Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Ocado data shows mid-strength drinks ‘boom’

Published: 29 April, 2026

Online supermarket Ocado has released research which shows that demand for mid-strength drinks is “booming”.

New study links GLP-1 use to reduced alcohol consumption

Published: 31 March, 2026

New research from consultancy KAM, in partnership with the Drinkaware charity, has highlighted a -29% reduction in how often the users of GLP-1 drugs (Ozempic or Wegovy being examples) consume alcohol.

Old Vine Registry reaches 10,000 vineyard sign ups

Published: 26 March, 2026

The Old Vine Registry, a public database committed to collating historic vineyards, has announced that it has surpassed 10,000 vineyard registrations from across the globe.

IWSR: Global H1 alcohol volume sales decline, value steady

Published: 06 November, 2025

Fresh data from IWSR can reveal that global total beverage alcohol (TBA) consumption volume was in decline during the first half of the financial year, with a drop of -1% reported.

NICs rises: One-in-five hospitality businesses planning redundancies

Published: 08 August, 2025

Research from Zest, the employee benefits technology provider, and Opinium has highlighted that almost one-in-five hospitality businesses (18%) are planning redundancies this year due to National Insurance Contributions (NICs) rises.

Carbon dioxide recovery tech sees Familia Torres break new ground

Published: 28 February, 2025

A pilot test conducted by Orchestra Scientific has allowed the Familia Torres’ Pacs del Penedès winery to concentrate carbon dioxide from wine fermentation in its purest form for reuse at the winery.

Fine wine policy institute releases global sustainability report

Published: 03 October, 2022

Areni Global, a think tank dedicated to the future of fine wine, has released a ground-breaking report examining the major threats, and opportunities, facing the sector today.

Drinks hold out over food in cost-of-living crisis

Published: 28 September, 2022

On-trade drinking occasions are holding up despite the cost-of-living crisis, according to drinks insights agency, Proof Insight.

Pioneering technique captures ‘intensity’ of Sauternes in dry white

Published: 19 April, 2022

Sauternes producer Château d’Arche is claiming a first in identifying the development of Botrytis before the first visible signs emerge, allowing it to release a modern dry white expressing the complexity of aromas associated with Noble Rot.

Rising consumer confidence suggests hospitality recovery in 2022

Published: 18 January, 2022

New research undertaken by CGA Strategy has recorded a strong desire from consumers to visit on-trade venues, indicating that the sector has successfully allayed fears concerning the Omicron variant.

Young consumers set to embrace Christmas trading

Published: 02 November, 2021

Young adults are set to embrace pubs, bars and restaurants for Christmas celebrations, but older people may be more hesitant about eating and drinking out, new research from CGA has revealed.

Optimism among hospitality professionals dips

Published: 31 August, 2021

Optimism among hospitality professionals has dipped amid staffing challenges and safety concerns, according to a new survey by CGA and CPL Learning.

Oz fires lead to smoke taint innovation

Published: 05 August, 2021

Research is being carried out in Australia to convert smoke from 2019’s devasting bushfires into a desirable characteristic that can be turned into one-of-a-kind spirits.

OIV teams up with leading producers for research

Published: 01 July, 2021

The International Organisation of Vine and Wine (OIV) has teamed up with leading wine companies for R&D purposes.

Global alcohol consumption to return to pre-Covid levels by 2023

Published: 03 June, 2021

The global beverage alcohol market is showing positive signs of recovery and is projected to grow 2.9% in volume by the end of 2021, according IWSR research.

ASDA groups wine by grape rather than region

Published: 26 April, 2021

Asda has unveiled a major change in the setup of its wine aisles by becoming the first major UK supermarket to group all wine by grape instead of by country.

Portman research predicts “cautious return” to pubs post lockdown

Published: 08 April, 2021

Pubgoers look set to tailor some of their pre-pandemic drinking behaviours once restrictions ease, the Portman Group has said, with many planning to drink less when they return to the on-trade post-lockdown.

UK craft brewery openings hit record levels

Published: 15 March, 2021

Flying in the face of on-trade closures during the pandemic, the number of craft breweries operating in the UK has reached levels not seen since 1930s.

Tech vs critics: developing satellite scores

Published: 03 February, 2021

Saturnalia aims to overcome the ‘mystery and magic’ surrounding fine wine pricing and scores with space-based technology. Felicity Carter eyes up its heavenly ambitions