Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

S&N details new ale and cider joint ventures

Published: 23 July, 2008

Scottish & Newcastle has finalised the details of its new heritage joint venture.

Fattorini wins Yalumba scholarship

Published: 23 July, 2008

Joe Fattorini, wine writer for the Daily Herald, and Harpers contributor, has won a trip to the Yalumba winery in Australia as part of the Masters of Wine 2007/08 programme.

Diageo fights Californian alcopop ban

Published: 23 July, 2008

US: California authorities have vowed to ban the sale of Smirnoff Ice across the state

McGuigan confident of Australian industry's future

Published: 23 July, 2008

The Australian wine industry is showing signs of recovery, according to the chief executive of McGuigan Simeon Wines.

Liberty X singer agrees to become binge drinker

Published: 23 July, 2008

Michelle Heaton, singer with pop band Liberty X, has been signed up by ITV to live as a binge drinker for one month.

Laphroaig launches virtual whisky debate tonight (November 21)

Published: 23 July, 2008

Beam Global Spirits & Wines is hosting a virtual tasting and online debate for Islay single malt Scotch whisky Laphroaig tonight at 8pm UK time.

Whisky tasting goes virtual

Published: 23 July, 2008

Beam Global Spirits & Wines will host an international online debate and whisky tasting for Islay single malt Scotch whisky, Laphroaig.

Parents urged not to supply their children with alcohol

Published: 23 July, 2008

Parents who supply their children with alcohol are behind soaring rates of binge drinking among Britain's teenagers, the government has warned.

Beer industry blames low duty on wine for sales plummet

Published: 23 July, 2008

The fall by 19 million pints in British pubs since 1979 is down to high duty on beer compared to other areas such as wine, says the brewing industry.

Tokyo is awarded most Michelin stars of any city

Published: 23 July, 2008

Tokyo has the most Michelin stars of any city in the world with the just-released first guide by the French company to the Japanese capital.

Gatwick Express first with Beaujolais Nouveau

Published: 23 July, 2008

Gatwick Express claimed to be the first to serve the new vintage of Beaujolais Nouveau by offering it to customers from one minute past midnight today, November 15.

MPs call for health warnings on alcohol labels

Published: 23 July, 2008

UK: A Liberal Democrat Dem MP has called for cigarette-style health warnings to be printed on all drinks labels.

PM requests meeting with retail and drinks industry

Published: 23 July, 2008

UK: Prime Minister Gordon Brown will meet with retailers and the drinks industry in the next few days to discuss binge drinking and advertising.

United Spirits in 17m spend

Published: 23 July, 2008

United Spirits, the Indian company that owns whisky distiller Whyte & Mackay, is to invest more than 17 million in the next three to four years.

Responsible drinks advertising helps cut underage drinking

Published: 23 July, 2008

The UK drinks industry has received a much needed boost today with the release of new figures that suggest more responsible drinks advertising is having an impact on drinking levels, and the attitudes of young drinkers towards alcohol.

Hardy's moves its winemaking base

Published: 23 July, 2008

Australian wine company Hardy's will move its winemaking and packaging facility from Buronga winery to Berri Estate in a US$22 million (10.5m) move.

Retailer paying its customers for being green

Published: 23 July, 2008

An independent wine merchant has started paying customers to reuse the plastic carrier bags issued by its shops.

2007 Young Wine Writer announced

Published: 23 July, 2008

Ray O'Connor, sales and marketing manager for the International Wine Challenge has been announced as this year's winner of the Young Wine Writers Award.

Banning plastic bags needs more thinking

Published: 23 July, 2008

The Association of Convenience Stores has said the decision by London Councils to lobby for a ban on free plastic bags needs more thinking and potentially a wider remit.