Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Ehrmanns founder Peter Dauthieu passes away

Published: 07 January, 2022

The chairman and founder of import business Ehrmanns sadly died just before Christmas, aged 77.

Connected packaging revs up

Published: 07 January, 2022

At any one time, there are an average of seven trillion pieces of packaging in the world. The opportunities offered by technology to engage with consumers via the bottle are only just getting started, says Jo Gilbert.

Ellis Wines launches sea-aged Albariño

Published: 06 January, 2022

Ellis Wines is poised to market a very esoteric style of Albariño, matured in the freezing depths of the Atlantic Ocean for six months.

English sparkling wine brand achieves 'B Corporation' certification

Published: 06 January, 2022

A niche sparkling wine brand, The Uncommon, has become the first UK wine business to be certified as B Corp.

Sparkling wine delivered bumper Christmas sales

Published: 06 January, 2022

The sparkling wine category was the clear winner of the Christmas retail bonanza, with both merchants and analysts reporting bumper sales.

BWS retail sales decline in December 2021

Published: 05 January, 2022

Overall retail sales of beers, wines and spirits fell in the month of December, when benchmarked against Christmas 2020, though spending remained higher than it was pre-pandemic.

Accolade launches Wine On Tap (WOT)

Published: 05 January, 2022

Australian multinational Accolade has unveiled a new range of varietal wines packaged in large format sustainable boxes.

WSET returns to mainland China

Published: 05 January, 2022

After almost 12 months of suspending its educational activities in China, the WSET confirmed today (January 5) that it has received state approval to resume teaching.

Online uplift to grow

Published: 23 December, 2021

Ecommerce is to remain a key driver of value growth in global alcoholic drinks markets, with wine to the fore. Andrew Catchpole reports.

Bouncing Back Q&A: Matt Tipping, CEO, Jeroboams

Published: 22 December, 2021

Matt Tipping reflects on keeping the wheels turning through 2021 and how valuable new custom should bring cheer into the new year, despite the looming additional tax burden on wine.

Jerry Lockspeiser: On Jeremy Clarkson, margins and the ‘middleman’ dog whistle

Published: 22 December, 2021

In case anyone missed it, Jeremy Clarkson has recently launched his own beer brand, Hawkstone. The lager is made with barley grown on his Cotswolds farm. Exposed to the workings of the supply chain, Clarkson was reportedly aghast at the difference between the £205 per tonne he received for his barley and the £580 paid by the brewers to the middleman.

Yuletide cheer

Published: 22 December, 2021

With supply and delivery issues forcing indies to be nimble and imaginative for the Christmas rush, Andrew Catchpole asked a trio of merchants how they prepared for the festive sales spike in such an unpredictable year.

Wadsack and Parkinson to host virtual Koshu tasting

Published: 22 December, 2021

Harpers Wine & Spirits will be joined by two of the UK’s leading presenters to host an online tasting dedicated to the wonders of the Koshu grape, Japan's key indigenous varietal.

Harpers memorabilia goes up for auction

Published: 21 December, 2021

A historic piece of publishing history is up for auction this month, printed in 1887 by Harper’s Weekly gazette – the magazine that morphed into today's Harpers Wine & Spirit and almost certainly oldest drinks title in the UK.

WoodWinters adds historic Veneto estate to portfolio

Published: 21 December, 2021

Tenuta Santa Maria di Gaetano Bertani, a leading winery in the Veneto region, has become the newest member of the WoodWinters portfolio.

Freixenet delivers record Cava sales

Published: 21 December, 2021

Spanish giant Freixenet has posted record Cava sales in 2021, retailing more than 100 million bottles worldwide for the first time ever in the firm's 150-year history.

Bordeaux Wine Week to fold in Vinexpo Bordeaux

Published: 20 December, 2021

The long-running trade fair Vinexpo Bordeaux has been officially retired by its organisers, replaced by the inaugural 'Bordeaux Wine Week' in 2022.

Morgenrot chairman and founder Rudi Plath passes away

Published: 20 December, 2021

Rudi Plath, the founder of Morgenrot and well-known character in the wine and beer trade, passed away on 17 December.

Bouncing Back Q&A: Caroline Thompson-Hill, MD for Europe, Accolade Wines

Published: 20 December, 2021

Continuing our seasonal Bouncing Back Q&A series, Caroline Thompson-Hill takes stock of the lessons of 2021 and calls out the challenge posed to trade by the proposed alcohol duty reforms.