Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Loire rebrand aims for modernisation

Published: 19 February, 2024

InterLoire has announced the launch of a new collective identity for its wines as part of a move to update the region’s branding.

Bollinger expands Loire footprint with Hubert Brochard

Published: 01 July, 2022

The Bollinger Group has increased its presence in the Loire Valley with the acquisition of Sancerre’s Hubert Brochard estate.

Full steam ahead for Harpers Loire Valley competition

Published: 04 April, 2022

Merchants across the UK continue to sign up to the Loire Valley Wines competition, organised in collaboration with Harpers and the region’s promotional body.

Q&A: Vanessa Cherruau, Château De Plaisance

Published: 06 January, 2022

Vanessa Cherruau, co-owner and winemaker at Château De Plaisance, picked an interesting time to take over 22ha of vineyards in Anjou’s prestigious Rochefort-sur-Loire region – home to the only Premier and Grand Cru in the Loire – in 2019, just before the pandemic and with a baby on the way. She speaks to Jo Gilbert about past and future, sweet and dry, and why being biodynamic isn’t ‘crazy’ at all.

Loire vintage 2021: 'Hard year, but versatile and beautiful wines'

Published: 17 November, 2021

Winegrowers in the Loire Valley region grappled with a difficult and challenging season, but were rewarded with a good crop of fresh and aromatic wines, according to a new harvest report from InterLoire.

Registration closing soon on Loire Valley indies promotion

Published: 11 August, 2020

Registration is closing soon for the autumn Loire Valley independent wine merchant promotion, on which Harpers is partnering with Loire Valley Wines.

Loire Valley sparklers herald UK uplift

Published: 02 July, 2020

Loire Valley fizz has enjoyed a surge in exports to the UK, with Crémant de Loire having jumped just shy of 50%.

Loire leaps up in UK exports but still has far to go

Published: 04 November, 2019

Wine producers are making concerted efforts to convince consumers to fall in love with their region. By Lisa Riley

Loire exports to the UK gather pace

Published: 04 November, 2019

Loire wine exports to the UK were on the up in the past year in both value and volume terms but the region is struggling to reach levels achieved a couple of years ago.

Anjou investors chase drier styles as sweet sales dwindle

Published: 16 July, 2019

The renaissance of dry Chenin wines, together with dwindling sales of sweet wines, have driven investors in Quarts-de–Chaumes – the Loire’s only Grand Cru appellation – to switch production from sweet to dry wines.

Think France unveils array of expert presenters for masterclasses

Published: 13 March, 2019

Think France has lined up a fantastic array of presenters, including Rebecca Gibb MW, Greg Sherwood MW, Chateaux Lestrille’s Estelle Roumage and Richard Hemming MW, who will be heading up a far-reaching range of masterclasses exploring aspects of this seminal wine producing country.

Loire and order

Published: 28 January, 2019

As New Zealand struggles to establish regionality, Loire winemakers in the “home” of Sauvignon Blanc are re-carving their identity by putting their unique soils front and centre. Jo Gilbert reports

Taxi! Loire Valley Wines splashes out on black cab branding

Published: 26 April, 2018

The trade body that represents winemakers from the Loire Valley is gearing up for a marketing offensive in London in May.

New fizz category and Cabernet Franc interest lifts Loire

Published: 28 February, 2018

Nine Loire wine producers and regional wine body, Interloire, have joined forces to launch a premium category for Crémant de Loire and sparkling wines.

UK bound: French Wine Discoveries

Published: 22 January, 2018

It can be a double-edged sword being a French winemaker.

Loire project promises ‘thousands of possibilities’ for Sauvignon Blanc

Published: 09 June, 2017

A long-term research and development project undertaken by Central Loire Valley Wines (BIVC) aimed at improving both the quality and variety of Sauvignon Blanc is close to fruition.