Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

New wine-only auction site to launch in September

Published: 08 August, 2013

Fat Grape, a new wine-only auction website is set to launch in September.

Boutinot cyclists help raise nearly £8k for local cancer charity

Published: 07 August, 2013

A team of cyclists from Boutinot, the north west wine distributors, has raised nearly £8,000 for a local cancer charity.

UK consumers opt for red wine, finds research

Published: 07 August, 2013

According to research carried out by specialist wine bottler Cobevco, UK consumers prefer red wine over white, rosé and sparkling, and would rather drink it at home than at the pub or in a restaurant.

Bordeaux winemakers seek government bailout after devastating hailstorm

Published: 07 August, 2013

French wineries and vineyard owners in the Entre-deux-Mers region in south eastern Bordeaux are seeking government assistance in order to avoid bankruptcy after last weekend's "catastrophic" hailstorm, which affected an estimated 20,000ha, reported France 24.

Oz Clarke to lead European wine cruise

Published: 07 August, 2013

Wine expert and TV celebrity Oz Clarke is to lead a host of European wine travel experiences on the luxury liner Celebrity Infinity, owned by Celebrity Cruises.

Chapel Down offers shareholders new incentive package

Published: 07 August, 2013

English winery Chapel Down is offering new and existing shareholders a range of benefits to hopefully build loyalty and strengthen its shareholder base.

Boutinot cyclists help raise nearly £8k for local cancer charity

Published: 07 August, 2013

A team of cyclists from Boutinot, the north west wine distributors, has raised nearly £8,000 for a local cancer charity.

Pernod Ricard to launch Spanish brandy in UK

Published: 06 August, 2013

Pernod Ricard UK is launching premium Spanish brandy Domecq 1820 Solera Reserva in a bid to attract new consumers to a category currently dominated by French brands.

Conviviality Retail appoints new chief financial officer

Published: 06 August, 2013

Bargain Booze owner Conviviality Retail has announced the appointment of Julie Wirth as chief financial officer from November.

Jeanjean launches new brand Maison du Sud

Published: 06 August, 2013

Jeanjean, a wine producer from the Languedoc region, is launching new wine brand Maison du Sud for the off-trade in the UK.

New gadget allows you to taste wine without opening bottle

Published: 06 August, 2013

Wine can now be tasted without opening the bottle, thanks to a new gadget.

Aspall cyder returns to India after 110 years

Published: 06 August, 2013

Aspall, the premium cyder brand from Suffolk, is returning to India after an absence of over 100 years.

Drinks journalists and whisky retailers dig deep to complete Ardbeg Islay Half Marathon

Published: 06 August, 2013

A team of more than 20 drinks writers and whisky retailers have helped raise over £6,000 for the National Brain Appeal in memory of drinks journalist, Alan Lodge, who died last year of a brain haemorrhage aged just 29 by taking part in last weekend's Ardbeg Islay Half Marathon.

Brand Phoenix to push FirstCape in US

Published: 05 August, 2013

Brand Phoenix has announced structural changes as it looks to grow business in the US.

Tate Britain wine cellar to reopen after £45m refurb

Published: 05 August, 2013

Tate Britain's Whistler Restaurant, renowned for its extensive wine cellar, is due to reopen this autumn after a £45 million refurbishment.

WSET hits record number of students around the world

Published: 05 August, 2013

The Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) has reported a record number of candidates taking its examinations around the world n the last academic year, with 48,434 students, a 12% increase over the previous year.

Chance to shine in Harpers French Wine Awards

Published: 05 August, 2013

Harpers is looking to recognise the best retailers, restaurants, suppliers, distributors and ambassadors for the French wine category in the UK over the last 12 months with our inaugural French Wine Awards being run as part of the France Summit on October 22.

Latin American Free Trade Agreement is a boost to Scotch whisky industry

Published: 05 August, 2013

The Scotch whisky industry has received a boost this month with the removal of tariff and non-tariff barriers to how it trades in areas of Southern and Central America including Colombia, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama.

Mondel?z International confirms new role for former Laithwaite's chief

Published: 05 August, 2013

Following his departure last month from Laithwaite's, confectionery and good giant, Mondel?z International, has now confirmed that Glenn Caton has joined the business as category director for UK and Ireland.

Three New Trustees appointed to the Benevolent

Published: 05 August, 2013

The Benevolent, the Drinks Industry Charity, announced changes last week at the AGM on July 30 to the Board of Trustees with Christopher Carson and Tony Dee both stepping down and the appointments of Andrew Hawes of Mentzendorff, John Mills formerly of InterContinental Brands (ICB) Ltd. and Dan Townsend of Treasury Wine Estates.