Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Living Ventures opens specialist Liverpool rum bar

Published: 14 November, 2013

Restaurant operator Living Ventures has opened a specialist rum bar The Smugglers Cove in Albert Dock, Liverpool, in a £1 million investment.

Glenfiddich £1000 per bottle limited edition 'Spirit of a Nation' released in the UK

Published: 14 November, 2013

Glenfiddich, in partnership and support of the UK team's Walking with the Wounded South Pole Allied Challenge, will be releasing only 250 bottles of a special limited edition, 29 year-old scotch malt whisky that will retail for rrp £1,000 per bottle.

Baileys launches Christmas campaign

Published: 14 November, 2013

Diageo's cream liqueur brand Baileys is to take to the TV with its first Christmas advert in five years. The theme is a "contemporary twist on Tchaikovsky's The Nutcracker ballet" and it was choreographed by Black Swan choreographer Benjamin Millepied.

Wine fair RAW annouces dates in London and Vienna

Published: 14 November, 2013

The artisan wine fair RAW, has announced two dates for 2014, including its third London event and its first out-of-London fair in Vienna, with the possibility of more events being rolled out in the future.

West Coast Tri-state tasting to come to the UK in 2014

Published: 13 November, 2013

"Go West!", an event that will bring California, Oregon and Washington states together for the most comprehensive joint generic tasting for the region, is scheduled to take place on March 17, 2014 at the QEII Conference Centre in Westminster, London.

World Class Bartender competition comes to TV

Published: 13 November, 2013

Diageo's 2013 World Class bartender competition has been made into a four-part TV series, set to air this month.

Sipsmith's V.J.O.P. (Very Junipery Over Proof) Gin

Published: 13 November, 2013

Sipsmith, the first copper pot distillery to open in London for nearly 200 years, is delighted to announce the launch of V.J.O.P. (Very Junipery Over Proof) gin. The spirit will be available to the on-trade and independents across the UK from the middle of November.

Russian Standard Vodka launches multi-million pound TV campaign

Published: 13 November, 2013

Russian Standard is planning to accelerate its UK growth with the launch of its "milestone" multi-million pound TV and cinema adverts.

Retailers use social media to make more consumer friendly wines

Published: 13 November, 2013

Retailers are increasingly turning to social media to help create new wines they hope will prove popular with consumers.

'Best of Wine Tourism' 2014 winners announced

Published: 13 November, 2013

The Great Wine Capitals Global Network, an alliance of ten international wine regions, announced the nine winners of its 2014 International Best of Wine Tourism Awards at a gala dinner held November 12, at the Culinary Institute of America at Greystone in St. Helena, California.

Jancis Robinson passes the torch as WSET honorary president

Published: 12 November, 2013

Gerard Basset OBE, MS, MW is to follow Jancis Robinson OBE, MW, who served for the last three years, as the new honorary president of the Wine & Spirit Education Trust's (WSET) effective from January 20, 2014.

Virgin Wines sale: UK market still key, says Direct Wines chief

Published: 12 November, 2013

Direct Wines boss Simon McMurtrie says the UK is still of major importance for the firm's business following the sale of Virgin Wines.

Virgin Wines aims for faster growth away from Direct Wines

Published: 12 November, 2013

The new owners of Virgin Wines are planning for faster growth outside of the Direct Wines stable with a focus on face-to-face events and customer interaction.

Heston Blumenthal to open restaurant in Heathrow's revamped Terminal 2

Published: 12 November, 2013

Celebrity chef, Heston Blumenthal, will be opening a new restaurant in Terminal 2: The Queen's Terminal at Heathrow Airport, which is set to open on June 4, 2014, with dishes showcasing traditional British fare.

Sotheby's to sell 100 cases of Opus One for $165,000

Published: 12 November, 2013

Sotheby's wine retail store is selling 100 six bottle cases of iconic Californian wine, Opus One, as a one off collection starting today for only the next four days, with vintages spanning from 1997 to 2005, for $165,000.

Virgin Wines in £14m management buyout

Published: 12 November, 2013

Direct Wines has sold its Virgin Wines business to the current management team, backed by private equity, for £14million, in order to focus on its core Laithwaite's wine business and overseas growth.

Distell appoints new GM for duty-free Europe

Published: 12 November, 2013

Markus Habermann has been appointed general manager for Distell's European duty-free business

Burgundy 2012 en primeur kicks off with some allocations already "exhausted"

Published: 11 November, 2013

The severly reduced Burgundy harvest for 2012 is resulting in producers holding en primeur tastings this month with "Allocation Exhausted" labels over some bottles.

Michelin star chef Michel Roux is face of Everyday Bordeaux consumer campaign

Published: 11 November, 2013

Michelin star chef Michel Roux of Le Gavroche fame has teamed up with the 2013 Everyday Bordeaux collection of wines, to promote those wines considered by a panel of judges from the Association of Wine Educators to offer some of the best value Bordeaux currently available in the UK.