Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Balfour outlines ambitious plans for growth

Published: 05 April, 2023

Balfour has revealed plans to double its annual production to one million bottles, made at the 400-acre Hush Heath Estate in Kent.

Friday read: Hampshire wines making their mark

Published: 24 March, 2023

Ahead of next week’s Vineyards of Hampshire trade tasting, Justin Keay dives into how the wider English wine industry has changed, with regions outside Kent and Sussex growing all the while.

Chapel Down to produce two million bottles from 2022

Published: 17 October, 2022

The UK's largest winery has published an update on vintage 2022 in southern England, celebrating “both the exceptional grape quality and yield”.

English wine news including new Hattingley Valley winemaker

Published: 07 July, 2022

Award-winning English winery, Hattingley Valley, has appointed a new head winemaker, Robert MacCulloch MW.

DTC sales give Gusbourne post-pandemic boost

Published: 08 June, 2022

The latest financial results from English wine producer Gusbourne have reinforced the strong position of the category within the UK market.

Five minutes with Alex Hurley, London Cru

Published: 05 April, 2022

Jo Gilbert talks to the English wine innovator about how the past two years have helped to super-charge the category via London Cru, the Roberson Wines-owned urban winery.

Balfour Winery to develop boutique wine hotel in Kent

Published: 28 March, 2022

Maidstone Borough Council has accepted Balfour Winery entrepreneur Richard Balfour-Lynn’s proposal to develop plans to create a boutique wine hotel in the Archbishop’s Palace, Maidstone, Kent.

Holly Ninnes to head up wine division at St Austell

Published: 07 March, 2022

St Austell Brewery, the South West family-owned brewery and pub company – and independent owner of over 180 pubs, inns, and hotels – has appointed Holly Ninnes as its new head of wine.

How climate change will impact England's vineyards

Published: 24 February, 2022

In the wine world, we can see the consequences of global warming very clearly – from overly ripe grapes to destroyed harvests – vineyards all over the world are experiencing disruption.

Alliance Wine expands portfolio with new sparkling wine agency

Published: 21 January, 2022

West Sussex-based Roebuck Estates has become the latest producer to join the Alliance Wine collection of premium brands.

Bancroft welcomes new English wine agency

Published: 18 January, 2022

UK distributor Bancroft has expanded its English wine portfolio with the addition of Lyme Bay Winery.

English fizz's bawdy move

Published: 17 November, 2021

A month or so ago, I attended two eye-catching, if very different, launches. Both were from Bibendum Wine: the UK debut of former Dom Pérignon chef de cave Richard Geoffroy’s sake; and an unorthodox new English sparkling wine, with the charming name Harlot.

Nyetimber unveiled as wine producer of the year

Published: 11 October, 2021

Nyetimber was unveiled as Wine Producer of the Year in the first-ever Tim Atkin MW England Special Wine Report.

Chapel Down launches limited edition collection with English Orange wine and Albariño

Published: 10 August, 2021

Chapel Down has launched a collection of limited edition wines, including the latest vintages of what the English winemaker claimed to be England’s first Orange wine and England’s first Albariño.

Frazer Thompson steps down from Chapel Down

Published: 02 August, 2021

Chapel Down has announced its succession plan after it was revealed that current CEO Frazer Thompson will be stepping down from the role after 20 years.

Annual Wine GB tasting to return this September

Published: 29 July, 2021

Wine GB has announced that its annual Trade & Press Tasting is to take place on 7 September at RHS Lindley Hall in central London.

Gusbourne signs deal as official Goodwood supplier

Published: 28 July, 2021

Gusbourne has signed a deal as an official partner of Goodwood Racecourse, as well being appointed the exclusive English sparkling wine supplier across the Goodwood Estate which includes Goodwood House, the Goodwood Hotel, The Kennels, Hound Lodge and the Goodwood Motor Circuit.

Football brings record English wine sales to Majestic

Published: 14 July, 2021

The last weekend of Euro 2020 saw record numbers of English wine bought at Majestic Wine, with the nation stocking up on homegrown bottles as the country geared up to the first major football final since 1966.

Along came Covid

Published: 30 June, 2021

Jo Gilbert examines whether the past year has helped or hindered the pre-Brexit narrative that leaving the EU would benefit sales of English and Welsh wine

TaxPayers’ Alliance backs tax cuts for wine producers

Published: 24 June, 2021

The TaxPayers’ Alliance (TPA) has added its voice of support for the English wine industry calling for an end to the “unfair tax system that is crippling the industry”.