Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Château Castera expands distribution via Exel partnership

Published: 04 January, 2019

Château Castera has expanded its UK distribution via a new partnership with independent Scottish online retailer Exel Wines.

Looking ahead: Talya Roberson, director, Roberson Wine

Published: 19 December, 2018

Once again we are catching up with the trade over the next few weeks to find out how businesses are making the most of the all-important Christmas trading period, while also looking ahead to the challenges and opportunities 2019 will bring.

Fine wine more stable than gold as Burgundy drives record high for investment market

Published: 13 December, 2018

Burgundy thrived, Bordeaux consolidated and wine investment proved more stable than gold, according to the Liv-ex annual summary of the 2018 market, described as “a record breaking year”.

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.

Maison Sichel teams up with Davy’s for latest promotion in “bedrock” indie trade

Published: 19 October, 2018

Bordeaux stalwarts Maison Sichel has revealed its annual promotion will be heading to Davy’s Wine Merchants this year for the 2018 Sichel Independents Initiative.

Vignerons de Tutiac and the Vignerons d’Uni-Médoc join forces in strategic alliance

Published: 12 September, 2018

Vignerons de Tutiac and the Vignerons d’Uni-Médoc have joined forces to form a ‘strategic Bordeaux union’.

Seely adds Napa winery to AXA Millésimes portfolio

Published: 24 July, 2018

AXA Millésimes, which owns leading wineries in Bordeaux, Burgundy, The Douro and Tokaj, has announced the acquisition of Outpost Wines on Howell Mountain in Napa Valley.

Redevined Wines to host LGBT wine event in Bordeaux

Published: 24 July, 2018

In a first for the region, the town of Blaye in Bordeaux is to host a European Gay Wine Weekend from 18 to 21 October.

Bordeaux hailstorms disastrous for some but minor impact compared to recent frost

Published: 29 May, 2018

The widely reported hailstorms in Bordeaux during the weekend have been estimated to have hit 3% badly in terms of surface, with a further 3% likely to have been affected on a lesser scale, according to the Bordeaux governing body CIVB.

Vins de Bordeaux gears up for spring with trade tasting series

Published: 30 April, 2018

Vins de Bordeaux has revealed it is launching a series of educational tastings especially created for wine trade professionals.

Bordeaux pulls away from entry level as exports rise

Published: 16 March, 2018

2017 saw an increase in exports for Bordeaux to key markets such as UK, Germany and Belgium, with the US and China also on an upward trajectory, delivering significant growth in higher priced wines.

Gallic Groove

Published: 02 March, 2018

French wines rank third in the UK off-trade in terms of value sales by country of origin (Nielsen, off-trade MAT to December 12, 2017), and fourth in terms of volume, with only New Zealand commanding a higher average price per bottle sold, at £8.80 versus £9.50 respectively.

CIVB launches first Bordeaux Wine Month alongside PR shake-up

Published: 09 February, 2018

The official Bordeaux wine body has announced a number of initiatives lined up for the UK for 2018, including an official Bordeaux Wine Month to run in UK independents throughout the month of June.

CA Grand Crus appoints commercial director for Santenay

Published: 07 February, 2018

CA Grand Crus has appointed Stéphane Charreyron as commercial director of Château de Santenay.

Chinese investor Peter Kwok buys seventh Bordeaux vineyard

Published: 08 January, 2018

Chinese investor Peter Kwok has acquired his seventh vineyard in Bordeaux with the purchase of Château Bellefont-Belcier - a Grand Cru Classé estate in Saint-Emilion.

Looking ahead: Gavin Quinney, owner and winemaker, Chateau Bauduc

Published: 29 December, 2017

With the all-important Christmas trading period underway - and hopefully turning passion into profit for the trade - we at Harpers are looking ahead past New Year to see what’s in store for the trade in 2018.

Burgundy trading hits new heights and Barolo on roll as Bordeaux and Rhone fall

Published: 15 December, 2017

Burgundy has had its best trading year in a decade and is at an all-time high for 2017, according to Liv-ex, the global fine wine trading marketplace.

Major alleged fake Bordeaux investigation causes stir in Bordeaux

Published: 13 December, 2017

French customs authorities have opened a major investigation into the alleged sale of more than half a million bottles of fake Bordeaux to key international wine distributors.

CA Grand Crus hails 2017 Bordeaux vintage one of the most challenging to date

Published: 07 December, 2017

The 2017 vintage in Bordeaux has been hailed as one of the most challenging in the region's history as extensive frost damage in April dramatically reduced yields in key appellations.