Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Thieves' 20,000 Champagne haul

Published: 23 July, 2008

Thieves who broke into a London wine merchant last weekend made off with around 20,000 of Champagne.

Chilean wine bodies join forces

Published: 23 July, 2008

The two major bodies representing Chilean wineries have united to form a single association.

UK drinkers are more adventurous than US

Published: 23 July, 2008

UK consumers drink a wider range of wine styles than their US counterparts, according to new research.

Warninks labels fail to conform to the law

Published: 23 July, 2008

First Drinks Brands, the independent drinks distributor owned by William Grant & Sons, has admitted that illegally labelled bottles of Warninks advocaat have been circulating since November. The company only revealed the problem after the major Christmas trading season.

Communicator award shortlist

Published: 23 July, 2008

The six candidates for the International Wine & Spirit Competition's Communicator of the Year have been announced, and they include regular Harpers contributors Sarah Jane Evans MW and Jamie Goode.

Australia drags its feet over vine louse

Published: 23 July, 2008

Despite the discovery of the vine louse phylloxera in the Yarra Valley, Australian winemakers have not been persuaded to start planting on resistant rootstocks. The pest was discovered in a section of eight-year-old Merlot vines in the Coldstream area in December. A 5km quarantine zone has now been drawn around the vineyard.

Oz winemakers anxious to develop own style of Pinot

Published: 23 July, 2008

Australian producers have been keen to point out that they do not want to make Alsatian Pinot Gris nor Burgundian Pinot Noir, but create a distinct Australian style.

Tri-varietals launch from Jacob's Creek

Published: 23 July, 2008

Jacob's Creek is launching three new tri-varietal wines, priced at 6.99. The Three Vines range is being positioned between the company's entry-level range (RRP 5.49-5.99) and its Reserve range (7.99).

Seminal look at Australian Shiraz

Published: 23 July, 2008

Flavour profiles of Shiraz across Australia was the subject of a seminar at the Australia Day Tasting in London last week.

New consumption research

Published: 23 July, 2008

Businesses will now be able to track the habits of wine consumers internationally with the launch of a new research service.

Clare producers split on GI issue

Published: 23 July, 2008

Clare Valley producers are divided by the possibility of subdividing the region.

Henry announces new direction for Australia

Published: 23 July, 2008

The biggest piece of research on Australian wine and its markets in more than a decade is ready to be unveiled, the head of Wine Australia told Harpers last week.

Absolut vodka could go for knock-down price

Published: 23 July, 2008

Vin & Sprit, the Swedish state company, has started to mount its defences against predators who are targeting Absolut vodka when the Stockholm government privatises the group, possibly later this year.

Cognac exports surge ahead

Published: 23 July, 2008

Exports of Cognac in 2006 were the third highest on record. According to figures released by the Bureau National Interprofessionel du Cognac (BNIC), 152 million bottles of Cognac were exported worldwide, representing an increase of 7.2% by volume and 11% in value compared with 2005. These volumes have only been bettered by sales in 1989 and 1990.

Are you being served?

Published: 23 July, 2008

Forty-two per cent of wines on restaurant wine lists are priced at more than 50 a bottle, according to research unveiled by Wine Intelligence (WI) at the inaugural Wine+ exhibition two weeks ago.

Packaging complaints upheld

Published: 23 July, 2008

A total of eight complaints were made about drinks packaging in the UK in 2006, according to responsible drinking organisation The Portman Group, with gift packs like the one pictured right making up the majority.

New name and logo for The Benevolent

Published: 23 July, 2008

The Wine and Spirit Trades' Benevolent Society has changed its name and updated its image to attract more members and increase fundraising efforts.

IWSC changes judging timetable

Published: 23 July, 2008

The timetable for judging entries in the International Wine & Spirit Competition (IWSC) is to be changed after a number of requests from New World producers.

WSTA condemns 7% licence fee hike

Published: 23 July, 2008

Plans to increase all licence fees by 7% for the next three years have been slammed by the Wine & Spirit Trade Assocation (WSTA). The increase, as recommended by the Licensing Fees Review Panel, would be introduced in the period 2007/8 and would then be reviewed in 2009/10.