Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Ribera del Duero declares 2020 vintage "excellent"

Published: 07 July, 2021

Ribera del Duero DO has declared the 2020 vintage as "excellent", at the same time unveiling UK marketing plans for this year.

Sangiovese – Tuscan star

Published: 23 June, 2021

Michèle Shah charts the fortunes of grape variety reaching new heights, despite the challenge of climate change.

Bordeaux en primeur report 2020

Published: 17 June, 2021

Is 2020 another top Bordeaux vintage and what are the chances of a strong en primeur campaign after the success of the 2019s? Gavin Quinney, our man in Bordeaux, reports

New Zealand vintage 'exceptional' but down 19%

Published: 14 June, 2021

The quality of the 2021 vintage has been described as "exceptional" throughout New Zealand’s wine regions, although the harvest was smaller than hoped for, according to New Zealand Winegrowers (NZW).

2020 Bordeaux ‘highest scoring vintage ever’ at top end

Published: 10 June, 2021

Based on a basket of 115 top wines, the 2020 Bordeaux vintage has been awarded the highest scores ever by Wine Lister’s partner critics.

Hawke's Bay hails trio of 'outstanding' vintages

Published: 26 April, 2021

Premium New Zealand wine region Hawke’s Bay has reported a third high quality vintage in a row, following “near perfect growing condition”.

Frost signals “significantly smaller” vintage for New Zealand harvest

Published: 20 April, 2021

Cooler spring weather and late frosts have led to a “significantly smaller vintage” for 2021, New Zealand Winegrowers has said, applying pressure at a time when the industry is facing increased production costs.

Bordeaux trading rises on US tariff suspension ahead of 2020 EP campaign

Published: 19 April, 2021

Market sentiment towards Bordeaux is “showing signs of recovery” as this year’s En Primeur campaign swings around, according to the Liv-ex members’ Bordeaux report released today.

Symington announces 2019 quinta vintage Ports

Published: 14 April, 2021

Symington Family Estates has announced that it has bottled six quinta vintage Ports from 2019, of which two will be released en primeur – Quinta do Vesúvio and Dow’s Quinta da Senhora da Ribeira.

South Africa's high hopes

Published: 01 April, 2021

If Bordeaux declares another 'vintage of the century' in 2021, then eyes will undoubtedly roll.

Sogevinus declares 2019 a vintage year

Published: 15 March, 2021

Sogevinus Fine Wines has declared the launch of two single Quinta vintages, Kopke Quinta de São Luiz 2019 and Burmester Quinta do Arnozelo 2019, as well as two classic vintages under the seal of Casas Cálem and Barros.

First Saint-Émilion Chardonnay releaesd

Published: 30 November, 2020

The first official vintage of Chardonnay wines produced in Saint-Émilion has been released.

Bordeaux claims ‘high hopes’ for 2020 vintage

Published: 13 October, 2020

Coming off the back of an extraordinary year, the CIVB (Bordeaux Wine Council) has declared 2020 as a vintage with “excellent wines in prospect”.

Liberty Wines apprentice scheme opens

Published: 16 September, 2020

Applications are now open for the apprentice scheme run by London-based importer and wholesaler Liberty Wines.

Condor pairs with Cooper, capturing stories behind SA’s 2020 harvest

Published: 07 August, 2020

A new advisory collaboration between South American specialist Alistair Cooper MW and importer Condor Wines has delivered its first result in the shape of a 2020 Harvest Report, delivering the stories behind a ‘unique’ vintage.

“Smallest vintage in living memory” delights Oz winemakers, if not accountants

Published: 16 June, 2020

Off the back of a “rollercoaster ride”, variously involving frosts, drought, heatwaves, horrendous bush fires and finally the disruption of Covid-19, Australia’s 2020 vintage is expected to produce some “sensational wines” from a very low yielding crush.

Catena chief winemaker calls 2019 vintage “one of the best in 10 years”

Published: 21 April, 2020

The chief winemaker at Argentina’s Bodega Catena Zapata has called 2019 “one of the best vintages of the last 10 years”.

Sogrape declares 2018 vintage for Sandeman, Offley and Ferreira

Published: 09 April, 2020

Sogrape Estates has declared 2018 a vintage year for its Sandeman, Offley and Ferreira estates.

Friday Read: Price and vintage in Champagne

Published: 31 January, 2020

To the untrained eye, little has changed in the world of Champagne marketing. The Grande Marques, endowed with lavish budgets, continue to position themselves at the most glamorous events. Vintages are declared and the well-oiled marketing machine continues to roll.

‘Buy now’ advice for Burgundy 2018 reds as quality outstrips 2015

Published: 28 January, 2020

Bountiful crops and idyllic weather was the talk of Europe in 2018, following on from the dismal vintage shortfalls of 2017 where producers suffered bouts of frost, hail and a late spell of searing heat.