Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Bulk selling in a digital world

Published: 19 February, 2019

The launch of a new trading platform for the drinks trade promises to disrupt existing business models. Jo Gilbert investigates

Premium and new formats offer big opportunities for bulk wine market

Published: 28 November, 2018

With the global 2018 harvests bringing the world’s wine supply back into greater balance, the market is evolving to allow greater fluidity in supply, to the benefit of premium bulk players and smaller volume buyers, with differing formats cited as key to future consumer engagement and sales.

Five wines awarded grand gold medals for bulk sales

Published: 26 November, 2018

Five wines have been awarded grand gold medals at the International Bulk Wine Competition.

WBWE goes to China

Published: 21 November, 2018

The World Bulk Wine Exhibition (WBWE) has revealed it is set to hold its first exhibition in China next year.

Profile: Kingsland Drinks

Published: 21 March, 2018

By taking an holistic approach from sourcing to supply, Kingsland Drinks is injecting innovation along the way. Andrew Catchpole reports

Balance of power shifts to producers as bulk wine outstrips bottled supply

Published: 27 February, 2018

Unpredictability is the new norm, securing supply has become more critical than price and power has shifted from buyers to producers.

London’s first bulk wine show reflects growth of premium private label

Published: 23 February, 2018

IBWSS London opens its doors to the UK trade on 26 and 27 February against the backdrop of a market that has seen huge growth in bulk shipping and in-market bottling, along with the rise of premium private label.

Bulk wine experiences huge growth, but vintage shortfall looms

Published: 21 February, 2018

It was once the preserve of the cheap and cheerful end of supermarket wine ranges, but the bulk wine market has seen considerable growth in the past decade, buoyed by improvements in shipping and bottling, competitive pressure on costs and margins, and increased concerns about the environmental impact of lugging heavy bottles of wine around on the back of trucks.

The Oxford Wine Company officially leaves Vindependents

Published: 20 February, 2018

The Oxford Wine Company has officially left Vindependents.

London's first bulk wine show opens for business

Published: 03 January, 2018

London’s first bulk wine show is now open for registration, offering buyers, brokers, retailers and producers the chance to find out more about this booming section of the UK wine industry.

Big squeeze tipped for 2018 as lower volumes and tighter margins predicted

Published: 06 November, 2017

What is shaping up to be the smallest vintage in 50 years is predicted to cause a “dramatic decline in wine availability going into 2018”, with the lower-price tiers of the European industry expected to be the worst affected.

IBWSS reveals speaker line up

Published: 27 September, 2017

The International Bulk Wine and Spirits Show (IBWSS) has unveiled the speaker programme for its first London event next year.

How a French wine scandal could scupper the rise of bulk

Published: 10 August, 2017

The news of the investigation into bulk wine negociant Raphael Michel has shaken the French and UK trades this week. Will this scandal affect bulk’s chances of emerging from bottled wine’s shadow? Jo Gilbert reports

Global trading platform for bulk-wine industry launched

Published: 08 March, 2016

This week sees the launch of a new web-based exchange for the global bulk-wine industry.

Insights: Is UK bottling the way forward for bulk wine?

Published: 11 January, 2016

As more and more top-selling wine brands in the UK move their bottling over here, Angela Mount looks at the benefits: does it make more sense to ship in bulk?

Insights: Better exchange rate, high enough quality means buying opportunities for 2014 Burgundy

Published: 24 November, 2015

Panos Kakaviatos reports on the Hospices de Beaune auction and the opportunities he found for Burgundy's 2014 vintage. He found 2015 may raise more headlines, but 2014 may offer better price/quality ratios.

Vinadeis and Origin seal global strategic partnership

Published: 10 November, 2015

French wine producer Vinadeis and South Africa's Origin Wines have signed a formal strategic partnership.

Are there etichal implications to consider when choosing to bottle wine in the UK?

Published: 05 June, 2015

Harpers led a debate at last month's London Wine Fair to expose the myths and preconceptions about UK bottling, which raised questions about the ethics of the practice.