Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

California's winemakers gear up for worsening drought in 2015

Published: 06 November, 2014

Recent rainfall in California has done little to improve the ongoing drought, as winemakers gear up for worsening conditions into 2015.

Matthew Gaughan enjoys celebrating Pinot Noir with Sonoma winemakers

Published: 31 October, 2014

This past Sunday, as winemakers wound down from this year's condensed harvest, the well-to-do Sonoma town of Healdsburg hosted the annual Pinot on the River festival, a celebration of the region's exciting up-and-coming Pinot Noirs. Originally held on the sometimes muddy banks of the Russian River, the festival is now located in Healdsburg's picturesque, well-paved main square, attracting an enthusiastic sell-out crowd on the busiest day of the festival's history yet.

Smaller wineries now selling more than half of wine direct to consumer

Published: 28 October, 2014

Smaller Australian, South African and New Zealand wineries are now selling more than half of their wines direct to consumer.

OIV confirms France as world's top wine producing country

Published: 27 October, 2014

The International Organisation of Vine and Wine has confirmed France is once again the world's biggest wine producing country, knocking Italy out of the top spot.

More Americans turning to wine, says Wine Intelligence

Published: 15 October, 2014

More Americans than ever are drinking wine on a regular basis, with those consuming wine at least once a month having increased by 40% to 91 million in the past five years.

Matthew Gaughan's personal tribute to California's wines of Paso Robles

Published: 13 October, 2014

Paso Robles is a wild area between San Francisco and Los Angeles, but largely disconnected from the rest of California. Traditional outlaw territory, it still feels like a great place to hide from the pressures of the world. It's hot, sleepy, and still, disturbed only by breezes blowing from the nearby Pacific Ocean.

Robert Parker to host 100 point London tasting as part of a world tour

Published: 30 September, 2014

Robert Parker, the legendary US wine critic, is to host a special tasting in London in February 2015 as part of a world tour of exclusive tastings for his Wine Advocate magazine.

The Week That Was: top news, Q&As and opinion on Harpers.co.uk

Published: 12 September, 2014

In case you missed some of the headlines this week on harpers.co.uk, we have done a review of the top online news, financial news for the drinks trade, Q&As, and opinion stories.

Napa Valley wineries move focus from earthquake to harvest

Published: 08 September, 2014

California's Napa Valley wineries, a number of whom suffered significant damage in the recent 6.1 earthquake, have already harvested most of their Sauvignon Blanc grapes.

The Week That Was: top news, Q&As and opinion on Harpers.co.uk

Published: 05 September, 2014

In case you missed some of the headlines this week on harpers.co.uk, we have done a review of the top online news, financial news for the drinks trade, Q&As, and opinion stories.

The Week That Was: top news, Q&As and opinion on Harpers.co.uk

Published: 29 August, 2014

In case you missed some of the headlines this week on harpers.co.uk, we have done a review of the top online news, financial news for the drinks trade, Q&As, and opinion stories.

Napa Valley wine community moves forward despite persisting tremors

Published: 28 August, 2014

The Napa Valley was shaken by three back-to-back aftershocks on Tuesday, as wineries, local businesses, and residents began to rebuild following the larger quake that struck on Saturday.

Napa earthquake not expected to affect overall wine stocks

Published: 26 August, 2014

Last week's earthquake in Napa is not expected to impact the region's overall wine stocks, despite a number of wineries in the region suffering large scale damage.

Napa Valley wine industry rocked by 6.1 earthquake

Published: 26 August, 2014

A 6.1 magnitude earthquake struck the Napa Valley early Saturday morning, leaving core restaurant and wine industries in both Napa and Sonoma counties reeling as they assess damages.

Napa's Hess Collection's James Caudill on quake damage at winery

Published: 26 August, 2014

James Caudill, director of PR and hospitality at Napa's The Hess Collection group of wineries, on the damage the group sustained following the 6.0 earthquake.

Most wine industry's challenges are no different to other sectors, says economist Mike Veseth

Published: 15 August, 2014

Mike Veseth, the celebrated US wine economist and blogger, has dismissed the idea that the dynamics of the wine industry are different to the challenges faced by other business sectors.

Mike Veseth, the Wine Economist, on the global issues facing the wine industry

Published: 15 August, 2014

Mike Veseth is a specialist in globalisation who blogs as The Wine Economist. He is also professor emeritus of International Political Economy at the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma near Seattle. After reviewing his books Wine Wars and Extreme Wine for Harpers.co.uk Jerry Lockspeiser talks to him about what he sees as the key global business issues facing the wine industry.

California's wine industry prepares for 'lighter' crop

Published: 11 August, 2014

California is preparing itself for a smaller harvest than 2013 - which was a bumper crop at 4 million tonnes - with some varieties looking to be down by around one third.

Californian wineries look to make use of a trade loophole and build exports to Cuba

Published: 08 August, 2014

From this side of the Atlantic relations between Cuba and the United States would hardly be described as friendly. But, as Katherine Canfield, explains there is far more bridge building going on than you might think. Here she looks at how the Californian wine industry is looking to promote its wines to the Cuban wine trade.

Start-up Wineist sends sample wine packs direct to consumers

Published: 06 August, 2014

Slovenian start-up firm Wineist has landed upon a unique concept - to send out monthly wine tasting kits, complete with samples to consumers the world over.