Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Best joins United

Published: 23 July, 2008

Steve Best has joined United Wineries as a UK national account manager.

Italian harvest 2005: difficult from north to south'

Published: 23 July, 2008

Overall, 2005 has been a difficult vintage from north to south,' stressed Alberto Antonini, winemaker of the Matura group. The key factor to getting the best out of this vintage was good vineyard management.'

Spirits industry signs agreement with HMRC

Published: 23 July, 2008

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has signed a memorandum of understanding' (MOA) with the two leading UK spirits trade associations designed to cement cooperation in dealing with spirits fraud.

Diageo blows out Montana

Published: 23 July, 2008

Diageo surprised both the wine trade and city analysts last week by declining its option to buy Pernod Ricard's New Zealand brand Montana for 320 million.

Five left in for Lanson

Published: 23 July, 2008

The sale of Groupe Lanson, formerly known as Marne
& Champagne, has moved another step closer with the 15 companies originally declaring an interest now whittled down to a short list of five.

Truter shows FAITH

Published: 23 July, 2008

Beyers Truter, the owner and winemaker of South Africa's Beyerskloof winery, has lent his name and support to a new initiative that aims to tackle one of the Cape's most serious issues - alcohol abuse during pregnancy.

Pop stars happy to strike a pose

Published: 23 July, 2008

Pencil-thin novelty act The Cheeky Girls livened up the Nicolas Feuillatte One Fo(u)r launch party at hot London club Movida last week. The Romanian twins (real names Monica & Gabriela Irimia) were more than happy to pose for photographers to mark the launch of the range, which comprises a Brut NV and a ros, both in 200ml bottles. Meanwhile, the great and the good of AOR turned out for the Q Awards at London's Grosvenor House Hotel, sponsored by Chilean brand PKNT. Bands such as Coldplay and The Charlatans were at the ceremony, and all the guests received goodie bags containing PKNT wristbands and yo-yos.

Roussillon targets Scotland

Published: 23 July, 2008

Roussillon has set its sights on the Scottish market, holding its
biggest UK trade tasting this year in Edinburgh.

Yquem gets mixed up

Published: 23 July, 2008

Despite the success of the 2001 vintage of Sauternes legend Chteau d'Yquem - which was released earlier this month,
with the first tranche selling out in hours and prices on the secondary market already at more than 3,000 a case - eyebrows may have been raised on the Gallic side of the Channel after a UK bar included the 1999 vintage of the wine in its 22 Emperor cocktail.

Wolf Blass celebrates Ashes Test success

Published: 23 July, 2008

Wolf Blass, the FGL-owned Australian wine brand, is claiming an unprecedented level of success after its sponsorship of the summer's Ashes Test series, part of a four-year sponsorship for the Test match grounds. A spokesperson for Wolf Blass said that, up to and including the fourth Test at Old Trafford, the equivalent advertising value to ABC1 males' was 3.75 million, with an equivalent PR value' of 3 million. This represents a return on its investment of 1:15.

New festive campaigns

Published: 23 July, 2008

Diageo and Freixenet have both announced new advertising campaigns in time for the Christmas period.

Going Deutsch

Published: 23 July, 2008

I think UK consumers are absolutely ready for German wines. In fact, they already prefer them - they just don't know it yet.' With these bold words, Nicky Forrest of Phipps PR puts the
case for a Teutonic revival. Phipps was appointed UK agent for the German Wine Institute in 1998, and Nicky has been directly involved ever since. Yet, given a history of year-on-year decline and margins cut to the bone, as well as the level of ingrained prejudice among consumers and the trade, she and her company face one hell of a challenge.

The new dynamic duo

Published: 23 July, 2008

When Warren Adamson was starting as an apprentice in worsted spinning at Feltex Yarns in New Zealand, Fernando Ferr was graduating from the Universidad Catlica Argentina with a business administration degree.

The Interview: Bill Baker

Published: 23 July, 2008

Where did you start in the wine trade?
Avery's, after I came down from Cambridge. It was a long time ago - the days before the Australian wine industry had bounced back from the depths of liqueur Muscat and jug wines. Monty Python weren't too far off the mark in their assessment of wine from Down Under: Chateau Blue Too has won many prizes, not least for its flavour and its lingering afterburn.' All the local restaurateurs used to buy from Averys because it was the big name in the West Country. There were no reps, so when you turned up, they were pathetically grateful just to see somebody.

Regional Sogrape

Published: 23 July, 2008

Leading Portuguese producer, Sogrape, is seeking to push Portuguese regionality with the launch of its ambitious new brand, Callabriga.

Enotria takes on Tokara

Published: 23 July, 2008

Enotria Winecellars is the UK agents for the Tokara Winery in Stellenbosch, South Africa. The three estate wines, launched earlier this month, are a Chardonnay, barrel-fermented Sauvignon Blanc and Bordeaux blend. All three will be
available from UK stock by the end of this month.

Wine collection destroyed in warehouse fire

Published: 23 July, 2008

Millions of pounds' worth of wine were destroyed in a warehouse fire in California.

Castello di Ama rejoins Consorzio

Published: 23 July, 2008

Castello di Ama is to rejoin the Consorzio Vino Chianti Classico after a gap of over 12 years. The move represents a major coup for the Consorzio in its bid to promote Chianti Classico among world wine drinkers after a low period when it has become associated with straw-covered bottles and trattoria dining.

HwCg buys into Australian supply

Published: 23 July, 2008

Leading UK agency business, HwCg, has moved into winery ownership with the acquisition of Australian wine and beverage producer, the Irymple Group.

French Wine Awards explains judging

Published: 23 July, 2008

French Wines has clarified the judging process of its annual awards after three of the six gongs went to members (or their companies) of the judging panel.