Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Cognac sales reach value and volume highs in 2016

Published: 17 January, 2017

Sales of Cognac reached their highest level in terms of volume and value in 2016, the body which oversees the Cognac industry has reported.

Think Rum Awards winners 2017 announced for Harpers' inaugural event

Published: 17 January, 2017

Rum's top advocates were recognised for their contributions to this increasingly popular and sometimes misunderstood spirit when Harpers celebrated its inaugural Think Rum event yesterday (January 16).

New chairman announced for The Benevolent

Published: 16 January, 2017

The Benevolent, the charity for the UK drinks industry, has a new chairman.

Pinkster Gin follows Matthew Clark listing with first special edition bottle

Published: 16 January, 2017

With Majestic Retail and others reporting bumper sales of premium gin over the festive trading period, one gin brand in particular is looking to make the most out of the UK's next significant commercial holiday.

Multi-million dollar R&D project aims to bring "international recognition" to Australian Shiraz

Published: 16 January, 2017

5.3 million AUD is being invested to better understand - and promote - Australian terroir to international markets.

Liberty Wines to distribute Sogrape in the UK

Published: 16 January, 2017

Sogrape and Liberty Wines have announced they will be partnering with the hopes of expanding the Portuguese company's presence in the UK, specifically the premium on-trade.

Weaker pound and Brits staying in the UK over Christmas gave trade welcome boost ahead of Brexit-laden 2017

Published: 13 January, 2017

Analysts have suggested that struggling sterling swaying Brits to stay in the UK over the festive season 2016 is the reason that outlets are celebrating record sales this week.

Matthew Clark adds beer and spirits to new circus-themed annual tasting concept

Published: 13 January, 2017

Preparations for the spring trade tasting season are well underway, as is the case with Matthew Clark, which is ramping up its annual tasting by showcasing a wider proportion of its portfolio.

White revolution at the forefront of Heart of Spain 2017

Published: 13 January, 2017

Winemakers from Spain will continue to further the white revolution and promote varieties from new and unexpected corners of the country when the Heart of Spain 2017 tasting comes to London.

The week that was: top news, Q&As and opinion on Harpers.co.uk

Published: 13 January, 2017

In case you missed some of the headlines this week on harpers.co.uk, we have put together a review of the top online news, Q&As, and opinion stories.

Sparkling wine sales jump 24% at Jascots

Published: 12 January, 2017

Specialist wine supplier to the on-trade, Jascots, has reported record sales in 2016 with soparklign wine sales jumping by almost a quarter.

Borsa Vini Italiani returns to London in 2017

Published: 12 January, 2017

Owners and winemakers from 70 Italian wineries will descend on Italian tasting Borsa Vini Italiani when it returns to London next week.

Buckingham Schenk adds Kreglinger Wine Estates to its portfolio

Published: 12 January, 2017

Wine importer Buckingham Schenk is expanding its Antipodean portfolio by adding Kreglinger Wine Estates and its brands Pipers Brook and Norfolk Rise.

Tesco and Sainsbury's join multiples in celebrating Christmas gains

Published: 12 January, 2017

A strong online performance, the successful integration of Argos into stores and a focus on scrapping multi buys has led to a better than expected Christmas for Sainsbury's.

Burgundy en primeur: Spotlight on whites

Published: 11 January, 2017

While there has been a consensus that Burgundy's 2015 reds have much to offer buyers in this year's en primeur market, there is less agreement about the quality of the region's whites.

UKVA and EWP urge government to crack down on "large quantities of wine" being smuggled into the UK

Published: 11 January, 2017

The UK wine industry has urged the government to crack down on excise duty tax evasion carried out via the smuggling onto the UK commercial drinks market of duty-free wine.

New Zealand Annual Tasting coming to London following 2016 winning streak

Published: 11 January, 2017

Following on from a successful 2016 when New Zealand topped the UK growth charts, the country is now keen to develop its presence in the UK market at its the annual trade tasting in London next week.

Major tourism centre given green-light by Burgundy's wine board

Published: 11 January, 2017

Burgundy's wine board, the BIVB, has approved its ambitious Cité des Vins de Bourgogne, a new wine tourism, culture and education centre that will be built on three sites in Beaune, Chablis and in the Mâcon.

More "posh nosh" and alcohol sales puts Morrisons at the top of the Big Four

Published: 10 January, 2017

Morrisons found its groove this Christmas, with alcohol and expansions to its new Best range helping to achieve its strongest like for like sales in seven years.