News - Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Dawn Davies: ‘Looking Back, Forging Ahead’

Published: 30 July, 2025

Dawn Davies, buying director at Speciality Drinks, the latest contributor to our summer Q&A series, ponders recent events in the ever-dynamic world of spirits.

Curious Vines launches fresh campaign to inspire industry action

Published: 30 July, 2025

Curious Vines, the support group for women and non-binary people in the wine trade, has announced a new campaign highlighting the positive impact the non-profit has had on the sector.

Tariffs: $25bn impact on US wine while France seeks spirits exemption

Published: 30 July, 2025

Recent analysis from Unione Italiana Vini (UIV), drawing from research by WineAmerica, has revealed that the recently announced 15% tariff on European wine imports will cost the US upwards of $25bn.

Australia: Wine exports to China stabilise with other markets down

Published: 29 July, 2025

A new export report from Wine Australia shows that after an initial surge in sales after Chinese tariffs on Australian wine ended last year, Aussie wine sales to China have begun to stabilise.

English and Welsh vineyard numbers continue to climb

Published: 28 July, 2025

Wine GB’s Industry Report 2025 shows that vineyard numbers in England and Wales have risen by 74 to 1,104 over the past year. There are also 25 newly registered wineries bringing the total to 238.

Italian wine braces for €317mn loss despite tariff deal

Published: 28 July, 2025

Projections from Unione Italiana Vini (UIV) show that the Italian wine sector could lose over €317mn over the next 12 months due to the 15% tariff on EU exports to the US.

Bancroft onboards Yarra Valley’s Oakridge Wines to portfolio

Published: 28 July, 2025

Importer Bancroft Wines has announced the addition of Oakridge Wines from Australia’s Yarra Valley to its portfolio.

WSET stalwart Gareth Lawrence passes away

Published: 28 July, 2025

Ian Harris MBE, CEO of the Wine & Spirit Education Trust from 2002 to 2022, remembers one of the organisation’s great educators.

Archie McDiarmid: ‘Looking Back, Forging Ahead’

Published: 28 July, 2025

Next up in our Summer Q&A series is Archie McDiarmid, manager at Luvians Bottleshop in St Andrews, who reflects on tourism, tax and trade wars.

Hallgarten continues portfolio expansion with first cognac

Published: 25 July, 2025

The importer Hallgarten & Novum Wines has continued its portfolio expansion apace with the addition of Cognac producer Frapin.

Vagabond to open ‘cathedral to wine’

Published: 25 July, 2025

Vagabond Wines is set to open what it says will be the UK’s largest urban winery at London’s Canada Water later this year.

LWC opens sustainable depot in Merseyside

Published: 25 July, 2025

Independent wholesaler LWC has opened a 74,500sq ft state-of-the-art distribution depot in Knowsley, Merseyside, in what it says is “a major investment in the region and setting a new standard for service and sustainability”.

India-UK trade deal signed with hopes for scotch boom

Published: 25 July, 2025

Indian and British Prime Ministers, Narendra Modi and Keir Starmer, have formally signed a free trade agreement which will include an easement of Indian tariffs on Scotch whisky.

Michael Saunders: ‘Looking Back, Forging Ahead’

Published: 25 July, 2025

In the next of edition of our Summer Q&A series, CEO of Coterie Holdings, Michael Saunders provides his perspective on the health of the drinks trade.

Champagne reduces harvest yield in face of global uncertainty

Published: 24 July, 2025

The Comité Champagne has announced that the available harvest yield for 2025 will be set at 9,000 kg/ha. This decision marks the third year in a row that yields have been reduced compared to the previous, as well as being the lowest yield level since 2020 (8,000kg/ha).

Australian Vintage unveils premium single-serve wine range

Published: 23 July, 2025

Wine producer Australian Vintage has announced the launch of a new series of premium single-serve wines, named Poco Vino.

Cask Trade and The Drinks Trust announce new whisky masterclasses

Published: 23 July, 2025

The whisky cask marketplace Cask Trade in collaboration with The Drinks Trust has announced the launch of a series of whisky masterclasses. The free programme will form part of The Drinks Trust’s flagship educational initiative ‘Develop’.

Armit partners with Weingut Bernard Ott in Austrian expansion

Published: 22 July, 2025

Armit Wines has expanded its European fine wine portfolio with the onboarding of Austria’s Weingut Bernard Ott.

Scotch auction to whisk collectors off their feet

Published: 22 July, 2025

The Distillers’ Charity, in partnership with Sotheby’s, is for a third time bringing together Scotch whisky distilleries for the biennial Distillers One of One Auction.

Penfolds announces Evermore France Grant Program recipients

Published: 21 July, 2025

Penfolds has announced the first recipients of its Evermore France Grant Program, an initiative launched earlier this year supporting sustainability projects that contribute to local communities and winemaking in France.