Category Reports - Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Sustainability Report: The insetting mission

Published: 01 December, 2023

All parts of the wine supply chain – from producers to retailers – can find ways to minimise their environmental impact. James Bayley reports.

Sustainability Report: Aiding ethical consumers

Published: 29 November, 2023

The alcohol industry is tasked with helping consumers bridge the gap between their appetite for sustainable solutions and following through, writes Jo Gilbert.

Navigating Port’s choppy waters

Published: 27 November, 2023

In some quarters, Port sales received something of a lockdown boost as consumers made the most of longer, more relaxed at-home-drinking occasions. Jo Gilbert asks, can restaurants utilise this goodwill to maximise sales this winter?

Henry Jeffreys: Whisky goes global

Published: 24 November, 2023

Henry Jeffreys looks beyond Scotch and more latterly Japan, to those countries which have emerged as serious, sellable propositions for the trade.

Headline Heroes: A question of time for Champagne

Published: 22 November, 2023

David Kermode quizzes the experts about why lees ageing is so important when it comes to the finest Champagnes.

Global Grenache Taste-Off

Published: 20 October, 2023

With this versatile variety on the rise, Andrew Catchpole invited a panel to take a dive into its possibilities and progress on the world stage.

Headline Heroes: Crémant rises

Published: 02 October, 2023

The UK’s appetite for sparkling wine has led to increasing sales for wallet-friendly Champagne alternatives, and crémant ticks the right boxes. James Lawrence reports.

Vodka: Mainstay on the back-bar

Published: 24 August, 2023

James Bayley assesses the health of the vodka category in the wake of the great Russian boycott and notes the spirit’s premium leanings.

Taste-Off: Coming around to Riesling

Published: 31 July, 2023

The trade returns to the Riesling conundrum time and again, but our Taste Off panel detected signs of change with respect to this consumer-bewildering variety. Andrew Catchpole reports from a lively session at 9 Vines in Hove.

Sparkling: Reasons to be cheerful

Published: 23 June, 2023

The sparkling wine market in the UK is changing. While the cost-of-living crisis clearly bites, there are some categories that are still – or should we say finally – full of fizz. Anne Krebiehl MW reports.

Future-proofing Prosecco

Published: 31 May, 2023

Prosecco continues to build momentum in the UK and power onwards on a global scale. Lucy Shaw looks at the trends that continue to revitalise this seemingly invincible category.

War of the Rosés

Published: 26 May, 2023

With the contrasting styles of Navarra rosados and Provence rosés setting the scene, Harpers’ second Taste Off session set about exploring the opportunities for diversifying the popular pink category in the UK.

Rioja’s great whites

Published: 24 May, 2023

Abbie Bennington delves into the exciting and diverse white Riojas emerging from the Spanish region and why Rioja shouldn’t simply mean red.

Boutique Bulk

Published: 20 March, 2023

Bulk is going boutique and both trade and consumers are the winners. Andrew Catchpole assesses this planet and margin-friendly option.

Managing the flames of Champagne demand

Published: 15 March, 2023

Out of the Covid frying pan into the cost of living fire – having experienced a strong bounce in premium sales, how is Champagne faring as inflationary pressures continue to impact? James Bayley reports.

Closures – beyond cork and screwcap

Published: 06 March, 2023

James Lawrence looks at the top closure innovations beyond cork and screwcap, to find out what is improving both quality control and the consumer experience.

Rum: A global spirit

Published: 03 February, 2023

From the Indian Ocean to the UK, via Denmark, Canada and Japan, growing pockets of quality production outside the Caribbean are turning rum into a truly global affair, writes Jo Gilbert.