Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Rioja declares 2019 ‘the’ vintage

Published: 25 October, 2019

Rioja has declared 2019 'the' vintage and, as reported across several European wine regions, one of lower yield but “maximum quality”.

Jascots adds Domaine Les Goubert

Published: 30 September, 2019

Jascots Wine Merchants has added the Gigondas and Côtes du Rhône wines of Domaine Les Goubert to its Rhône portfolio.

Marques de Riscal ponders breakaway Rioja Reserva move with XR launch

Published: 12 September, 2019

Marques de Riscal has released its XR Rioja Reserva 2015, a wine which the Spanish producer said heralded its push for a new category of Reserva wines.

Ellis Wines signs distribution deal with Marqués de Riscal

Published: 06 September, 2019

Ellis Wines has signed a distribution deal with Rioja and Rueda producer Marqués de Riscal.

La Rioja Alta SA acquires Rioja Santiago

Published: 01 July, 2019

La Rioja Alta SA has acquired the historic Rioja Santiago winery in Haro’s Station District for an undisclosed sum.

Indigo adds Bodega Lanzaga to its portfolio

Published: 29 May, 2019

Spanish specialist Indigo Wine has signed a deal as the UK distributor of Telmo Rodríguez and Pablo Eguzkiza’s Bodega Lanzaga – the duo’s visionary project to restore special historic vineyard sites in Rioja.

Q&A: Alvaro Palacios

Published: 23 April, 2019

Álvaro Palacios has done more than most to show the world what Spanish terroir has to offer. Andrew Catchpole speaks to the winemaker Alvaro Palacios, Descendientes De J Palacios and Bodegas Palacios Remondo about what drives his passion

Rioja 2018 given the thumbs up from the DOCa despite weather woes

Published: 17 April, 2019

The Rioja vintage for 2018 has been classified as ‘Good’ despite the uncertainty around the impact of unpredictable weather conditions on the region.

Risky business in Rioja

Published: 15 April, 2019

Rioja’s new single-vineyard classification signals the region’s desire to go after greater premium market share. The big question is, will it succeed?

Armit releases ‘crown jewel’ Rioja

Published: 03 April, 2019

Armit Wines has announced the release of the third Gran Reserva from La Rioja Alta SA - Viña Arana Gran Reserva 2012, making La Rioja Alta one of only a few wineries in the region to have three Gran Reserva wines on the market.

ARAEX brings ‘super-premium’ focus to Rioja Alavesa

Published: 19 March, 2019

Spanish wine group ARAEX Grands has unveiled a €300 Rioja from Alavesa in a move to create an iconic wine from the sub-region.

Ribera del Duero’s Cruz de Alba signs to Enotria & Coe

Published: 29 January, 2019

Cruz de Alba has joined sister wineries Ramón Bilbao from Rioja and Mar de Frades from Rías Baixas at Enotria & Coe to offer a trio of wines to UK independents and the on-trade.

Jerry Lockspeiser: 2019 - The year 'better' wine died

Published: 17 January, 2019

For the last few years one of my nieces has been developing her clothes retail business. She now has four outlets, three in London and one in Barcelona. She sells vintage clothes, along with a smattering of modern stuff and some accessories.

Unlocking Rioja’s potential

Published: 13 December, 2018

Rioja’s Viñedos Singulares classification is a major step towards elevating the region’s status, writes Tim Atkin MW.

Rioja’s Consejo Regulador is the oldest in Spain, a body that owes its existence to a Royal Decree, no less, of October 22, 1926. From the start, the Consejo’s mandate included the right to take legal measures against “usurpers and counterfeiters of the Rioja brand”, as well as to issue production seals, demarcate the region and decide on its future direction.

Exclusive: Rioja Alavesa revives breakaway move

Published: 11 December, 2018

Rioja Alavesa wine producers have officially agreed to revive the breakaway Viñedos de Álava DO (Denominación de Origen) which they say is aimed at providing a sustainable economic model for wine producers.

Rioja picks its leading lights for night of celebration

Published: 21 November, 2018

Raul Diaz, Bar 44 and Corks Out were some of the big winners at last night’s Rioja Recognises awards, which singles out the top ambassadors flying the flag for Spain’s flagship wine region.

Viña Pomal unveils classic Rioja with a modern twist

Published: 30 October, 2018

Viña Pomal has unveiled a new wine positioned as a classic Rioja with a modern style.

All the trimmings: alternatives to pair with Christmas

Published: 29 October, 2018

As summer slides inexorably into autumn, we Brits start ringing the seasonal changes. Light cotton shirts give way to warm sweaters, then the coats come out of seasonal hibernation. Afterwards there’s the annual dither about whether or not to switch the central heating on yet. Before you know it they’ll be playing Band Aid’s Do They Know It’s Christmas on a continuous loop in every shopping mall and supermarket between Land’s End and John O’Groats and offering deals on anything from Play Station consoles to family-sized boxes of Quality Street.