News - Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Mount and Paul team up for new wine website

Published: 23 July, 2008

Ex-Somerfield buyer Angela Mount and former Western Wines MD Mike Paul have announced details of a new website that offers wine advice and reviews for consumers.

Big Tigger laps up Courvoisier

Published: 23 July, 2008

The favourite Cognac of rapper Busta Rhymes and Napoleon Bonaparte now has a new face to extol its virtues.

Waitrose buyers set for stardom

Published: 23 July, 2008

Wine buyers at Waitrose will appear in the retailer's latest TV commercial.

Thierry's French range grows across the board

Published: 23 July, 2008

Agent and importer Thierry's has announced new additions to three of its French agencies.

Provence aims to double UK?market share by 2009

Published: 23 July, 2008

The generic body responsible for Provence wines is to make a big push in the UK?market, and intends to double its market share within two years.

Constellation to build largest bonded warehouse in Europe

Published: 23 July, 2008

Constellation Europe is to spend tens of millions' of pounds on a new packaging and warehousing unit in the West Country that will be the biggest of its kind in Europe.

Government denies no alcohol' warning for pregnant women

Published: 23 July, 2008

The Department of Health has denied claims that it is calling for the drinks industry to urge expectant mothers to boycott alcohol completely for the duration of their pregnancy.

Rupert Clevely, CEO, Geronimo Inns

Published: 23 July, 2008

After 20 years of working as managing director of Veuve Clicquot (UK) and international marketing director for Veuve Clicquot, Rupert Clevely founded the Geronimo group of pubs in 1995 with his wife, Joanna. The company now has 15 sites in London and around the M25, including the Black Swan at Ockham in Surrey and the Tin Goose pubs in Heathrow's Terminals 1 and 3. Next year Geronimo Inns Ltd will open a pub in St Pancras to coincide with the launch of the Eurostar service. Clevely's father, John Clevely MW, is responsible for the wine lists at Geronimo Inns.
Suppliers: Berkmann, Enotria, Louis Latour.

Getting set to tackle UK

Published: 23 July, 2008

Parisian Florence Boube-Legrand moved to Avigon in 2003 to join the Rhne's generic body as export manager for Asia, eastern Europe and Scandinavia. She had had no previous work experience in the wine trade, only developing an interest while working as marketing manager for the lifestyle section of Parisian newspaper, Le Figaro.

Rhne: the vital statistics

Published: 23 July, 2008

The first piece of good news for Inter Rhne is that it has maintained its position as the number-one AOC?in the UK off-trade, having stolen the crown from Bordeaux last year.

Matthew Clark turns to Italy and Oz

Published: 23 July, 2008

Italy and Australia were the main focus at the annual tastings of Matthew Clark - Constellation's on-trade arm - which were held in London and Southampton earlier this month.

Concha y Toro to build on sales lift

Published: 23 July, 2008

Chilean wine producer Concha y Toro has announced a rise in sales for 2006, despite a fall in income for the year.

Counterfeit wine is now huge', warns Sotheby's

Published: 23 July, 2008

Counterfeit wine is a huge and growing' issue, according to the international head of wine at Sotheby's, Serena Sutcliffe MW.

Pernod shares drop 4% after results

Published: 23 July, 2008

Pernod Ricard's half-year results disappointed investors and the group's shares fell by 4.6% on the day of the announcement.

Portugal's Seal of Merit

Published: 23 July, 2008

Eight Portuguese wines exported to the UK will soon feature a special Seal of Merit in an effort to make them more consumer friendly.

Perfection in print

Published: 23 July, 2008

Most wine lovers and industry professionals will have little difficulty naming their favourite restaurants and wine lists, but ask them to say what makes a good wine list and you'll find widely differing views.

Split decision

Published: 23 July, 2008

It is inconceivable that the Cte d'Or would ever be regarded as a single entity, with no recognition of the differences between a Puligny-Montrachet and a Meursault. Yet, for the Clare Valley in South Australia, this is how it is. Though similar in length to the Cte d'Or, the Clare Valley is lumped into one catch-all appellation. But if you have ever tasted a selection of Rieslings from Polish Hill River, Watervale and Sevenhill this is clearly not one homogeneous zone.