Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Stratford's goes cool

Published: 23 July, 2008

Paul Stratford, managing director of Stratford's Wine Agencies, has decided to focus the attention of the business on searching for new wines from cooler climates.

Wonderful world of Oz (Clarke)

Published: 23 July, 2008

Oz Clarke is one of the best-known names in the wine trade.

Co-op lists first Fairtrade wines from Argentina

Published: 23 July, 2008

The Co-op has just added four own-label Fairtrade wines from Argentina to its list, the first UK retailer to do so.

Argentina hosts major wine event

Published: 23 July, 2008

Mendoza, Argentina, will be the host of the Annual General Membership meeting of the Great Wine Capitals Global Network for the first time in November this year.

Speculation that Fortune could be subject of break up bid

Published: 23 July, 2008

By Ron Emler
The trend for international companies to focus on single sectors is focusing attention on the American conglomerate Fortune Brands. Following its participation in the takeover and break-up of Allied Domecq with Pernod Ricard last year, analysts are suggesting it could suffer the same fate.

New on-trade sales boss at Enotria

Published: 23 July, 2008

Enotria Winecellars has appointed Simon Treanor as its new on-trade sales director.

Argento relaunches key varietals at higher price

Published: 23 July, 2008

The Argento Wine Company is relaunching its key Argento brand at a higher price point, starting with its two main varietal wines - Chardonnay and Malbec.

Santa Rita gets planting

Published: 23 July, 2008

Via Santa Rita is about to embark on one of the largest planting projects in the recent history of the Chilean wine history, with an estimated 1,700 hectares (ha) of premium vineyard to be planted by the end of the decade.

Rioja to allow new whites

Published: 23 July, 2008

By Christian Davis
The Rioja Regulatory Council (Consejo Regulador DOCa) is set to allow new white grape varieties such as Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Verdejo to be grown in Rioja and used in the region's DO white wines.

Montes invests in Napa

Published: 23 July, 2008

Chilean winery Via Montes is investing in a new venture in California's most famous wine region, the Napa Valley.

Waitrose backs New World

Published: 23 July, 2008

Waitrose is giving the New World a boost with a New World Wine Showcase to be held in all branches from 4 to 24 September.

The Interview - Kevin Howell, Thresher franchisee, Thresher shop, Hythe, Kent

Published: 23 July, 2008

Kevin Howell has been in the licensed trade just about all his 44 years. His parents ran the White Hart, one of major pubs in Hythe High Street in Kent. After studying at Portsmouth College, he went to work in a Peter Dominic off-licence in nearby Bearsted in Kent. He then moved to the Thresher shop in Hythe, 17 years ago. Kevin is the second person to switch from manager to fracnhisee under the new Thresher franchisee scheme. He is also vice-chairman of the local chamber of commerce.

Bolla to be bought by GIV?

Published: 23 July, 2008

by Nicolas Belfrage MW and Franco Ziliani
One of the biggest names in traditional Italian viniculture, Bolla, may be on its way into the portfolio of the giant Gruppo Italiano Vini (GIV).

Constellation: the story of a wine scandal'

Published: 23 July, 2008

Constellation Europe made it into the national newspapers for all the wrong reasons late last month after news leaked out that employees of Matthew Clark - Constellation's on-trade distribution arm - were being urged to buy the company's wines while they were being trialled at JD Wetherspoon pubs and claim the cost back on expenses.

Santa Rita buys 1,600 ha

Published: 23 July, 2008

Chilean winery Via Santa Rita has acquired 1,600 hectares (ha) of vineyard land - both virgin and planted - in the areas of Pumanque and Limar.
This purchase has almost doubled the land ownership of Santa Rita, from 2,000 to 3,600ha, making it the second-largest land-owning winery in Chile after Concha y Toro.
Pumanque, around 30km west of Apalta, has no other vineyard plantings at present, and Santa Rita has already installed irrigation, including a reservoir and 10km of pipes. A wide spectrum of grapes will be planted shortly.
Limar, situated 400km north of Santiago, is also a relatively new area, with Via Tabali the most high-profile producer in the area at present. Santa Rita has acquired 470ha in this region, 65 of which are already planted with Chardonnay, Shiraz, Carmnre and Cabernet Sauvignon. The remaining land will be planted over the next five years primarily with Chardonnay and Shiraz.

Football boss to open restaurant

Published: 23 July, 2008

Outspoken Crystal Palace chairman Simon Jordan is to open a restaurant on the site of the former Sugar Club in Warwick Street.

New from Boschendal

Published: 23 July, 2008

South African wine producer Boschendal has introduced a new range of premium wines for the off-trade made up of three single varietals and two dual varietals.

John Power Head Sommelier, Prestonfield

Published: 23 July, 2008

Prestonfield
Priestfield Road
Edinburgh EH16 5UT
Tel: 0131 662 2305
www.prestonfield.com

John Power began his career at the five-star Gleneagles Hotel in Perthshire, where he trained as a sommelier before moving to the Witchery by the Castle in 1998. Earlier this year he took on the new role of central wine buyer for all of James Thompson's Edinburgh restaurants, including the Witchery by the Castle, Tower restaurant in the Museum of Scotland and Rhubarb at the five-star Prestonfield hotel, where he is now based.

Key suppliers: Raeburn Fine Wine, Cheviot Wine, Corney & Barrow, Justerini & Brooks, Fine & Rare Wines.

Ian Dunkerley, chef/proprietor, Dunkerleys

Published: 23 July, 2008

How did you get started?
I was born in Ashford (Kent) but then
we moved to Cyprus, because my father worked with the army. He became ill and died, so we returned initially to Deal but then moved to Ashford. It was full of London overspill so it was a tough environment. To keep out of trouble, I did two paper rounds, worked in a sweet shop and in a fish and chip shop - I used to have a barrow at Ashford station and served Bill Deedes (the Conservative MP and former editor of the Daily Telegraph).