News - Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Valette joins Rita

Published: 23 July, 2008

Patrick Valette has joined Chilean winery Via Santa Rita as wine consultant.

Argentina exports up but UK slumps

Published: 23 July, 2008

Global exports of Argentinian wine are up more than 35%
by volume and nearly 24% by value - but the UK has suffered falls of nearly 11% and 17% respectively.

New Sainsbury's BWS boss joins from Tesco

Published: 23 July, 2008

Sainsbury's beer, wines and spirits department has a new boss, Xavier Vidal, who has been poached from Tesco.
Frenchman Vidal comes in as business unit director, replacing Lawrence Clube, and will be responsible for the 6 billion impulse sector, which includes confectionery, soft drinks, snacks, tobacco and petrol, as well as BWS.

Vinos launches Viniterra

Published: 23 July, 2008

Argentinian producer Viniterra is entering the UK for the first time after signing an agency deal with the recently launched importer Vinos Wines.

New website for Inspirit

Published: 23 July, 2008

Inspirit brands, the drinks marketing company based in Hoxton, London, has launched a new website: www.inspiritbrands.com.

Caliterra rebrands

Published: 23 July, 2008

Errazuriz is relaunching its Caliterra brand with a new global livery, screwcap closures for all white and varietal red wines, and a new premium tier.

Drayton Bird teams up with NZ

Published: 23 July, 2008

Marketing guru Drayton Bird is to give a one-day seminar on wine marketing on 27 June, sponsored by New Zealand Winegrowers.

The mail man

Published: 23 July, 2008

It's a bit complicated interviewing Patrick Bernard. You talk to this very affable, very charming man for whom wine is a third career - and you realise that the second career, which was in the family brandy company, is still part of the story, because the ownership is the same as for Millsima.

New-look Blossom Hill

Published: 23 July, 2008

The UK's best-selling wine brand, Blossom Hill, has unveiled a new look for its core range as part of a drive to raise awareness for the 4.99 single-varietal series.

Hardys launches SMS campaign

Published: 23 July, 2008

Hardys - the UK's best-selling Australian wine brand - is launching a new marketing campaign based around SMS text messaging.

ZGM and D&D split

Published: 23 July, 2008

ZGM and D&D Wines have agreed to end their working relationship after a 25-year partnership.

Sir Cliff honoured

Published: 23 July, 2008

Sir Cliff Richard was honoured in a special ceremony at the Portuguese Embassy on 20 April and made Commander of the Order of Prince Henry the Navigator in recognition of his long and warm relationship with Portugal and his contribution to revitalising wine production in the Algarve. The latest vintage of Sir Cliff's wine, Vida Nova, will be presented by the man himself at the Harpers stand (K10) at the LIWSF at 12.30 pm on Wednesday.

LIWSF debate

Published: 23 July, 2008

The Harpers Debate takes place as usual next Wednesday (May 17) at the London International Wine & Spirit Fair in Waterfront Rooms 11 and 12. The objective of the debate is to look at a serious issue confronting the industry in a lively, entertaining way involving the whole audience.

Australian woes continue

Published: 23 July, 2008

The tough times for the Australian wine industry look set to continue with a new report warning that producers face continuing losses' unless serious structural issues are addressed.

Ochoa moves to Pol Roger

Published: 23 July, 2008

Bodegas Ochoa of Navarra and Bodegas Miguel Merino of Rioja will be represented in the UK by Pol Roger from this month.

Taste-in launched

Published: 23 July, 2008

A new bespoke' wine tasting service has been launched - utilising the services of Anthony Rose, Andrew Jefford, Oz Clarke, Robert Joseph, Steven Spurrier, Michael Broadbent and Charles Metcalfe - by wine writer John Stimpfig and wine consultant Sophie Jump.

See and be seen

Published: 23 July, 2008

Having just returned from the London International Wine & Spirits Fair, probably the last thing you want to think about is another exhibition. But MiWine, which claims to showcase the finest spirits and wine makers throughout Italy as well as exhibitors from other producing countries, takes place from 12-14 June in Milan.

Waste not, want not

Published: 23 July, 2008

Like a bad penny, the Packaging Waste Regulations keep turning up in my career. When I was a solicitor, I represented a number of companies that were prosecuted for failing to comply with different parts of the regulations. My last case ended up in the High Court arguing about whether plant pots were packaging or not.

Mathieu Roche - Chef sommelier/matre d'htel, Longueville Manor

Published: 23 July, 2008

You grew up in Bordeaux but learned about wine in Jersey. Isn't this a bit back to front?
I suppose it is. For some reason, the wine courses at my catering college were very complicated - maybe I didn't really click with the teacher or something - but when I arrived at Longueville, I was encouraged to learn about wine in depth.

Waverley TBS buys into Wales

Published: 23 July, 2008

Wholesaler WaverleyTBS has announced that it is buying one of Wales' largest independent wholesalers, Cellar Wines Direct (CWD), based in Cardiff, for an undisclosed sum.