Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

New MWs get officially welcomed

Published: 06 November, 2019

The Institute of Masters of Wine (IMW) has officially welcomed 14 new Masters of Wine (MW) to its membership at its annual awards ceremony.

Consorzio Tutela Lugana DOC appoints new director

Published: 05 November, 2019

The Consorzio Tutela Lugana DOC has appointed a new director as part if its strategy to develop a ‘fresher and more competitive approach’.

Hixon Green acquires Lewes site

Published: 05 November, 2019

New York-style café and wine bar Hixon Green has acquired the former Aqua Restaurant in the south east market town of Lewes, for an undisclosed sum.

Rathfinny announces 19% increase in 2019 yield

Published: 05 November, 2019

Rathfinny Wine Estate has announced a 19% increase in 2019 yield compared to last year’s harvest.

Symington sees light at the end of ‘mechanical harvester trial’ tunnel

Published: 05 November, 2019

Symington Family Estates has said it sees ‘light at the end of the tunnel’ in relation to its project to develop a mechanical harvester specially designed to work on terraces.

Mirabeau acquires wine estate near Saint Tropez

Published: 04 November, 2019

Mirabeau has acquired a 20ha estate near La Garde-Freinet, in the commune of the Golfe de Saint-Tropez, for an undisclosed sum.

McGuigan enters alcohol-free sector

Published: 01 November, 2019

McGuigan Wines has entered the burgeoning alcohol-free sector with the launch of a five-strong range of ‘no-alcohol’ wines.

Global wine production back to average after bumper 2018

Published: 01 November, 2019

Global wine production dipped 10% this year driven by key European producers France, Italy and Spain, according to the International Organisation of Vine and Wine (OIV).

On-trade set for Halloween sales hike

Published: 31 October, 2019

Restaurants, bars and pubs are poised to see sales significantly boosted by Halloween as the fright-night continues to gain traction as a ‘big night out’ for adults.

Entire M&S own-label wine portfolio to be vegan by 2022

Published: 31 October, 2019

Marks & Spencer (M&S) has announced plans for all of its own-label wines to be 100% vegan by 2022 - a UK first for a multiple retailer.

Birse-Stewart joins Berkmann’s Scottish team

Published: 30 October, 2019

Distributor Berkmann Wine Cellars has appointed Billy Birse-Stewart as consultant director.

Alliance adds Manos Negras to portfolio

Published: 30 October, 2019

Importer Alliance Wine has won the exclusive UK agency rights for Argentina’s Manos Negras winery.

China fuels Aussie wine export growth

Published: 30 October, 2019

Australia’s wine exports grew 7% by value in the 12 months to 30 September 2019 to AU$2.89bn, Wine Australia has revealed.

Digital frontiers

Published: 30 October, 2019

Excel spreadsheets and WhatsApping account reps should be a thing of the past, say the brains behind OnStock, a new online ordering platform for the UK bar trade from the Vanquish and 31Dover team, as Jo Gilbert reports.

Prosecco reports 2019 yields down but ‘exceptional quality’

Published: 29 October, 2019

Consorzio of Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCG has declared the 2019 harvest of “exceptional quality”, but said yields were down between 3% to 5%.