Les Grands Chais looks to UK growth through focus on quality

Considering Les Grands Chais de France is responsible for 20% of French wine exports to the UK it remains largely under the radar in the UK wine trade. Harpers.co.uk caught up with Tim North, head of its UK division, to find out about its export strategy and plans to grow distribution across all channels.

The week that was: top news, Q&As and opinion on Harpers.co.uk

In case you missed some of the headlines this week (and a bit of last week due to the long weekend) on harpers.co.uk, we have done a review of the top online news, Q&As, and opinion stories.

Own-label Champagne sales lose their fizz says Lanson research

Retailer and own-label Champagne brands have plummeted 16% by value according to the latest category report from Champagne house Lanson.

Buckingham Schenk adds Saint Emilion's Malet Roquefort to portfolio

Bulk wine prices rocked by Chilean frosts, Californian droughts and a taste for French fruity wines

Frosts in Chile, droughts in California and the Languedoc and the boom in fruit-flavoured wines in France is having a knock-on effect on bulk wine prices, according to the latest data from Murphy Wine Company.

Bulk wine prices tighten for key Chilean varieties, says Murphy Wine Company

Keep on top of the latest bulk wine prices with the latest spreadsheet to the end of May 2014, from bulk wine brokers, Murphy Wine Company.

Mouton Cadet hopes to build brand awareness through international sponsorships

Mouton Cadet is building brand awareness through several high profile sponsorships this summer, including the Cannes Film Festival, BMW PGA Championship Tour and the Ryder Cup in order to gain market share in the UK on and off trade.

Cloudy Bay's David Hohnen links up with Off Piste Wines to produce Bordeaux wine

Formula One drivers can now celebrate with limited edition Champagne GH Mumm

As Formula One drivers spend so much time throwing around quality Champagne, official sponsors, Champagne GH Mumm, has produced a special limited edition bottle unique for Formula One.

Ubifrance looks to find UK distribution for nearly 30 wineries at London tasting

Nearly 30 independent French wineries looking for distribution in the UK will be showing their wines to the trade on May 22 as part of the latest tasting organised by Ubifrance and the French Trade Commission.

Tech-focused wine entrepreneurs could win start-up help

Tech-focused entrepreneurs with a foot in the wine world could win start-up funds, a trip to Bordeaux, and expert advice after pitching ideas to new club 33Entrepreneurs next month.

OIV reports USA is biggest wine market by volume in the world

The International Wine and Vine Organisation (OIV) says that despite overall wine consumption dropping slightly in 2013 to 238.7 millions of hectolitres, the US overtook France last year and became the biggest wine consuming country by volume in the world.

Burgundy way out in front as France picks up 28 IWC 2014 trophies

Wine producers across Burgundy have been awarded 17 out of the 28 trophies awarded across France in the International Wine Challenge 2014.

France still best performing wine in on-trade

On-trade wine sales fell by 2% during 2013, and stayed flat in the first quarter, according to figures compiled by CGA for the WSTA market report. In the long-term, France still remains best-performing country for wine in the on-trade. It has grown 10% in the 12 months to January 25, 2014 and now holds a 27% share of total wine sales.

Next Bordeaux Vinexpo set for June 14-18 2015

The next French Vinexpo exhibition will be held in Bordeaux, from June 14 to 18, 2015.

France tops medal chart at the International Wine Challenge 2014

France has topped the medal chart at the International Wine Challenge for the 31^st year running, taking 1987 medals, including 113 golds.

Spring 2014: bulk wine prices

Top 10 En Primeur wines by Bordeaux winemaker Gavin Quinney

The Influential Bordeaux winemaker, Gavin Quinney, owner of Château Bauduc in Bordeaux, has picked out his Top 10 picks from this year's en primeur campaign that he thinks show the best value and quality for the trade to invest in. It is part of his wider analysis of the overall en primeur campaign for Harpers.co.uk which includes his comprehensive scores of all the main wines from the leading chateaux. 

En Primeur 2013 final verdict is "better than expected"

Gavin Quinney, owner and winemaker of Château Bauduc in Bordeaux, gives his definitive verdict on the 2013 en primeur campaign with his own detailed analysis of all the main Bordeaux chateaux wines, including his recommendations of what to buy now, what to age and what to avoid.

The week that was: top news, Q&As and opinion on Harpers.co.uk

In case you missed some of the headlines this week (and a bit of last week due to the long weekend) on harpers.co.uk, we have done a review of the top online news, Q&As, and opinion stories.