Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Pichon second wine goes under screwcap

Published: 23 July, 2008

Les Tourelles de Longueville, the second wine of Bordeaux Second Growth Chteau Pichon-Longueville, will be bottled under screwcap for the UK on-trade.

Fells loses Champagne house to Enotria

Published: 23 July, 2008

Champagne House Henriot has swapped agents from John E Fells to Enotria Winecellars.

Bushfires ravage Oz vineyards

Published: 23 July, 2008

By Tina Gellie

Following frosts that ruined 55 per cent of Victoria's grape harvest, bushfires and winds now threaten to decimate what is left.

Foster's fights against phylloxera outbreak

Published: 23 July, 2008

By Max Allen

Following the discovery of phylloxera in a Fosters-owned vineyard in the middle of Victoria's Yarra Valley in December, the state government's Department of Primary Industry (DPI) has extensively surveyed all vineyards within a 5km radius of the site and found no more signs of the vine aphid.

High and dry

Published: 23 July, 2008

2006 was the driest year on record in many parts of Australia. Even though temperatures did not reach the history-making heights of 2005, new research published in November by the University of Melbourne and Australia's Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) forecast temperature increases of 0.3 to 1.7C in most Australian wine regions by 2030.

NZ producer has world's first carbon-neutral winery

Published: 23 July, 2008

New Zealand winery Grove Mill is the first in the world to go carbon neutral.

What makes a brand cool?

Published: 23 July, 2008

By Tina Gellie

A new book about Britain's coolest brands cites Chivas Regal, Disaronno and Campari alongside Aston Martin, Chanel and Topshop.

Bargain 1er Cru Chablis at Aldi

Published: 23 July, 2008

Aldi's fine wine selection just got bigger with the addition of the 2003 Premier Cru Chablis Grande Rserve from Bovier & Fils. Atypical, having spent nine months in French oak, it retails for 7.99 and is available in Aldi's 300 stores nationwide.

Krug Ros does it by halves

Published: 23 July, 2008

Krug is the first prestige cuve to release its Ros
Champagne in half bottles - the most romantic of sizes, perfect for celebrating tte--tte', suggests company president Rmi Krug.

New at Codornu

Published: 23 July, 2008

Arthur O'Connor has moved from head winemaker at Seppelt in Victoria to the newly created position as head of winemaking at Codornu, while Jordi Ratera has been appointed the new technical director of Codornu, succeeding Juan Jos de Castro, who held the position for 37 years. Ratera has been with Codornu for 20 years, and most recently set up the new Codornu winery in the Napa Valley.

Rodet acquires producer

Published: 23 July, 2008

Burgundy wine group Antonin Rodet has bought Maison Dufouleur Pre et Fils, which is based in Nuits-Saint-Georges.

New WSET chairman of trustees

Published: 23 July, 2008

Julian Brind MW has been appointed the Wine & Spirit Education Trust's chairman of the board of trustees, taking over from Keith Garrard, who held the post for four years.

Family of wine producers completes fundraising tour

Published: 23 July, 2008

The 11 members of Primum Familiae Vini (PFV) recently completed a tour of Singapore and Mumbai, raising more than US$65,000 (33,000) for charities in both countries.

Inter-Rhne manager quits

Published: 23 July, 2008

Franois Drounau, the export manager of generic body Inter-Rhne, is leaving the organisation to work for Pernod Ricard.

Taking the next step

Published: 23 July, 2008

With the annual trade tastings approaching, we gathered the key UK players in the Australian wine industry to discuss where the category is going

Innovative Oz

Published: 23 July, 2008

WHERE: Lawrence Hall, Royal Horticultural Halls, London SW1
WHEN: Wednesday, 31 January 2007 from 10am-4.30pm and Thursday, 1 February 2007 from 9.30am-5pm
CONTACT: Melissa Worthington at Wine Australia on 020 7887 5259

News analysis: Victoria is not amused

Published: 23 July, 2008

It's hardly something to boast about, but the state of Victoria is Australia's phylloxera capital.

Limited-edition drams

Published: 23 July, 2008

Proud Scots Ranald Macdonald of the celebrated Boisdale restaurants in London and Berry Bros & Rudd spirits buyer Doug McIvor have developed a new range of malt whiskies.

50 years young at Hine

Published: 23 July, 2008

Hine is releasing its 1957 vintage - a Jarnac-matured Grande Champagne Cognac. Only five casks were laid down to mature, and director and cellarmaster Bernard Hine describes the 1957 vintage as an exceptional year, with a perfect balance between floral and fruit hints'.

Research reveals price variation in restaurants

Published: 23 July, 2008

Research commissioned by Wine+, the new on-trade wine show, and undertaken by Wine Intelligence in more than 20 white table-cloth restaurants in London has revealed gross variations in wine prices in restaurants.