Bordeaux breaks away from 'traditional wine advertising'

Rather than a series of regional arrangements, Bordeaux Wines has opted for a single global advertising account.

London's only winery switches to Italy after turning down rotten French grapes

London Cru, the first central London winery, has had to turn away seven tonnes of grapes due to arrive from Bordeaux and the Loire Valley as the quality was not deemed to be up to scratch.

UK representative chosen for Champagne Ambassador's Awards 2013

The Champagne Bureau has announced the winner of the Champagne Ambassador's Awards 2013 UK final, which recognises excellence in wine education and will see the winning candidate represent the UK in the European final later this month.

UK trade's favourite French wines showcased at Absolutely Cracking tasting

Some of the wine trade's favourite French wines were on show this week at the Absolutely Cracking Wines from France tasting and Harpers is giving you the chance to win a case of specially selected wines from the event.

Sud de France crowns Sommelier of the Year 2013

Sud de France has announced the winner of its coveted Sommelier of the Year title - Adam Pawlowski of Michelin-starred restaurant Northcote.

Top speakers announced for France Summit 2013

A line-up of top speakers from all sectors of the trade is being pulled together for Harpers' inaugural France Summit, which will be held at London's St Ermin's hotel on October 22.

Abbotts & Delaunay appoints new oenologist

Languedoc-Roussillon specialists Abbotts & Delaunay have appointed a new agronomist and oenologist, Hilde Chevillot, to replace winemaker Vincent Charleux.

Last chance to enter Harpers' French Wine Awards

This week is the last chance for companies and indviduals to nominate themselves or other organisations to be considered in the inaugural Harpers French Wine Awards that look to recognise the best retailers, restaurants, suppliers, distributors  and ambassadors for the French wine category in the UK over the last 12 months.

Matthew Dickinson on rubbing shoulders with the French political elite

Last week, I had the potentially dubious pleasure of being invited to the French Embassy in London to participate in a round table discussion with a roll-call of French dignitaries - the French export minister Mme Bricq, a senator, a (rather attractive, and surprisingly young) 'député' - as French MPs are known -  the Ambassador, a raft of bureaucrats, the chief executive of Danone UK etc. As far as egos, remuneration and importance in the general pecking order went, I was way down the far end of the table.

Wines announced for the 2011 Crus Bourgeois du Médoc

Sotheby's to auction rare Moët & Chandon's vintages going back to 1914

Sotheby's London is to hold an exclusive auction featuring never-before-seen vintages of Moët & Chandon with lots that go back to 1914.

Q&A: Graham Shore, Domaine Vintur, Provence

Bought in 2010 by former investment banker and Oxford graduate Graham Shore, Domaine Vintur is situated on the lower slopes on Mount Ventoux and is run by Shore who has just completed his diploma in wine production from Plumpton College.

Dany and Michel Rolland on the look out for investments in Napa Valley

Investing in California's Napa Valley is next on the list for Bordeaux oenologists and consultants Dany and Michel Rolland, owners of the Rolland Collection.

UK wine educators look to bring story of Bordeaux back to the UK

Fifteen UK-based tutors have attended a specialised accredited course at L'École du Vin in Bordeaux in a bid to help spread the word in the UK about the region's wines.

Laura Clay on how Bordeaux is taking on the New World - at last!

As an accredited Bordeaux tutor, Médoc ambassador, claret drinker, Bordeaux Blanc lover, sweetie fanatic and occasional primeur buyer, I'd really quite like the Bordeaux bashing bandwagon to come to an end.

Provence harvest begins after most vineyards escape weather damage

Vineyards in Provence have escaped wide-scale weather damage and the harvest looks set to begin this month. 

The 2013 harvest begins in France and Spain

This week marks the start of the 2013 harvest in Europe, with the vineyards in Tenerife, Spain in the Canary Islands and Roussillon region in France, reports wine-searcher.com.

Q&A: Charles Sichel, export director, Maison Sichel

With customers tiring of high prices on the Bordeaux marketplace, Katherine Canfield talks to Charles Sichel at Maison Sichel about
how the company remains competitive in the global wine trade

Affluent parts of UK put fizz back into Champagne sales

Champagne corks are beginning to pop again in more affluent pockets of the UK, while sparkling wine continues to be "a runaway success" across the board, according to recent trade figures.

France Summit to reveal thoughts of most important French influencers in the UK

What the 100 most influential figures involved in French wine in the UK think of the category will be a central focus of the Harpers France Summit in October.