Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Diageo in talks with India's United Spirits

Published: 28 January, 2009

Diageo has confirmed that talks are being held about the possible purchase of a stake in the Indian drinks giant United Spirits, headed by Vijay Mallya.

Scottish tasting to celebrate Australia Day

Published: 27 January, 2009

The Scottish wine trade is celebrating Australia Day in style today in Edinburgh with the first of two generic tastings being held in the UK this week by Wine Australia.

Pernod Ricard boss joins LIWF

Published: 26 January, 2009

Brintex has appointed Nick Blair, wine director at Pernod Ricard UK, as the new chairman of the London International Wine Fair and Distil Advisory Board. Fiona Corfield from Palmer and Harvey has also joined the Board.

Wine Australia releases DVD Claire Hu wine

Published: 26 January, 2009

Wine Australia has launched a new interactive DVD and added an online education section to its website.

Wines in the Press, January 24-25

Published: 26 January, 2009

Our review of what the national wine critics had to say this last weekend, January 24-25

Weekly index for first growth claret

Published: 23 January, 2009

Liv-ex - the fine wine exchange - is launching what it describes as the world's first weekly fine wine price index.

Asahi buys Tsingtao stake from Inbev

Published: 23 January, 2009

Anheuser-Busch Inbev has agreed to sell a 19.9% stake in Chinese brewer Tsingato to Ashai of Japan for US$667 million.

Speyside whisky turns green

Published: 23 January, 2009

A scheme to reduce the carbon footprint of distilleries in Scotland's Speyside region has been given the go-ahead.

Chez Bruce comes out top in new Drinking Out Excellence Awards

Published: 23 January, 2009

Chez Bruce has been named as the country's best wine restaurant, after picking up the top prize at the inaugural Drinking Out Excellence Awards this week.

All Bar One slashes prices

Published: 23 January, 2009

All Bar One is the latest big name chain to introduce credit style prices with main meals cut to £5 each and a bottle of wine down to £7.95.

Anglo Overseas administrators axe jobs

Published: 22 January, 2009

Anglo Overseas, one of the largest shippers and logistics companies servicing the UK wine trade, has axed 70 of its 210-strong workforce after going into administration.

Freight wine business in administration

Published: 22 January, 2009

Anglo Overseas, one of the largest shippers and logistics companies servicing the UK wine trade, has been placed into administration.

China boosts Remy Cognac sales

Published: 22 January, 2009

Continued growth in premium categories of Cognac in China helped Remy Cointreau post a 0.9% increase in turnover on its own brands in the nine months to Dec 31.

Top Pernod marketing job for Riley

Published: 22 January, 2009

Chivas Brothers marketing director Martin Riley is to be come chief marketing officer for the whole Pernod Ricard group from Feb 1.

Serkova next for Pernod sell-off Claire Hu wine

Published: 20 January, 2009

Pernod Ricard has followed up last week's sale of the Lubuski vodka brand in Poland with the disposal of Serkova in Greece.

Greek deal for Russian Standard

Published: 20 January, 2009

Greek drinks distributor Amvyx has taken on the agency for Russian Standard vodka in its market.

'Class A' beer fails Portman test

Published: 20 January, 2009

A beer that plays on the potentially lethal practice of mixing Class A drugs in its marketing has fallen foul of the Portman Group's Code of Practice.

Wines in the Press, January 17-18

Published: 20 January, 2009

This week Tim Atkin reports back from South Africa, Joanna Simon says people should be aware of the hidden costs within promotions whilst Jancis Robinson picks out wines that offer the best value for money