Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Vernaccia: Fifty shades of Grigio?

Published: 12 June, 2025

Wine expert & consultant Jason Millar reports back from an optimistic visit to a recent Vernaccia tasting, finding potential in this oft dismissed Italian white variety

Friday Read: Charting Armit’s InVivo-backed ambitions

Published: 21 March, 2025

The annual Armit Wines portfolio tasting (pictured) aways brings a spot of vinous glamour to the busy London tasting calendar, following on from launch events for new vintages of the likes of 2023 Guidalberto and 2022 Sassicaia at various buzzing London restaurants for the lucky few. And, in addition to such highlights from its top Italian-leaning portfolio, this year the importer launched a new initiative in the form of what was modestly described as a ‘press lunch’, where various senior editors, writers and critics gathered to for a lively debate on how best to engage a younger generation with fine wines.

Hallgarten continues portfolio expansion with Italian additions

Published: 14 January, 2025

Hallgarten & Novum Wines has announced an expansion to its already diverse Italian portfolio with the announcement of four new suppliers. The specialist wine importer says the addition of Tuscan-based Villa Saletta and Petra, Alois Lageder from Alto Adige and Prosecco producer, Masottina, will enhance its Italian range.

Jascots adds Sartarelli to portfolio

Published: 17 March, 2023

Jascots Wine Merchants has added producer Sartarelli to its 750-strong portfolio, strengthening its Italian reach with this Marche-based estate.

Guidalberto steps out of Sassicaia shadow as ‘standalone wine’

Published: 15 March, 2023

Tenuta San Guido is looking to reposition its Guildaberto label as a significant Tuscan icon in its own right, according to the estate’s Priscilla Incisa della Rocchetta.

Friday read: The future looks bright for ambitious Garda DOC

Published: 24 June, 2022

With prices rising for wines from top Italian DOCs and other producers – thanks to high demand and prices coupled with the collapse in sterling – these are tough times for the UK wine trade, with the pressure on margins tougher than ever.

Vinitaly Academy launches Buyer Program in the UK

Published: 15 March, 2022

Vinitaly International Academy, the educational arm of the Verona show which aims to showcase the breath and diversity of the Italian peninsula, is launching a brand new focus in the UK.

Dramatic rise in Franciacorta sales

Published: 09 February, 2022

Italy's premier traditional method fizz saw encouraging sales growth in 2021, jumping beyond pre-pandemic levels to a record 20.3 million bottles.

Prosecco opens doors for Italy

Published: 12 January, 2022

David Kermode delves into the world of Italian sparklers as the category covers new ground, from the march of rosé Prosecco to the increasingly popular high-quality fizzes of Franciacorta and Trento.

WoodWinters adds historic Veneto estate to portfolio

Published: 21 December, 2021

Tenuta Santa Maria di Gaetano Bertani, a leading winery in the Veneto region, has become the newest member of the WoodWinters portfolio.

Burgundy superstars and Italian improvers drive interest at Wine Lister

Published: 01 December, 2021

Burgundy superstars and Italian quality improvers have been highlighted as important categories in the second annual report from auction site Wine Lister, called 2021 Wine Leagues.

Harpers to host Spanish and Italian wine session at Bellavita Expo

Published: 22 September, 2021

Harpers will be hosting a session at the Bellavita F&B trade show which is being held at the Business Design Centre in London on 25 to 26 October.

C&C looks to Alto Adige and Sicily for new additions

Published: 16 August, 2021

London-based wine importer and wholesaler Carson & Carnevale Wines (C&C) has been appointed the UK agent for Alto Adige’s Kellerei St Pauls coop and Sicily’s Assuli winery, as it continues to push beyond the channel-orientated struggles of the past 18 months.

Register now: Franciacorta – Adding a Splash of Italian Style

Published: 15 June, 2021

Harpers latest free-to-attend webinar, Franciacorta: Adding a Splash of Italian Style, has brought together a great panel to examine what this multi-faceted fizz can add to the modern sparkling wine portfolio.

Franciacorta webinar: Adding a Splash of Italian Style

Published: 10 June, 2021

With sparkling wine in growth in the UK and consumers becoming ever more adventurous in their drinking habits, Harpers is teaming up with Consorzio Franciacorta for a webinar exploring the possibilities offered both by Italy’s foremost sparkling wine and the broader sparkling category.

Demand for US and Italian wines leads fine wine investment spike

Published: 26 May, 2020

BI, the fine wine and spirits merchant, has reported something of a boom in its fine wine sales during the era of coronavirus, with sales of both US and Italian wine leading the pack.

Trump's tariffs provide bump for Italian wines

Published: 06 February, 2020

Wine tariffs introduced as part of a transatlantic dispute on aeronautics have provided something of a boost for Italy on the secondary market, with the value of the country’s top wines increasing by an average of 12.5% during 2019 on a leading UK platform.

Selling Italy in the off-trade

Published: 09 December, 2019

Justin Keay digs deep into Italy in the off-trade, taking his microscope to the supermarkets’ Italian ranges and discovering what indie customers are demanding from their local merchants.

Italian wine poised for big growth on Liv-Ex

Published: 26 September, 2019

The price of Italian wine on the secondary market still lags behind its critical reputation, according to a new report from fine-wine trading platform Liv-Ex. But that could be changing.