Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Goedhuis & Co Fine Wine Merchants launches Ox Hardy in the UK

Published: 26 October, 2021

Goedhuis & Co Fine Wine Merchants is to become the exclusive importer of the Ox Hardy range, launching it for the first time to the UK market.

Indigo Wine adds new producers to portfolio

Published: 21 October, 2021

Indigo Wine is adding a range of new producers to its portfolio, spanning some of the wine world’s most distant regions.

Long read: Raising a glass to Australian wines

Published: 30 September, 2021

The UK’s love for Australian wines shows no signs of abating. With good availability, competitive pricing, and good transport and distribution networks, supply from Australia is still extremely attractive for UK buyers and wine drinkers. Here, Paul Braydon, buying controller for Kingsland Drinks, delves into the wine trends emerging from Australia, shares insights on the category post-FTA (Free Trade Agreement), and what the UK drinks sector can expect to see next.

McLaren Vale’s Chapel Hill joins Bancroft

Published: 24 August, 2021

Bancroft Wines has expanded its Australian portfolio with McLaren Vale’s Chapel Hill.

Australia feels impact of Chinese tariffs on wine

Published: 04 August, 2021

The impact of the Chinese tariffs on Australian exports will not be immediately offset by other markets, the latest Australian Bulk Wine Market Update has said.

Oz wine exports to UK highest in a decade

Published: 21 July, 2021

Australian wine exports to the UK reached their highest level in a decade during the 2020–21 financial year, according to the latest Wine Australia Export Report released today.

Advertorial: Western Australia's fine wine regions ‘unearthed’

Published: 06 July, 2021

Western Australia has long staked its reputation on the premium quality, sustainability and diversity of its wines. Although geographically isolated and remote (Sydney is four hours by plane, London 16), this unique location is a magnet for oenophiles from all corners of the globe. They flock to cellar doors, fortifying themselves before hiking across the exquisitely beautiful Karri forest, or perhaps they'll attempt to conquer Western Australia's legendary surf. The summers are reliably warm and dry, moderated (especially in the south) by cool afternoon breezes courtesy of Antarctic currents and a maritime climate – factors vital in maintaining freshness and acidity in the wines.

Harpers Wine Stars 2021: Australia

Published: 05 July, 2021

Highlighting the people and places wowing the judges in the Harpers Wine Stars Awards.

Calabria Family Wines acquires McWilliam’s Wines

Published: 06 April, 2021

Riverina and Barossa Valley winemaker Calabria Family Wines has acquired McWilliam’s Wines, for an undisclosed sum.

Accolade acquires Barossa winery Rolf Binder Wines

Published: 17 March, 2021

Accolade Wines has acquired Rolf Binder Wines in the Barossa Valley as part of its ongoing growth strategy and commitment to the Barossa and South Australian wine region.

Tim Atkin MW: China’s risky moves

Published: 04 February, 2021

“Don’t trust them,” says Leon Panetta, a rueful former US defense secretary interviewed in BBC documentary China: A New World Order, “that’s the bottom line.” It’s advice the Australian wine industry and now, apparently, the Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET), would have done well to heed.

Opportunities abound

Published: 27 January, 2021

The likelihood of a free trade agreement between the UK and Australia has led to optimism among many wine producers that new possibilities lie ahead. Andrew Catchpole reports.

ABS launches Oz tasting in absence of generic event

Published: 11 January, 2021

Awin Barratt Siegel Wine Agencies (ABS) is gearing up to host its own virtual Australia portfolio tasting in light of the cancellation of the generic annual Australia tasting.

Banrock Station pledges to plant 100,000 native trees a year

Published: 23 October, 2020

Accolade Wines’ Banrock Station brand has pledged to plant 100,000 native trees and shrubs in Australia each year starting from January 2021.

Accolade snaps up Katnook

Published: 07 September, 2020

Accolade Wines has acquired Coonawarra’s premium Katnook Estate from the Wingara Wine Group for an undisclosed sum.

“Smallest vintage in living memory” delights Oz winemakers, if not accountants

Published: 16 June, 2020

Off the back of a “rollercoaster ride”, variously involving frosts, drought, heatwaves, horrendous bush fires and finally the disruption of Covid-19, Australia’s 2020 vintage is expected to produce some “sensational wines” from a very low yielding crush.

Social distancing research fuels on-trade debate

Published: 02 June, 2020

New research into the effectiveness of social distancing measures has renewed debate in the on-trade about the challenges of re-opening for business.

Wine consumption in OZ holding up but spend is down

Published: 23 April, 2020

Wine consumption in Australia has been holding up during lockdown, but spend per bottle is down, according to new Wine Intelligence Covid-19 research.