Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Price rises ‘essential’ if South Africa industry to survive, warns leading producer

Published: 17 May, 2019

A leading figure in South African wine has issued a stark warning about the industry's future.

Tesco adds taste of summer to Finest wine range

Published: 13 May, 2019

UK multiple retailer Tesco has added a five new wines to its Finest range to target the summer-drinking market. The wines, four white and one red, are on shelf from today.

South African harvest slumps to record low

Published: 07 May, 2019

The South African wine grape harvest in 2019 hit a record low thanks to a drought and fluctuating weather conditions. However, winemakers are positive about the quality of the resulting vintage.

South Africa records export value growth but sliding volumes

Published: 22 January, 2019

The South African wine industry has recorded 4% growth in value exports to R9.06 billion in 2018, but volumes fell 6% due to the small size of recent vintages.

Amathus takes on Org de Rac

Published: 18 January, 2019

Amathus Drinks has signed a deal as the UK distributor of organically certified South African wine producer Org de Rac.

Prosecco on the way out says Naked Wines

Published: 11 December, 2018

Sauvignon Blanc still reigns supreme as Britain’s favourite grape, while Prosecco is on the wane according to the latest from Naked Wines.

Bruce Jack UK launch

Published: 22 November, 2018

Prominent South African winemaker Bruce Jack officially launched his new eponymous wine range yesterday at High Timber restaurant in London.

Distell to launch fine wine division

Published: 14 November, 2018

African wine, spirits and cider giant Distell is set to launch a new premium wine division with Nederburg as its flagship, Harpers can reveal.

Cape Wine 2018 pulls in record visitor numbers

Published: 28 September, 2018

Wines of South Africa’s Cape Wine has seen an increase in visitor numbers of 27% on the previous event held in 2015.

Hard Brexit could be “disastrous” for overseas producers

Published: 19 September, 2018

The Fairtrade Foundation has warned that a ‘no-deal’ Brexit could be disastrous for producers.

Stellenbosch Cabernet Collective launch lays down gauntlet to UK and US buyers

Published: 13 September, 2018

Be prepared to pay more or risk losing top Stellenbosch Cabernets to the Asian market was one of the messages to UK and US buyers at the launch of the Stellenbosch Cabernet Collective at Cape Wine 2018.

Cape Wine 2018 calls to address challenge of profitability with investment in training and people

Published: 12 September, 2018

Sustainability in both economic and human terms was outlined as the key challenge facing Cape winemakers at the opening conference of Cape Wine 2018.

Repositioning South Africa

Published: 28 August, 2018

Celebrated by critics but crippled by drought and low returns, South Africa rarely has an easy ride.

Few in the trade could have missed the ongoing challenges facing South Africa’s wine producers as the worst drought in 100 years continues to afflict the Cape. With the 2018 crop predicted to be down by 15% after two years of water shortage that almost saw Cape Town meet “day zero” and turn off its domestic supply, the harvest has been described by Bibendum’s South Africa buyer, Paul Meihuizen, as “the most challenging I have ever known”.

Andrew Higgs returns to Dreyfus Ashby

Published: 01 August, 2018

Dreyfus Ashby has announced Andrew Higgs is returning to the fold after a 12 year hiatus.

South Africa 2018 harvest “most challenging” in living memory

Published: 31 July, 2018

Serious drought in the Western Cape affected both natural supplies of water and government allocations ahead of this year’s harvest.

Laarman grows portfolio with new premium collection

Published: 22 May, 2018

Laarman Wines has unveiled the maiden vintage of its premium Focal Point collection.

Harpers Wine Stars Awards 2018: South Africa and New Zealand

Published: 11 May, 2018

Two quite different countries, with quite different strengths and selling points featured in our latest Wine Stars judging session at The Worx in London’s leafy Parsons Green.

VinPro reports 15% smaller harvest

Published: 09 May, 2018

VinPro has reported a 15% smaller harvest (1 220 920 tonnes) across South Africa compared to 2017 – one of the smallest crops in more than a decade.

Fairtrade on the rise

Published: 08 May, 2018

The Co-op’s new conversion of its major own-label range will boost the UK’s Fairtrade wine volumes by 20%. Jo Gilbert explores a category on the rise.

Harpers Wine Stars Awards: calling final entries for South Africa, New Zealand and England

Published: 01 March, 2018

Would you like your wines to feature among the Stars? Then don’t miss the 17 March entry submission deadline for our South Africa, New Zealand and England Wine Stars Awards (see below).