, 2020

Significant restructuring at Armit Wines following new MD Brett Fleming’s appointment has seen improved performance, stemming a decline in the second half of FY2019 with far reaching change to its business strategy.

Stockpiling and on-trade closure send off-trade BWS sales through the roof

Published: 31 March, 2020

Off-trade sales of beer, wine and spirits (BWS) surged 67% in the week to 21 March - the week the government announced the closure of the on-trade.

Distell reverses course on premium division

Published: 31 March, 2020

South African drinks giant Distell has shuttered its premium wine division Libertas Vineyards and Estates after little more than a year.

France: Shaking up the south

Published: 31 March, 2020

Off-piste wines from southern climes are increasingly drawing the spotlight, as Jo Gilbert reports.

Wine Intelligence updates Global Report post-virus

Published: 30 March, 2020

Wine Intelligence has updated its Global Report post-coronavirus (Covid-19), first launched in January, to highlight both the short and long-term effects the pandemic is likely to have on wine consumption.

Central Coast with Alex Krause, Birichino

Published: 30 March, 2020

Birichino’s flight at the recent Wines of California tasting was a lesson in how to go against the grain, with a focus on native ferments and century-old dry-farmed plantings all made at its Santa Cruz winery.