Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Multiples: Festive foresight

Published: 16 December, 2024

Ahead of the hoped-for Christmas frenzy, James Bayley asks the Co-op’s Joe Turner what lies in store.

EU Launches ‘More Than Only Food and Drink’ campaign

Published: 15 November, 2024

The European Union has unveiled a new PR initiative designed to promote the virtues of continental food and drink to UK industry professionals – highlighting food safety, quality, authenticity and sustainability credentials.

On-trade: All points east for natural wines

Published: 01 November, 2024

James Bayley investigates the natural wine bars of east London to find they embrace informality and welcome all.

Jerry Lockspeiser: Growth is central to business strategy. Is it time to change?

Published: 27 September, 2023

Many years ago I was asked to act as a strategic consultant to a Chilean wine business. They wanted help with reformulating their strategy, first to achieve break even, then to reach sustainable profitability. The business was 100% targeted at export markets, with the UK a key priority.

Danbury Ridge shows eastern promise

Published: 21 February, 2023

Essex clays are poised to lead the charge of quality English still wine. Andrew Catchpole reports from Crouch Valley’s Danbury Ridge.

Soapbox: Is keg wine a blessing or a curse?

Published: 13 September, 2022

As an experienced wine consultant specialising in the on-trade, Neil Bruce – aka wine margin optimiser at Studio Alto – turns his sights to the good, the bad and the ugly when it comes to the keg-versus-bottle ‘green’ debate.

The unusual suspects

Published: 19 August, 2022

In line with a growing taste for more off-piste wines, Andrew Catchpole invited notable champions and producers of emerging regions and wines to explain their appeal.

Re-elected Cava president pledges to build ‘prestige’

Published: 01 August, 2022

Javier Pagés has been re-elected to the post of president of the Cava DO – a role he has pledged to use to continue to raise Cava’s status to one of “world’s highest quality sparkling wines”.

World wakes up to Austrian wine quality

Published: 28 February, 2022

From Wachau to Neusiedlersee, David Kermode takes a trip through Austria’s must-know regions.

Freixenet Copestick picks up Wither Hills

Published: 10 February, 2022

Marlborough-based winery Wither Hills has joined the expanding family of Freixenet Copestick agencies, after the firm entered into a partnership with brand owner Lion New Zealand.

Alliance Wine expands portfolio with new sparkling wine agency

Published: 21 January, 2022

West Sussex-based Roebuck Estates has become the latest producer to join the Alliance Wine collection of premium brands.

Bancroft welcomes new English wine agency

Published: 18 January, 2022

UK distributor Bancroft has expanded its English wine portfolio with the addition of Lyme Bay Winery.

New Generation adds Champagne Carbon to its portfolio

Published: 04 January, 2022

Wine importer and wholesaler New Generation has become the exclusive agents of Champagne Carbon, a niche brand created by Alexandre Méa.

Hennings welcomes Delta Estate into fold

Published: 13 December, 2021

Hennings Wine Merchants has taken the first shipment from its new partnership with Delta Estate Wines in Marlborough.

Five minutes with Matt Hodgson, Grape Britannia

Published: 06 December, 2021

Matt Hodgson, founder of English wine specialist Grape Britannia, says the time has arrived to look beyond fizz to the UK’s homegrown still gems.

Jerry Lockspeiser: Is it time to kill wine’s sacred cows?

Published: 01 December, 2021

It really is hard to know what to believe these days. The digital world enables instant sharing of information across the globe, which seems good and democratic. Just about anyone can participate. But with it comes lower reliability and veracity of what is being communicated, making it easier to seed fake gospels claiming that two plus two equals five, or seven, or even nine. Perhaps what really matters is the extent to which people make decisions and take actions as a result.

Loire vintage 2021: 'Hard year, but versatile and beautiful wines'

Published: 17 November, 2021

Winegrowers in the Loire Valley region grappled with a difficult and challenging season, but were rewarded with a good crop of fresh and aromatic wines, according to a new harvest report from InterLoire.

Supercharging Verdejo

Published: 04 November, 2021

Spain’s leading white region has its eyes firmly set on the top table, with a new quality tier underpinning its ambition, as Andrew Catchpole reports.

Liberty report: Reversal of off/on-trade trends buffers hospitality recovery

Published: 03 November, 2021

Liberty Wines’ latest report has noted the positive effect of the reversal of the trends from the on to the off-trade over the course of the pandemic, with the growth in popularity of independent wine retailers during lockdown and an overall move towards experimentation feeding back into the on-trade and helping to boost sales.

Ribera del Duero Top 100 Tasting to be hosted by Tim Atkin MW

Published: 25 October, 2021

Tim Atkin MW and Harpers columnist is to host his annual Ribera del Duero Top 100 Tasting, which will showcase the best wines from the region in 2021.