Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Analysing Spain

Published: 09 October, 2024

Andrew Catchpole reports back from the insightful Spain Food Nation Summit session on Spanish wines.

Artisanal Galician wine producer joins Bibendum portfolio

Published: 09 October, 2024

Artisanal Bierzo wine producer Estevez Bodegas y Vinedos has joined premium wine specialist Bibendum’s portfolio.

Lea & Sandeman expands English wine range with Black Chalk addition

Published: 08 October, 2024

Lea & Sandeman has expanded its 30-producer sparkling wine portfolio with the addition of Hampshire-based Black Chalk. The Test Valley winery becomes the independent wine merchant and wholesaler’s main on-trade partner for English wines.

Top 50 Drinks Wholesalers 2024 ranking: 10-1 revealed

Published: 04 October, 2024

Welcome to the final reveal of our Top 50 Drinks Wholesalers 2024, featuring the Top 10 businesses in the UK.

New Zealand’s wine industry: Strong global presence amid challenges

Published: 30 September, 2024

The past year has been a “rollercoaster ride” for exports, as noted in The New Zealand Winegrowers Annual Report 2024.

AXA's Seely takes Napa Outpost on tour

Published: 28 June, 2024

AXA Millésime MD Christian Seely is targeting the UK as the first in a series of “key countries” to position the company’s Outpost Wines from Napa.

Hallgarten acquired by Coterie Holdings

Published: 19 December, 2023

Hallgarten & Novum Wines has been purchased by Coterie Holdings, joining Lay & Wheeler, bonded warehousing Coterie Vaults and wine lender Jera in a growing fine wine portfolio.

Friday read: The other Caucasus contender

Published: 15 December, 2023

Armenia has a thriving wine industry, as Jacopo Mazzeo discovers, but faces an uphill battle to establish itself on the world stage.

From ‘smashable’ to age-worthy, Soave plots its renaissance

Published: 09 October, 2023

Much has been made of the potential of Italian whites beyond the near ubiquitous Pinot Grigio. But few conversations have centred on an arguably more important question – namely, is there a contender to take a place with the top white wines in the world?

Wines of Greece tastings mark record exports

Published: 22 August, 2023

Following the success of the June tastings in London and Edinburgh, Wines of Greece is back with a series of ‘Highlight Tastings’ in Manchester (11 September) and London (25 & 26 September).

Thracians target UK market

Published: 15 August, 2023

The Ancient Thracian Lowlands PGI has launched a three-year campaign aimed at raising the profile of its wines in the UK.

Record Champagne shipments buoyed by quality-focused younger consumers

Published: 26 May, 2023

Champagne exports hit a record-high value-wise in 2022, with €6bn worth of fizz sales being driven by shifts in consumption from “exceptional occasions to more normal occasions”, the Comité Champagne said at its UK press briefing on 25 May.

LWF exclusive: Ukrainian producers to set up import and distribution operation in UK

Published: 18 May, 2023

Wines of Ukraine is planning to launch its own import and distribution company in the UK, to help facilitate and grow exports to what its members see as a crucial market for boosting the profile of the country internationally.

Washington sets out credentials at London tasting

Published: 21 March, 2023

Washington State Wines put in one of its strongest showings yet at its March UK tasting, with ‘vivacity’ and ‘diversity’ being two of the clear stylistic takeaways from this London outing.

Penfolds unveils UK summer pop-up

Published: 29 June, 2022

Aussie wine brand Penfolds is undertaking a whistle-stop tour of the UK's leading festivals this summer, which began with the Isle of Wight Festival earlier this month.

Powering up Pinot Grigio

Published: 19 May, 2022

With a new export drive underway to key markets including the UK, the DOC delle Venezie Consorzio is looking to put a premium bounce in the step of its Pinot Grigio, setting itself above the run-of-the-mill.

The Rum Renaissance: Is Rum the new Gin?

Published: 28 April, 2022

A report by Campari Group UK explains why rum is a key growth area in the on and off-trade, as the category plays into central consumer and shopper trends influencing the market.

Vida launches Central and Eastern-European trade list in UK

Published: 14 April, 2022

Central and Eastern European wine specialist Vida Wines & Spirits has officially launched its Vida+ Trade offer to the quality on- and off-trades.

Raising the flag for Argentina

Published: 01 April, 2022

Looking back on Malbec’s ascent, it has followed quite a remarkable trajectory, delivering for Argentina the kind of hero grape recognition that perhaps only New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc can rival. In most of its markets, though, Malbec has firmly embedded itself a couple of notches above entry-level, typically with only a handful of rarefied listings on a more premium perch. In some ways, it’s a story reminiscent of Rioja’s, with the wines providing ample pleasure, accessibility and quality for just a small number of pounds above the entry-level.