News - Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Portman Group welcomes steep decline in drink-drive deaths

Published: 18 October, 2019

The number of deaths from drink-driving has fallen around the world, according to the International Alliance for Responsible Drinking.

Bulk wine can bulwark against environmental criticism

Published: 18 October, 2019

Bulk wine would benefit from a name change to flip perception onto its lower carbon credentials, while highlighting what it it can now offer in terms of flexibility to many sectors of the trade.

Growth slows at Pernod Ricard

Published: 18 October, 2019

Sales growth at global drinks giant Pernod Ricard has slowed, with first-quarter turnover of €2.483bn revealing underlying growth of just 1.3%, in line with expectations.

Aldi launches free online wine course

Published: 18 October, 2019

Discount multiple retailer Aldi has unveiled a free new online wine course aimed at helping consumers find their way around the wine aisle.

Tariffs will slash US whisky exports by 20%, SWA warns

Published: 18 October, 2019

The 25% tariff on the import of Scottish single-malt whisky to the US, which came into force last night, will lose the industry 20% of its US exports in the first year, the Scotch Whisky Association has estimated.

Friday Read: Hide’s Julia Sewell on NZ setting benchmark for land custodianship

Published: 18 October, 2019

New Zealand Winegrowers’ Sommit 2019 gave 16 international somms the chance to explore 200 years of winemaking from Northland to Otago.

UK is the world’s third largest ecommerce market for alcohol – but can you name one and two?

Published: 17 October, 2019

The UK has been identified as one of the top countries in the world for sales of alcohol online, with a surprising outcome for the first and second spot.

Veuve Clicquot to open London Champagne bar

Published: 17 October, 2019

Veuve Clicquot has partnered with award-winning US singer-songwriter Annie Clark, better known as St Vincent, to open a Champagne bar in London’s Covent Garden.

SWA in crisis meeting with govt as tariff deadline looms

Published: 17 October, 2019

The Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) is to meet secretary of state for trade Liz Truss later today to demand government action on the threatened US tariffs on Scotch.

Harpers to host sparkling wine discussion at Bellavita

Published: 17 October, 2019

Harpers editor Andrew Catchpole will host a roundtable on sparkling wines at Mediterranean food and wine fair Bellavita next week.

Asda workers take to streets as contract row escalates

Published: 16 October, 2019

Asda workers will take to the streets of Leeds this afternoon to protest against the retailer’s decision to impose a new contract on all of its staff.

New marketing director for Bordeaux

Published: 16 October, 2019

The CIVB has appointed Julie Rambaud-Texier to head its newly restructured marketing department.

UK cocktail market passes £600m

Published: 16 October, 2019

UK spirits lovers drank £604m of cocktails in the last year, according to the latest quarterly Mixed Drinks report from market analysts CGA.

At the 11th hour, how will a no-deal Brexit affect the wine trade?

Published: 16 October, 2019

As the UK fruit and vegetable harvest gets into full swing in the looming shadow of Brexit, headlines such as The Guardian’s ‘Tonnes of crops left to rot as farms struggle to recruit EU workers’ are becoming commonplace.

CBD rum ad ruling points to new marketing restrictions

Published: 16 October, 2019

The ASA has banned adverts for a cannabis-oil infused rum, in a ruling that could have implications for the marketing of the fast-growing CBD-drinks sector.

Changing of the guard at Taittinger

Published: 16 October, 2019

Pierre-Emmanuel Taittinger is to step down as president of the eponymous family-owned Champagne house at the end of 2019.

Bordeaux readies to plant southern varieties in face of climate crisis

Published: 15 October, 2019

As the last of the Cabernet Sauvignon is picked in what looks to be a ‘good’ 2019 vintage, Bordeaux is gearing up for what may be the most significant change in vineyard complexion since the ravages of phylloxera in the late 1800s.

Millennials vital to health of the wine sector over next five years, says new research

Published: 15 October, 2019

A new definitive report into the drinking behaviours of millennials (born between 1980 and 2000) has put to bed concerns that younger drinkers are completely abandoning wine in favour of craft beers or spirits – or even eschewing alcohol completely.