Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Bacardi loses out in Havana Club court fight

Published: 23 July, 2008

A Madrid court has rejected Bacardi's claim to the Havana Club trademark which is owned by rival Pernod Ricard.

Rhne scrums down for 2007

Published: 23 July, 2008

Inter Rhne is pinning its hopes on rugby and radio to keep its position as the number-one French AOC in the UK off-trade.

Benchmark wines revealed

Published: 23 July, 2008

This year's selection of Californian Benchmark wines, which will be marketed and promoted to the public and media by the Wine Institute of California, has been selected.

Gallo founder dies aged 97

Published: 23 July, 2008

Ernest Gallo, who with the help of his brother Julio created one of the biggest wine empires in the world, has died aged 97 at his home in Modesto, California.

Ernest Gallo dies aged 97

Published: 23 July, 2008

Ernest Gallo, who created one of the biggest wine empires in the world with the help of his brother Julio, has died aged 97 at his home in Modesto, California.

Huge losses fail to deter Yarraman from acquisition

Published: 23 July, 2008

Margaret River winery Evans & Tate has lost nearly A$80 million (32.2m) in the past 18 months, as it unveiled half-yearly figures that again show a deficit.

Green' distillery for Islay

Published: 23 July, 2008

Islay whisky producer Bruichladdich has announced that it plans to rebuild the Port Charlotte distillery, and make it environmentally friendly.

[i]Harpers[/i] wins BOB pub quiz

Published: 23 July, 2008

Harpers fought off competition from 15 other teams - and displayed its knowledge of Winnie the Pooh, nephritis and The Verve - to triumph at the Buddies of the Benevolent (BOB) pub quiz, which took place at The White Horse in Parsons Green, London, last week.

India keeps tariff reforms at bay

Published: 23 July, 2008

The Indian government has resisted pressure from the EU and World Trade Organisation (WTO) to reform discriminatory tariffs on wines and spirits.

Rioja shipments to UK hit all-time high

Published: 23 July, 2008

Rioja shipments to the UK reached a record high of 22.9 million litres last year, a growth of 19% on 2005.

Bacardi considers bid for V&S

Published: 23 July, 2008

Bacardi, the maker of the world's leading rum brand, has contacted the Swedish government, saying it wants to buy Vin & Sprit (V&S), the owner of Absolut vodka.

Classification row rages in St Emilion

Published: 23 July, 2008

The owner of St Emilion property Grand Corbin-Despagne has slammed the three chteaux in the region that have challenged last year's classification following their demoted status.

Sparkling wine sales set for 26% growth

Published: 23 July, 2008

The UK sparkling wine market is expected to grow faster than that of any other European country according to new research.

Champagne shipments double

Published: 23 July, 2008

A huge jump in December imports for Champagne lifted the UK out of a negative showing for 2006.

Montgolfier accepts UMC president role

Published: 23 July, 2008

Ghislain de Montgolfier, president of Champagne Bollinger, has been appointed as the new president of the Union des Maisons de Champagne (UMC). He will take up his position on 15 March, the day of the UMC's annual general assembly.

Premium brand demand shrinking'

Published: 23 July, 2008

Paul Walsh, chief executive of UK spirits company Diageo, has said demand for premium brands is shrinking'.

Third region joins Austria appellation

Published: 23 July, 2008

A new region has joined Austria's growing appellation system as the country moves further to promote its wines by area rather than variety.

What's the attraction?

Published: 23 July, 2008

Can magnets affect the flavour of wine? A MW student stands to in a prize of US$1 million if his dissertation proves that controversial magnetic wine-improving devices actually work as claimed.

Yquem sale makes 775,000

Published: 23 July, 2008

The most extensive collection ever of Chteau d'Yquem has been sold for a record-breaking 775,000.

Foster's could be takeover target

Published: 23 July, 2008

Only two years after it took over Southcorp, Australia's largest wine producer, Foster's could itself become a takeover target. That is the conclusion of some analysts Down Under following publication of disappointing figures from Australia's leading drinks producer.