Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Harpers' Australia Tasting podcast goes live

Published: 23 July, 2008

The exclusive Australia Tasting podcast from Harpers is now available to download.

Scotland's Futures Forum surveys community on alcohol

Published: 23 July, 2008

Scotland's Futures Forum has launched an online survey to gauge the impact of alcohol and drugs in the country.

Bordeaux should diversify to face climate change

Published: 23 July, 2008

Bordeaux should explore the possibility of switching grape varietals in facing climate change.

New regulator to monitor supermarket supply disputes

Published: 23 July, 2008

The Competition Commission has proposed the creation of a new ombudsman to monitor disputes arising between supermarkets and their suppliers.

Climate Change and Wine Conference 2008 begins

Published: 23 July, 2008

The 2008 Climate Change and Wine Conference in Barcelona kicked off this morning (Friday 15 February) with an address from Pancho Campo, president of the Wine Academy of Spain, and local politicians.

London fair takes organic theme

Published: 23 July, 2008

The focus for the 2008 London International Wine Fair Top 100 tasting will be organic and biodynamic wines.

Website launch for Chilean producer

Published: 23 July, 2008

Chilean wine producer Luis Felipe Edwards (LFE) has launched a new website www.lfewines.com.

Day 1 of Clare Valley vintage: it's like a first date

Published: 23 July, 2008

G'day folks. I'm an Aussie girl with a wine track mind. There I said it - totally and utterly captivated by regionally distinct Australian wines and in particular the sunny Clare Valley.

Clare Valley vintage 2008 - as it happens

Published: 23 July, 2008

Harpers is publishing its first-ever vintage report online from Australia's Clare Valley. Kerri Thompson, formerly of Leasingham and now running her own label KT and the Falcon, will be posting the latest trials and tribulations from the vineyard on harpers.co.uk.

Guinness is good for Diageo

Published: 23 July, 2008

Strong growth in the US spirits market and rising Guinness sales in the UK helped Diageo to report a 5.3 per cent increase in pre-tax profits to 1.37bn in the six months to December 31 2007.

Co-op promotes Fairtrade wine products

Published: 23 July, 2008

Ahead of Fairtrade Fortnight (February 25 to March 9) the Co-op will be promoting all its own-label and branded Fairtrade products including 16 wines.

Sideways snobbery subsides for Merlot

Published: 23 July, 2008

Merlot sales are recovering from the downturn they experienced in the aftermath of Hollywood wine hit Sideways'.

Scottish retailers could face alcohol levy

Published: 23 July, 2008

The Scottish Government is planning to impose an alcohol levy on supermarkets and off-licences to help pay for the consequences of binge drinking, according to the Scotsman newspaper.

Barcardi, Brown-Forman and Remy Cointreau extend US distribution

Published: 23 July, 2008

Barcardi, Brown-Forman and Remy Cointreau have announced they are expanding their US distribution alliance.

ACS backs Conservative alcohol stance

Published: 23 July, 2008

The Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) has backed Conservative Party calls for Government and police to make more effective use of their powers to tackle underage drinkers.

Australian wine exports drop

Published: 23 July, 2008

Wine exports from Australia have dropped for the first time in 12 years, new figures show.

Tasmanian wine industry gets million dollar boost

Published: 23 July, 2008

An A$1.8 million (835,000) government grant has been awarded to the Tasmanian wine industry.

Wine category manager to leave Tesco BWS division

Published: 23 July, 2008

Jason Godley will leave his position as wine category manager in Tesco's beer, wine and spirits (BWS) division.

Half of US wineries face new ownership by 2018

Published: 23 July, 2008

Some 51% of Western US wineries will change hands in the next decade, according to a new report.

January sales up as food and drink impress

Published: 23 July, 2008

January saw a 2.6% increase in like-for-like retail sales with the food and drink sector performing encouragingly, new British Retail Consortium (BRC) figures show.