Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Waitrose unveils mixed English wine case

Published: 26 May, 2021

Waitrose has launched a new mixed wine case comprising a selection of homegrown wines.

House of Commons in retail partnership with Digby Fine English

Published: 02 December, 2020

Sussex-based sparkling wine producer Digby Fine English has been appointed as the official supplier of English sparkling wine to the House of Commons gift shops.

Prosecco in the pink

Published: 17 August, 2020

Following a decade of consistent growth, Pink Prosecco is set to give a shot in the arm to a finally flatlining category, as Jo Gilbert reports.

Majestic and Moët launch fizz fundraiser for Drinks Trust

Published: 21 May, 2020

Majestic and Moët & Chandon have clubbed together to create a new fundraising initiative for The Drinks Trust.

Rathfinny’s 10th anniversary delivers Classic Cuvée launch and new ecommerce site

Published: 12 May, 2020

English wine estate Rathfinny marked its 10th anniversary with the launch of its inaugural 2016 Classic Cuvée on Monday, “completing” its line up of Sussex sparkling wines.

Despite a decline in German domestic consumption of its native bubbly sekt - per capita quaffing has dropped since 2010 from 3.9 to 3.3 litres - attention to quality, both individually and collectively, has never been greater.

March of the crèmants

Published: 18 September, 2019

Over the past decade, the UK sparkling wine market has increasingly become a tale of two sparklers.

Q&A: Simon Robinson, chairman, Wine GB

Published: 17 September, 2019

Following the excellent 2018 vintage and a ramping up of exports, English and Welsh wine has come of age. Andrew Catchpole asks what’s next for the burgeoning domestic scene

Bibendum’s tasting with a twist is the "confidence boost" the company needed

Published: 11 September, 2019

Bibendum’s latest event lived up to its promise of being “Not another bl**dy tasting” on Monday evening, with a music, food and wine-loving crowd that packed out The Steel Yard to the top of its brick arches.

Can premium Prosecco put the sparkle back into sales?

Published: 17 June, 2019

Sandro Bottega, owner and managing director of Bottega Spa, has refuted suggestions the UK has reached ‘peak Prosecco’ and insisted a “new era of Prosecco premiumisation” is on the way.

Has the king of fizz gone flat?

Published: 30 April, 2019

The Champenois are working to adapt and recover Champagne’s position in the UK. But there is division among its ranks about how best to engage with younger consumers. James Lawrence reports

Chapel Down creates England’s largest estate in Kent

Published: 29 April, 2019

Chapel Down has commenced planting at its 388 acre Boarley Farm site. Together with its Kit’s Coty and Boxley sites, Chapel Down will have a 620 acre estate of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier plantings to produce sparkling wine.

English and Welsh sparkling wine sales hit new record

Published: 23 April, 2019

Sales of English and Welsh sparkling wine rose 6% across the on and off-trade in 2018 compared to the previous year, according to WSTA data released today to coincide with St George’s Day.

Ridgeview invests £1.8m in new winery to double production

Published: 18 April, 2019

Ridgeview Wine Estate has invested £1.8 million in a new winery with the aim of doubling production to 500,000 bottles by 2023.

Gramona president says Spanish fizz is in danger of becoming too splintered

Published: 16 April, 2019

The co-owner of family-owned Cava producer, Gramona, has voiced concerns over the fragmenting state of his country’s sparkling industry after too many designations have sprung up delineating Spanish fizz.

Young drinkers more likely to experiment with fizz and fusion drinks

Published: 15 April, 2019

Younger Australians are more experimental when it comes to sparkling wine than older drinkers, according to the latest report on the Australian sparkling wine market by Wine Intelligence.

Cream of the crop

Published: 20 March, 2019

Champagne’s lesser-known cousin has its work cut out to stand out in the UK, where it is but a drop in an ocean of sparkling wine. It’s up for the challenge though, finds Jo Gilbert

Billecart-Salmon, Nicolas Feuillatte and Greyfriars reveal new editions

Published: 20 March, 2019

Billecart-Salmon has released two Champagnes, Nicolas Feuillatte has introduced a new Champagne Terroir Premier Cru and Greyfriars Vineyard has released a limited edition Blanc de Noirs.

Prowein: Nyetimber prepares to step up presence in ‘traditional’ sparkling wine producing countries

Published: 19 March, 2019

Nyetimber has recruited an international area sales manager for Europe as part of plans to increase its presence in the traditional sparkling wine producing countries.