Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Ross Sleet takes up marketing role at DGB in South Africa

Published: 01 August, 2012

Ross Sleet, formerly of Kleine Zalze, is the new marketing manager of DGB wineries Boschendal and Brampton Wines in South Africa.

Mike Matthews: behind the scenes at "Braaiday" at High Timber

Published: 26 July, 2012

High Timber in London, a South African based restaurant with a wine cellar containing 40,000 bottles for your pleasure, played host to a motley crew of wine writers and bloggers recently as Wines of South Africa fired up the barbie for a good old South African Braai.

South African wine needs to rejuvenate image, says top winemaker

Published: 14 June, 2012

We need to "jack up brand South Africa" in the UK, says Vergelegen's winemaker, who believes Cabernet Sauvignon should be the country's flagship grape.

Pieter Walser: BLANKBottle winery, South Africa on worldwide impact of competing in Wine-Stars at LIWF

Published: 29 May, 2012

I heard about Wine-Stars through the www.wine.co.za newsletter, entered online and started following Wine-Stars on Twitter.

Peter Lehmann Wines switches distribution to Hallgarten

Published: 01 May, 2012

Australia's Peter Lehmann Wines have switched distribution from Enotria to Hallgarten Druitt.

Justin Keay: a tour of South African wineries

Published: 25 March, 2012

Justin Keay reports back on a recent visit to 12 South African wineries.

Claire Hu: South African Classic Wine awards with a French twist

Published: 20 March, 2012

What do you get when you fly a group of French bigwigs to South Africa to judge wines made by their antipodean colleagues? An entente cordiale or a guerre froide (cold war)?

Blog: Bespoke Wine Company on South Africa

Published: 17 February, 2012

Six months on from the Human Rights Watch report which criticised alleged abuses on vineyards in South Africa, Gavin Smith of the Bespoke Wine Company talks about the effects still being felt.

Strong first half results from South Africa's Distell

Published: 16 February, 2012

South African drinks firm Distell delivered strong first-half results, with revenue up 16% and operating profit up 22%.

PLB launches wholesale roadshow

Published: 20 January, 2012

UK importer, PLB is to launch its first regional roadshow in February, in order to unveil its new and improved wholesale portfolio.

Oxford Wine Company appoints MW as buyer

Published: 06 January, 2012

The Oxford Wine Company has appointed Marcia Waters MW as its new wine buyer.

The Grape Debate continues

Published: 06 December, 2011

Biodynamic winemaker Monty Waldin has responded to criticism that last week's biodynamics debate with viticulturist, Dr Richard Smart failed to live up to expectations. Anne Krebiehl also responds below.

Sterling falls against US dollar, but surges against South African rand

Published: 23 November, 2011

Sterling fell to a six week low against the US dollar yesterday, but surged against the South African rand to highest level since August 2009.

Blog: Behind the scenes at Jancis Robinson MW Wine Future tasting

Published: 09 November, 2011

Wine styles and varieties that "deserve more attention" were the focus of the 15 wines chosen by Jancis Robinson MW for her major tasting at Wine Future in Hong Kong

South Africa's Cape Wine Europe attracts 800 visitors

Published: 13 October, 2011

Turning South Africa's Cape Wine Europe tasting into a pan-European event has "really started to pay off", with around 800 visitors attending, said WOSA's chief executive.

Kleine Zalze appoints new marketing chief

Published: 06 October, 2011

Family-owned South African wine estate Kleine Zalze has appointed Wynand Van Schalkwyk as its marketing and sales manager.

Cape Wine Exporters buys Mount Rozier land and brand

Published: 21 September, 2011

Cape Wine Exporters, has bought Mount Rozier land and brand which it will launch in the UK in 2012, through Bibendum.

Q&A with Distell in wake of human rights report on South African wine trade

Published: 25 August, 2011

Following the Human Rights Watch report earlier this week, which alleged abuses of workers on wine farms in South Africa, Harpers Wine & Spirit asked the country's biggest drinks firm Distell what it does to make sure such practices don't happen on its farms.

South African vineyards accused of human rights abuses

Published: 23 August, 2011

An investigation into human rights abuses in South African vineyards has revealed some workers are forced to live in pig sties and don't have access to safety equipment or basic labour rights.

South African wine in upmarket push

Published: 18 July, 2011

South African wine is going upmarket in a new initiative with independent retailers and restaurants, which aims to show the country's quality and diversity in the more premium sector.