Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Exton Park claims first for UK fizz with Quebec launch

Published: 27 March, 2018

Exton Park Vineyard has revealed its Rosé NV is setting sails for Quebec, Canada.

Gigglewater partners with The British National Film Academy

Published: 27 March, 2018

Sparkling wine brand Gigglewater has partnered with The British National Film Academy.

Zonin eyes new winemaking territories as Chilean portfolio roll out continues

Published: 21 March, 2018

Buoyed by its recent foray into Chilean production, Italian producer Zonin 1821 has revealed ambitions for further winemaking ventures beyond its homeland, with New Zealand and even the UK cited as potential countries of interest.

Vagabond reveals first wines to come out of new Battersea winery

Published: 20 March, 2018

Vagabond Wines has revealed the first releases to come out of its new winery in the old Battersea Power Station, with an English fizz leading the way.

Shaking up the sparkling wine market

Published: 20 March, 2018

It’s long been the case that Champagne sales are a barometer of the times, with a rise or fall in fortunes reflecting the performance of the broader economy. This has held true in the UK market through various recessions and dips, and the current downturn in Champagne sales is no exception.

Henkell buys majority stake in Freixenet

Published: 19 March, 2018

German sparkling wine company Henkell has acquired a 50.7% stake in Spanish cava giant Freixenet.

Devon manor to launch vineyard

Published: 14 March, 2018

Lympstone Manor has revealed plans to plant a vineyard within its 28-acre estate.

Sparkling drives growth as inflation bites down on average prices

Published: 12 March, 2018

Volume sales of alcohol continued to decline in the UK off-trade in 2017, but value sales increased in both yearly and quarterly sales, particularly in sparkling wine, which remains the main driver of growth for the overall wine category.

Majestic releases first ‘NDA’ English wine

Published: 26 February, 2018

Majestic has released a batch of sparkling wine for which it is asking buyers to comply with a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) to protect the details of the tipple.

Sparkling wine, Chile and premium spirits forecast to continue to buck UK downward consumption trend

Published: 15 February, 2018

The growth in sparkling wine, along with premium gin, rum and whisky, is set to continue beyond 2021, helping offset the impart on value sales of a 10-year decline in consumption.

Sparkling sales continue to fizz in the UK

Published: 14 February, 2018

Sales of sparkling grew by 6% in volume and 9% in value in the off-trade last year, showing the popularity of the category continues to rise.

Wine Intelligence predicts bright future for sparkling in China

Published: 13 February, 2018

Wine Intelligence has predicted sparkling wine consumption in China is poised to take off boosted by a wave of more affordable options.

Vranken-Pommery Monopole becomes first French Champagne house to sell English wine

Published: 07 February, 2018

Champagne producer Vranken-Pommery Monopole has released its first English sparkling wine.

War over planting rights erupts in Champagne

Published: 16 January, 2018

A war over planting rights is being waged in France, where Champagne growers want to severely limit new plantings of vines by rival growers in areas surrounding Champagne’s production zone.

Gin sales boom with 45% growth at Christmas

Published: 04 January, 2018

Gin was the runaway success of the last minute Christmas booze run, with shoppers buying a huge 45% more in the week before the big day than 2016.

Brexit and bad harvests could dampen supply of fizz

Published: 02 January, 2018

2018 could be the year that Brits’ love of sparkling catches up with them as experts predict a fizz shortage could be about to descend on the UK.

Trends of 2017

Published: 20 December, 2017

There has been no shortage of evolution in the drinks world over the past year, providing canny operators with plenty of openings for upping customer engagement. Andrew Catchpole reports

San Leonardo to make first foray into fizz

Published: 07 December, 2017

Historic Trentino estate San Leonardo has revealed it is moving into sparkling wine production in line with a trend for producers in the region replacing red grapes with varieties used for bubbles.

Finding the place of Cava de Paraje

Published: 05 December, 2017

Without the quality ladders of tiered local classifications, Cava de Paraje amounts to little more than a series of “remote Grand Cru islands”, argues Miquel Hudin.