Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Profile: Fell’s stylish evolution

Published: 20 March, 2025

Following portfolio additions and a team restructure, there’s an upbeat mood at Fells, as Andrew Catchpole discovers.

Symington partners for first foray into Vinho Verde

Published: 12 March, 2025

Leading port house Symington Family Estates has partnered with winemaker Anselmo Mendes to produce Casa de Rodas Alvarinho 2023, its first ever Vinho Verde.

Leadership change at Symington Family Estates

Published: 12 February, 2025

Current chairman Johnny Symington MBE is retiring from the eponymous Port business after 40 years at the helm, passing the baton on to younger family members.

From Port wine to table wine

Published: 22 November, 2024

Jo Gilbert embarks on a deep dive into Douro producers’ dual strategies for both table and fortified wines as a way of adapting to market demands and preserving the region’s winemaking heritage.

Fells launches Vinothèque programme

Published: 24 July, 2024

Leading distributor Fells has launched its Vinothèque programme, an initiative releasing small parcels of wine onto the market after an average cellaring period of three to five years in the UK.

Hambledon secures £10m funding for growth expansion

Published: 15 May, 2024

Hampshire’s Hambledon Vineyard, a prominent producer of English sparkling wine, has secured a £10m facility from Secure Trust Bank Commercial Finance (STB CF), as it enters its next growth phase.

Portugal: Big moves

Published: 31 January, 2024

Portugal has moved from a niche proposition to a wine for everyday drinking as its diverse portfolio lines up with modern tastes, writes Jo Gilbert.

Hambledon announces new MD

Published: 24 January, 2024

Hambledon Vineyard has announced it has a new MD as it prepares to embark on a future under joint Symington Family Estates and Berry Bros. & Rudd ownership.

BBR achieves 11% sales growth in FY23 Results

Published: 13 December, 2023

Fine wine and spirits merchant Berry Bros. & Rudd (BBR) has announced its financial results for the financial year ending 31 March 2023, reporting a sales growth of 11.1% on the previous year to £254.3m.

Hambledon takeover bid confirmed

Published: 08 November, 2023

The proposed acquisition of English sparkling wine brand Hambledon has been accepted by the company's shareholders, it was announced today (08/11/2023).

Graham’s release on-trade exclusive 3-litre bottle

Published: 16 October, 2023

Released exclusively for the on-trade, iconic port house Graham’s has embarked on its latest marketing push, to incentivise more consumers to drink fortified.

Symington Family Estates and Berry Bros. & Rudd launch Hambledon takeover bid

Published: 25 September, 2023

A newly incorporated entity owned directly by Berry Bros. & Rudd and Atlantis Win Holdings, a member of the Symington Group, has initiated a takeover bid for Hambledon Vineyard.

Symington predicts ‘high quality vintage’ in Douro

Published: 11 September, 2023

With the red grapes still coming in across various estates, leading producer Symington Family Estates is predicting one of the best Douro vintages in recent years.

Graham’s launches first NFT with 1970 and 2020 Vintage Port

Published: 24 July, 2023

Symington Family Estates famed port brand Graham's, is the latest wine business to join the NFT (non-fungible tokens) trend.

The Symington family and Anselmo Mendes begin Alvarinho venture

Published: 26 May, 2023

The Symington family estate is to produce a range of Alvarinho wines with winemaker Anselmo Mendes, following the company’s recent acquisition of Casa de Rodas.

The Symington family launch first-ever rosé wine

Published: 11 April, 2023

Premium port producers Symington Family Estates has expanded its Altano wine range to include its first-ever rosé wine.

Symington launch pushes Douro’s white potential

Published: 27 February, 2023

Symington Family Estates has launched a new Douro white, Pequeno Dilema 2020, as part of what the company describes as its “mission” to demonstrate that Port’s vineyards can also produce “outstanding white wines”.

2022 Douro harvest: “We faced some of the greatest challenges that our family has seen”

Published: 12 October, 2022

Following the theme in many European wine-growing regions this year, the 2022 Douro harvest has now been confirmed as the earliest ever recorded in the region.

Paul Symington Awarded a CMG in the Queen’s Honours List

Published: 06 June, 2022

Paul Symington has been awarded a CMG (Companion of the Order of St. Michael and St. George) in The Queen’s Birthday Honours List, published 2 June, for services to UK/Portugal relations and social, environmental sustainability in the Douro.

Symington taps into rebellious side for Port-inspired speakeasy

Published: 13 December, 2021

With the mantra of “not your grandfather’s port club”, Symington Family Estates has teamed up with Rebel Port Club to launch a speakeasy style pop-up experience in London aimed at initiating a new generation of port drinkers.