News - Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

South Yorkshire follows Manchester into Tier 3

Published: 21 October, 2020

South Yorkshire has officially joined Manchester in the highest bracket of Covid measures, meaning bars and restaurants not serving seated meals will close.

Simon Thorpe MW joins Wine GB team

Published: 21 October, 2020

Wine GB has strengthened its team with the appointment of Simon Thorpe MW as new CEO.

NZW Independent Retail Promotion dates set for spring 2121

Published: 20 October, 2020

New Zealand Winegrowers (NZW) has announced the new dates for its Independent Retail Promotion which, originally due to take place in April and May this year, will now run in spring 2021.

William Grant & Sons raises further funds for The Drinks Trust

Published: 20 October, 2020

William Grant & Sons has raised an additional £10,600 so far from its latest, and final, #Standfast initiative in support of The Drinks Trust, The BEN in Scotland and The Restaurants Association Ireland.

Millésime Bio confirms January event

Published: 20 October, 2020

SudVinBio has confirmed that its Millésime Bio event will go ahead in Montpellier between 25 and 27 January 2021.

Lyme Bay unveils Pinot Noir with 14.7% abv potential

Published: 20 October, 2020

Lyme Bay Winery (LBW) has reported a batch of Pinot Noir with potential alcohol levels of 14.7% - a record for the UK it claimed.

FMV restructure focuses on premium off-trade and private customers

Published: 20 October, 2020

Berry Bros & Rudd (BBR) has announced that the restructure of trade arm FMV is complete, leaving almost 100 producers in its trimmed portfolio, with traditional strength Burgundy at its core.

Campari becomes Portman Group’s newest member

Published: 20 October, 2020

The Portman Group has welcomed Campari UK as its newest member

Popular trade figure Terry Threlfall passes away

Published: 19 October, 2020

It was with surprise and a heavy heart that the wine trade community – in the UK and beyond – received the news of Terry Threlfall’s untimely death. Terry passed away last Friday from a heart attack, aged just 43.

Wales to go into national circuit breaker lockdown

Published: 19 October, 2020

The Welsh government has announced that the whole country will be going into a circuit beaker lockdown from 6pm this Friday.

SA wine prices predicted to recover again in ‘next few years’

Published: 19 October, 2020

The Covid-19 pandemic has had a far-reaching effect on wine-producing countries across the globe, not least South Africa.

Jascots adds Rhône producer Francois Villard

Published: 19 October, 2020

Jascots Wine Merchants has added the Northern Rhône wines of Francois Villard to its portfolio.

Tightening restrictions squeeze drinks sales further

Published: 19 October, 2020

Tightening restrictions have squeezed food and drink sales further, with more disruption to pubs and bars looming with the new tiered system, according to new CGA research.

I Heart Prosecco rosé launches

Published: 19 October, 2020

Freixenet Copestick has expanded the sparkling side of its I Heart portfolio with a Prosecco rosé and a limited edition festive Prosecco.

Industry estimates 750,000 job losses without ‘appropriate support’

Published: 19 October, 2020

Hospitality faces 750,000 job losses without urgent government support, according to the latest research conducted by CGA for UK Hospitality (UKH), the British Institute of Innkeeping (BII) and the British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA).

Editor’s Choice

Published: 16 October, 2020

The on-trade’s woes dominated the news in a week when Boris Johnson first announced a new three-tier lockdown system, ahead of swathes of the UK being impacted by varying degrees of social gathering and curfew restrictions, along with outright closure in Northern Ireland and Tier 3 restrictions in the Liverpool region, once again impacting heavily on hospitality.

Friday Read: Make vegan wines worthy of everyone’s attention

Published: 16 September, 2020

Rowena Curlewis, CEO of drinks design specialist Denomination, on why plant-based wines need to move beyond their niche appeal and invite all-comers to the party

Lancashire pubs and bars to close as county moves into Tier 3

Published: 16 October, 2020

Wet-led pubs and bars across Lancashire, including Blackpool, Blackburn and Fleetwood, are set to close from midnight tonight as the county moves into Tier 3 of the government’s lockdown system.

Nicholls: ‘200,000 jobs could be lost this weekend’

Published: 16 October, 2020

Kate Nicholls, CEO of UK Hospitality (UKH), has warned that 200,000 hospitality jobs could be lost this weekend alone in central London as new Tier 2 restrictions are implemented.