Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Black-owned, all female SA wine brand to support next generation

Published: 14 September, 2022

Amandla by Her Wine Collection is a new “progressive” brand launching out of the Western Cape, landing with the UK off-trade this autumn.

Bibendum expands portfolio with 'inspirational' South African wine brand

Published: 08 February, 2022

South African wine brand, Kumusha Wines, has appointed Bibendum as its exclusive distributor in the UK.

South Africa celebrates 'small but high quality’ 2021 harvest

Published: 07 December, 2021

The South African wine industry has released a favourable crop estimate following the 2021 growing season.

South Africa's high hopes

Published: 01 April, 2021

If Bordeaux declares another 'vintage of the century' in 2021, then eyes will undoubtedly roll.

SA wine prices predicted to recover again in ‘next few years’

Published: 19 October, 2020

The Covid-19 pandemic has had a far-reaching effect on wine-producing countries across the globe, not least South Africa.

SA online retailer launches ‘one stop shop’ in UK

Published: 15 October, 2020

South African online wine retailer Port2Port is launching a marketplace allowing UK trade to sell Cape wines direct to consumer.

Graft bolsters Australia and South African portfolios as it gears up for digital tasting

Published: 24 August, 2020

Graft Wine, last year’s merger of Red Squirrel and The Knotted Vine, is gearing up for a bumper month of activity in September, with two Southern Hemisphere additions joining the company as it takes its autumn tasting online.

Woes mount as SA wine industry reacts to second drinking ban

Published: 14 July, 2020

South Africa’s already hard-pressed wine industry has greeted the renewed ban on alcohol sales with dismay, with Vinpro describing the government-imposed clamp down as a “devastating blow”.

Great British Braai Off launched to support SA winemakers

Published: 12 May, 2020

Graft Wine Company is looking to bring the mouth-watering flavours of South African BBQ to the British bank holiday weekend with the launch of the first Great British Braai Off campaign to support South African winemakers.

Volumes up in "exceptional" South African harvest

Published: 05 May, 2020

South Africa’s 2020 harvest is up 8.2% on the previous year, according to the Vinpro harvest report released today.

South Africa makes U-turn and bans wine exports

Published: 17 April, 2020

The South African government has banned exports of wine and spirits during lockdown.

Waterkloof adds to Circumstance range

Published: 03 February, 2020

Paul Boutinot’s South African estate Waterkloof has added two new wines to its Circumstance range.

Price rises ‘essential’ if South Africa industry to survive, warns leading producer

Published: 17 May, 2019

A leading figure in South African wine has issued a stark warning about the industry's future.

Cape Wine 2018 calls to address challenge of profitability with investment in training and people

Published: 12 September, 2018

Sustainability in both economic and human terms was outlined as the key challenge facing Cape winemakers at the opening conference of Cape Wine 2018.

Repositioning South Africa

Published: 28 August, 2018

Celebrated by critics but crippled by drought and low returns, South Africa rarely has an easy ride.

Few in the trade could have missed the ongoing challenges facing South Africa’s wine producers as the worst drought in 100 years continues to afflict the Cape. With the 2018 crop predicted to be down by 15% after two years of water shortage that almost saw Cape Town meet “day zero” and turn off its domestic supply, the harvest has been described by Bibendum’s South Africa buyer, Paul Meihuizen, as “the most challenging I have ever known”.

South Africa over-delivers at entry level, but needs to work harder to push premium message

Published: 04 May, 2017

Last week Harpers gathered a room full of wine trade experts to debate the health of the South African wine industry. Participants from the on-trade, multiples and independent sectors discussed how South Africa can better promote its premium offering and what its trump cards are.