Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Former I Heart bods launch own wine business

Published: 15 June, 2021

Two former senior members of Freixenet Copestick’s I Heart team have joined forces to launch their own mainstream wine brand.

Franciacorta webinar: Adding a Splash of Italian Style

Published: 10 June, 2021

With sparkling wine in growth in the UK and consumers becoming ever more adventurous in their drinking habits, Harpers is teaming up with Consorzio Franciacorta for a webinar exploring the possibilities offered both by Italy’s foremost sparkling wine and the broader sparkling category.

James Davis MW joins Henkell Freixenet

Published: 18 May, 2021

James Davis MW will be joining the Henkell Freixenet team in a newly created role from the first week of July.

Long Read: English Pinot Noir comes of age

Published: 18 February, 2021

Pinot Noir has long had a place in UK winemaking, as part of the classic Champagne varieties and, to a lesser extent, still variants often from select vineyards or small parcels. Now, with an increasingly changing climate helping to ripen and tease out those darker fruits, it could be poised to strike out on its own, as Jacopo Mazzeo surmises.

Soaring demand for rosé and exports at Nyetimber

Published: 15 February, 2021

Nyetimber has reported a major spike in demand for rosé in 2020 from their south east England vineyards, despite the loss of social drinking occasions often associated with pink wines.

Dom Perignon winemaker moves to Kent

Published: 08 December, 2020

Nick Lane, who was part of the winemaking team at Dom Perignon, has moved to the UK to join contract-only winery, Defined Wine.

House of Commons in retail partnership with Digby Fine English

Published: 02 December, 2020

Sussex-based sparkling wine producer Digby Fine English has been appointed as the official supplier of English sparkling wine to the House of Commons gift shops.

Cheer from Chapel Down as sales hit one million bottles

Published: 25 November, 2020

Kent-based Chapel Down has hit a new high, with 2020 sales passing the one million bottle mark in October this year.

Freixenet returns to TV screens

Published: 12 November, 2020

Freixenet has unveiled a new commercial aimed at showcasing its sparkling range as well as its Italian still wine collection launched earlier this year.

Q&A: Mark Driver, Rathfinny Wine Estate

Published: 10 November, 2020

As the 2020 vintage came in, Rathfinny owner Mark Driver spoke with Andrew Catchpole about the challenges of flexing the business in a remarkable year

Simon Thorpe MW joins Wine GB team

Published: 21 October, 2020

Wine GB has strengthened its team with the appointment of Simon Thorpe MW as new CEO.

Wine GB launches industry hallmark for classic method wines

Published: 15 October, 2020

Wine GB has announced its first ever collective campaign for producers in England and Wales, including a hallmark to help to differentiate English and Welsh PDO sparkling wines made using the “time and craft-intensive classic method”.

Simpsons looks to launch “super-premium” English Chardonnay

Published: 13 October, 2020

Simpsons English Wine Estate is looking to raise the stakes for still English wines with a limited edition Chardonnay called Q Class.

Ridgeview marks quarter century with limited edition

Published: 06 October, 2020

Sussex winery Ridgeview has launched its first new wine in a decade to mark its 25th anniversary.

Prosecco in the pink

Published: 17 August, 2020

Following a decade of consistent growth, Pink Prosecco is set to give a shot in the arm to a finally flatlining category, as Jo Gilbert reports.

Covid-19 takes the fizz out of the UK sparkling market

Published: 12 August, 2020

The loss of celebratory drinking occasions has put the breaks on an already slowing thirst for sparkling wine in the UK, new research has revealed.

Loire Valley sparklers herald UK uplift

Published: 02 July, 2020

Loire Valley fizz has enjoyed a surge in exports to the UK, with Crémant de Loire having jumped just shy of 50%.

Hattingley marks anniversary with TV wine first

Published: 18 June, 2020

Hattingley Valley has become the first English wine producer to launch a TV advertising campaign, to kick off just head of English Wine Week (20-28 June).

Pandemic is officially “Bad for beer, better for spirits and wine”

Published: 15 May, 2020

Beer and cider were hard-hit in the 2008/9 economic crisis, suffering from a combination of duty rises, an on-trade slump and increased at-home consumption, all of which tend to favour spirits and wine.

Rathfinny’s 10th anniversary delivers Classic Cuvée launch and new ecommerce site

Published: 12 May, 2020

English wine estate Rathfinny marked its 10th anniversary with the launch of its inaugural 2016 Classic Cuvée on Monday, “completing” its line up of Sussex sparkling wines.