Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

IMW appoints Adrian Garforth MW chairman

Published: 12 September, 2018

The Institute of Masters of Wine (IMW) has appointed Adrian Garforth MW as its new chairman.

Rioja 10x10 to make a triumphant return

Published: 11 September, 2018

Harpers is once again partnering with Rioja 10x10, bringing yet great opportunity to discover of Rioja’s top wines and key trends.

Ten new Masters of Wine announced

Published: 31 August, 2018

Congratulations are in order for 10 new faces just anointed as Masters of Wine, including the first woman in Spain (Almudena Alberca, pictured) to achieve the title, along with the first female winemaker of Greek decent, Olga Karapanou Crawford.

Tim Atkin MW: The cost of the dream

Published: 02 August, 2018

Is marriage a matter of the head or the heart? Driving back from my godson’s wedding in Nottingham recently, I heard an interview with Baroness Fiona Shackleton, Britain’s leading divorce lawyer, on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, about this very conundrum.

Liberty backs Spurrier and Boisset’s Indian wine collaborations

Published: 01 August, 2018

Indian wine could be the next big thing if a new collaboration between a number of industry heavyweights is anything to go by.

Bancroft picks up Brokenwood from Negociants UK

Published: 26 July, 2018

Bancroft Wines has picked up the distribution of quality Australian wine estate Brokenwood Wines following the merger of Negociants UK into parent company, Fells.

Northern talent dominates Champagne Taittinger UK Sommelier of the Year

Published: 17 July, 2018

Alex Freguin, head sommelier at Moor Hall in Ormskirk, West Lancashire has been crowned the Champagne Taittinger UK Sommelier of the Year 2018.

Tim Atkin MW: Sorry Mr Parker, but the world has moved on

Published: 06 July, 2018

Robert Parker is one of the most talked about and divisive individuals in the world of wine. Now into his seventies and the twilight of his career, he still has the power to ignite heated discussions – even if his sway over the wineries, domaines and châteaux that once trembled before his judgments has largely vanished.

Meet the buyers: Peter Mitchell MW, Laytons

Published: 06 June, 2018

This month’s Meet the Buyers series zones in on some of the best suppliers the to UK’s vibrant on-trade.

We're in the money?

Published: 04 May, 2018

An increasingly competitive retail environment has led to yet another mega-merger, this time between Asda and Sainsbury’s. We ask what this new giant force could have in store for wine

Tim Atkin MW: And then there were three

Published: 04 May, 2018

Does anyone remember Safeway? In its day, it had one of the best supermarket wine ranges in the UK – diverse, daring and invariably well selected.

Liberty for all

Published: 25 April, 2018

David Gleave MW talks to Andrew Catchpole about the vision that continues to underpin his business 20 years since it began

Borough Wines partners with Liam Steevenson MW to launch wines and events

Published: 09 April, 2018

Borough Wines has joined forces with Liam Steevenson MW to launch a collaborative own-label wine range alongside a series of events.

Chaîne des Rôtisseurs Young Sommelier 2018 revealed

Published: 27 March, 2018

The UK arm of leading international gastronomic body Chaîne des Rôtisseurs GB has announced its Young Sommelier 2018.

Tim Atkin MW: State of the Union Jack

Published: 09 March, 2018

What does the Union Jack symbolise to you? Pride? Shame? Sovereignty? Populism? Peace? Colonialism? All are possible responses and have been almost since the flag was designed in 1800 to reflect the Act of Union between Great Britain and Ireland. As Tim Marshall writes in his recent book, Worth Dying For: The Power and Politics of Flags, “its beauty or otherwise is in the eye, imagination and politics of the beholder”.

Masters of Wine institute reveals four new MWs

Published: 05 March, 2018

The institute of Masters of Wine has revealed its latest four recruits, including two new Masters of Wine (MW) from the UK.

Star wines and evolution trails at Wines from Spain's annual trade tasting

Published: 15 February, 2018

This year’s Wines from Spain annual trade tasting will highlight the opportunities from Spain’s myriad DOs, styles, grape varieties and terroirs, with importers also selecting their ‘star wines’ from across the on and off-trades.

ADT suppliers up their Oz bids as competition ramps up from China and the US

Published: 24 January, 2018

A hardy – dare we suggest, typically Australian – attitude to price hikes and supply challenges was the main exhibit at yesterday’s Australia Day Tasting, where plenty of creative and business flair set out the category’s stall for 2018.

Looking ahead: David Gleave MW, managing director, Liberty Wines

Published: 19 December, 2017

With the all-important Christmas trading period underway - and hopefully turning passion into profit for the UK’s wine and spirits operators - we at Harpers are looking ahead past New Year to see what’s in store for the trade in 2018.