Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Millésime Bio confirms January event

Published: 20 October, 2020

SudVinBio has confirmed that its Millésime Bio event will go ahead in Montpellier between 25 and 27 January 2021.

Harpers and Argento put the spotlight on organic

Published: 14 September, 2020

Join us this week for Harpers’ latest online session where we will be delving into organic winemaking over two insight-filled sessions.

On ‘Clean’ wine – ambiguity among the vines

Published: 20 August, 2020

Wine is an odd consumable. It’s a drug, it isn’t legally required to list ingredients, and it’s often described with vague, ambiguous terms. In the wake of the natural wine movement and the age of ‘wellness’, it was just a matter of time until a brand tried to hoodwink us. Quickest to the mark were Cameron Diaz and Katherine Power with ‘clean wine’, Avaline.

Ramón Bilbao targets organic certification for vineyards

Published: 23 July, 2020

Spanish producer Ramón Bilbao has begun the three-year process of converting its Rioja and Rueda vineyards to organic production methods.

Lack of global sustainability standard impeding consumer buy-in

Published: 18 May, 2020

The absence of a coherent, joined-up global standard to measure producers’ progress on sustainability risks undermining communication on the good progress being made by the wine industry.

Climate crunch

Published: 01 April, 2020

New mathematical forecasting is helping scientists plot vine suitability against an ever-changing climate map. Jo Gilbert looks at the challenges to 2050 and beyond.

Friday Read: Updating organic viticulture for tomorrow's world

Published: 27 March, 2020

It was June 2011 when Dr Richard Smart first told a group of journalists that organic and biodynamic wines were damaging to the environment. Speaking at the 'Wineries for Climate Protection' conference that took place in Barcelona that year, his scathing criticism rapidly spread across the internet, much to the delight of my editors.

Villa Maria trials native plants as herbicides alternative

Published: 21 February, 2020

Villa Maria Estate has embarked on a trial using native plants and cover crops as an alternative to herbicides.

Co-op grows green offering

Published: 18 February, 2020

Co-op has expanded its green offering with its first unfiltered and organic natural wine alongside a new trio of other sustainably-sourced wines.

Southern hemisphere wines to receive post-Brexit boost

Published: 10 February, 2020

Wines from the southern hemisphere will thrive most in post-Brexit Britain, according to the latest Wine Trade Monitor from food-and-drink communications agency Sopexa.

Langham winemaker leaves to establish sustainable winery

Published: 07 February, 2020

The head winemaker at Dorset winery Langham Estate has branched out on his own to embark on a sustainable winemaking venture.

Friday Read: Sustainability, organics or biodynamics – who’s got it right?

Published: 24 January, 2020

Since France’s ‘organic’ fair Millesime Bio began in 1993, France and the rest of the winemaking world have come to embrace the gamut of holistic winemaking practices, from sustainability to organics and biodynamics. But how useful, actually, are they as separate disciplines? And do they have the staying power to be truly ‘sustainable’ longterm? Mike Turner, who was in Montpellier to judge this year’s medal winners, mulls over the big questions.

Global organic wine sales to double in a decade

Published: 11 December, 2019

Organic wine consumption worldwide is set to hit around a billion bottles a year by 2023, a new report from organic wine fair Millésime Bio suggests.

Bellavita London unveils expanded events roster

Published: 14 October, 2019

The annual Bellavita Expo London is set to return to Islington’s Business Design Centre next month with a wide range of masterclasses, tastings and discussion panels hosted by Bellavita’s wine academy, BeWine.

Esporão adds Vinho Verde to its growing roll call

Published: 24 September, 2019

Leading Portuguese producer Herdade do Esporão is adding Vinho Verde to its growing portfolio of regions with the purchase of historic winery Quinta do Ameal.

Wine Paris set to launch initiative to clarify eco-friendly certifications

Published: 11 September, 2019

Wine Paris is launching a new initiative - Wonderful, aimed at helping buyers worldwide identify and understand the eco-friendly certifications and endorsements developed by winegrowers, estates, co-operatives and negociants.

Q&A: Kim Wilson and Joy Edmondson, North South Wines

Published: 18 June, 2019

Innovative, agile and on-trend, North South Wines is shaking up the traditional importer model. Andrew Catchpole meets its founders

Bordeaux pushes sustainability agenda

Published: 28 May, 2019

At first glance, it seems inconceivable that a tradition-bound region such as Bordeaux could willingly embrace change. The strict hierarchy of Bordeaux’s classed growths, cemented in 1855, is as intransigent as it was in the 19th century. Bordeaux’s winemakers remain defined by the vines and the soil they inherit.

Santa Rita says $25m investment in sustainability will pay long-term dividends

Published: 14 May, 2019

South American producer Santa Rita Estates (SRE) says it doesn’t regret ploughing $25 million USD into sustainability initiatives over the past five years, despite sustainable and organic cues having less sway with consumers.