News - Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Supermarket launches low-alcohol wine range

Published: 23 July, 2008

UK: Sainsbury's supermarket has launched a new range of lower alcohol wines.

Price promotions

Published: 23 July, 2008

New research has shown price promotions are not as influential as thought.

Hail and rain wreck vineyards across eastern France

Published: 23 July, 2008

The cost of the hailstorm and torrential rain that destroyed some of the most famous vineyards in Alsace last Wednesday "was impossible to estimate", the region's promotional body said, revealing that some growers had seen 100% of their crops destroyed.

Spirits help Diageo to 8% growth

Published: 23 July, 2008

Strong demand for Johnnie Walker whisky and Captain Morgan rum in the US and South America has helped UK drinks giant Diageo record an 8% profit growth this fiscal year.

Constellation profits dive

Published: 23 July, 2008

Stronger competition in Britain and a drop in wine shipments to US wholesalers have seen US-owned Constellation Brands, the world's largest wine producer, record a 64% fall in its first-quarter profits.

UK tops frequent drinking chart

Published: 23 July, 2008

UK wine drinkers are the most frequent consumers on the world export market, with more than 80% drinking wine more than once a week.

Gaymers announces 4 million campaign

Published: 23 July, 2008

Gaymer Cider Company has revealed that it will be investing 4 million in its key brand Gaymers Original this year.

English whisky tipped for success

Published: 23 July, 2008

England's first single-malt whisky would be as good as those north of the border - but there may be few Scots willing to admit it, predicts the UK's foremost whisky retailer.

UK vineyards hit by flooding

Published: 23 July, 2008

English and Welsh vineyards have held fast amid the floods and torrential downpours, while licensees are counting the cost of the devastation.

Robotic lagares "best for vintage Port"

Published: 23 July, 2008

BY STUART PESKETT
The Symington family, which owns Graham's, Dow's, and Warre's Port houses, claims that robotic lagares are the best bet for making top-quality Port.

Violence in young binge drinkers

Published: 23 July, 2008

Young binge drinkers are likely to resort to violence, a new survey says.

Generics cautious over green policies

Published: 23 July, 2008

While the UK's generic wine bodies support an industry forum such as Harpers' Green Debate to tackle environmental and sustainability issues, many are hesitant at initiatives that will be all talk and little action.

Diageo loses South Korea import licence

Published: 23 July, 2008

Drinks giant Diageo lost its licence to import alcohol into South Korea and was fined 160,000 after tax authorities found it was involved in illegal sales to unlicensed wholesalers.

BMA calls for an end to cheap supermarket booze promotions

Published: 23 July, 2008

Alcohol voluntary agreements do not go far enough, the influential group warns.

English speaking countries top wine drinking consumption

Published: 23 July, 2008

Half of American, Australian and British wine drinkers drink wine at least twice a week, compared with a quarter of Finnish and 32% of Japanese wine drinker, the latest research from Wine Intelligence reveals.