Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Xmas high-street sales falter but Majestic and Aldi thrive

Published: 07 January, 2020

Despite mixed results from the BWS sector over the Christmas trading period, some retailers were able to buck the trend.

Jerry Lockspeiser: The essential Christmas gift for every wine entrepreneur

Published: 20 December, 2019

About twenty years ago I tried to sell a sparkling wine from Italy that was almost unknown in the UK market. We were a significant supplier to the major retailers and worked closely with them on new product development ideas, from lesser known grape varieties, regions and countries, to new styles and packaging for better-known wines. My Italian sparkling wine was from a medium sized organic producer whose wines we had won listings for, but the buyers felt that it was not well known enough in our market and wouldn’t sell. It was, of course, Prosecco.

Aldi picks Lyme Bay for first own-brand English fizz

Published: 09 December, 2019

Aldi has chosen the Dorset-based Lyme Bay Winery to produce an English sparkling wine for its premium ‘Exquisite Collection’.

Cava Discovery Week aims to get consumers drinking “better cava”

Published: 14 November, 2019

"The future’s about quality” is the tag line for a new campaign which is looking to reinstate Cava’s premium position in the UK market.

Harpers to host sparkling wine discussion at Bellavita

Published: 17 October, 2019

Harpers editor Andrew Catchpole will host a roundtable on sparkling wines at Mediterranean food and wine fair Bellavita next week.

Nyetimber Releases second vintage of its 1086 prestige cuvée

Published: 23 September, 2019

Nyetimber has today released the 2010 vintage of its prestige cuvée, 1086, marking the second release of 1086 following the 2009 vintage launched last year.

Prestige Champagne fizzes as sub-£20 falls

Published: 29 August, 2019

Research has shown that Champagne is experiencing continued uplift at the premium end of the spectrum, with brands leading the category to a higher average price per bottle.

English sparkling encouraged to tap into “moderation, local, and craft” as sales dip

Published: 28 August, 2019

A new report has suggested that English sparkling wine ticks all the right boxes to help reverse something of a slump in sales of sparkling wine over the past year – the first time this has happened in a decade.

Looking ahead: Robin Copestick, MD, Freixenet Copestick Limited

Published: 07 August, 2019

As the first half of 2019 draws to a close, Harpers asked key trade figures to highlight the current challenges, ongoing trends and opportunities

Lizelle Gerber joins Nederburg as cellar-master

Published: 15 July, 2019

Winemaker Lizelle Gerber is joining Nederburg Wines as its new cellar-master.

Winetraders signs up Hampshire’s Exton Park

Published: 28 June, 2019

Winetraders has expanded its listings with the addition of English sparkling wine producer Exton Park.

British Ambassadors call for more British wine and spirits at international events

Published: 20 June, 2019

The UK’s Ambassadors and senior diplomats have said they want to serve more English wine and British gin.

Plumpton: A new wine epicentre

Published: 16 May, 2019

As the founder of Plumpton College’s wine division prepares to depart for pastures new, Jo Gilbert finds out what the future holds for this rapidly evolving institution.

Skinny Prosecco founders launch vegan, no-alcohol fizz

Published: 14 May, 2019

This month will see the launch of the UK’s first organic, vegan, alcohol-free sparkling wine, its producers claim.

Gramona president says Spanish fizz is in danger of becoming too splintered

Published: 16 April, 2019

The co-owner of family-owned Cava producer, Gramona, has voiced concerns over the fragmenting state of his country’s sparkling industry after too many designations have sprung up delineating Spanish fizz.

Gusbourne to grow its West Sussex vines in 2020

Published: 10 April, 2019

Gusbourne Estate is planning on increasing its acreage in West Sussex with vines to be planted across 57 acres.

China and the US drive boom in global premium wine consumption

Published: 13 March, 2019

Wine priced between $10 and $20 will be the biggest driver of value growth for still and sparkling wine over the next couple of years.

Q&A: Robin Copestick, co-managing director, Freixenet Copestick

Published: 07 February, 2019

It’s hard to overstate the impact that I Heart has had on the trajectory of Robin Copetsick’s business – formerly Copestick Murray and, as of January 1, Freixenet Copestick – and where it is today.

WineGB celebrates ‘turning point’ on back of record 2018 vintage

Published: 01 February, 2019

The gathering momentum of the English and Welsh wine industry was much in evidence on Thursday night at a packed gala dinner at London’s Vintners’ Hall.