Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Martell lets the conversation flow

Published: 23 July, 2008

Martell is hoping to change people's perception of Cognac consumption as a solitary pursuit with a new 2.1 million marketing campaign.

Phil Oxera

Published: 23 July, 2008

Phil Oxera rather enjoyed The Wine Programme's brief run on the wireless earlier this year, but it has come to his attention that there are some younger wine enthusiasts out there who found it a little, how to put this kindly, pedestrian?

Message on a bottle

Published: 23 July, 2008

Stormhoek - the premium South African wine brand co-owned by UK importer Orbital wines - is introducing fresh before' dates on its labels.

Knocking on Cellar Door

Published: 23 July, 2008

The demise and eventual sale of Robert Mondavi has been the wine trade equivalent of a soap opera, with its apparent family feuds, in-fighting, sabbaticals and press briefings.

The Interview - Matt Wilkin, Group Consultant Sommelier, The Capital Group Ltd, London

Published: 23 July, 2008

You've been a bit busy recently winning awards and passing exams...
Yes, I've come down with a cold now that it's all over. It hits you as soon as you stop! The Champagne Ruinart Sommelier of the Year competition was on 23 March, and then seven days later I sat the Master Sommelier exam. The results come out on the same day, so we all went to Le Gavroche that night to celebrate.

Appointments - Pernod Ricard adds two new faces at the top

Published: 23 July, 2008

Pernod Ricard has appointed two new senior figures to its UK business.

Laffer's Heritage

Published: 23 July, 2008

Jacob's Creek has brought two of Orlando's finest wines under the Jacob's Creek banner.

2003 Port: a modern' classic

Published: 23 July, 2008

Three leading Port shippers came together at Chandos House in London on 3 May to present the recently declared 2003 vintage.

New German off-trade range

Published: 23 July, 2008

Schmitt Shne is launching a new brand of German wine at this year's LIWSF.

Wine MBA event

Published: 23 July, 2008

Five high-profile leaders in the world wine community are set to be quizzed by Harpers editor Christian Davis at a special event at this year's London International Wine & Spirits Fair.

Debut Carmenre from Via Montes

Published: 23 July, 2008

Purple Angel is the first Carmenre to be released by Chilean winery Via Montes.

Grandi Crus d'Italia formed

Published: 23 July, 2008

It's called Grandi Crus d'Italia, its president is Piero Antinori and it represents those Italians who have for at least 20 years been producing wines of excellence, recognised as such by the market and by critics.

Wine Academy expands

Published: 23 July, 2008

The European Wine Academy, which has bases in Belgium and the UK, is expanding to feature courses in German, Dutch and French.

Wolf Blass bats for Beringer

Published: 23 July, 2008

Beringer Blass Wine Estates has announced the detail of its exclusive new sponsorship deal with English cricket for its Wolf Blass range of wines.

Close combat

Published: 23 July, 2008

Let's begin with a rather stretched analogy. World War I was a terrible conflict that exacted a terrible human toll. Yet this otherwise disastrous war yielded a significant positive benefit for the aviation industry as both sides sought more effective warplanes to master the new arena of aerial combat.

The new wave

Published: 23 July, 2008

The EU continues to loom large over the wine industries across central and eastern Europe, or new Europe' as most producers would prefer the region to be called.

Swings and roundabouts

Published: 23 July, 2008

The UK and Ireland continue to buck the trend in Western Europe as, in spite of relatively high alcohol prices and taxation in comparison with most of Europe, they consume alcohol with increasing relish.

Time and Tide

Published: 23 July, 2008

As a stunt it backfired horribly. Sitting on the beach one depressing day in the early eleventh century, King Cnut was attempting to show that man couldn't turn back the tide, whereas history unkindly remembers him as having tried to do precisely the opposite.

Re-brand Australia

Published: 23 July, 2008

It's late April in Adelaide, the sun is beating down on the Australian Wine Centre with an intensity almost unheard of in what should be an autumnal month, and, inside his air-conditioned office, Jonathan Scott, general manager of the Australian Wine Export Council (AWEC), is looking genuinely excited.