News - Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Criminal conduct' suspected at Uvine

Published: 23 July, 2008

The administrator brought in to salvage Uvine, the wine exchange company that collapsed last month, has alleged that criminal conduct' may have taken place.

Drinks trade must face the future, says Carson

Published: 23 July, 2008

The drinks trade must face the future now and the challenge is to embrace social responsibility, says Christopher Carson, chairman of Constellation Wines Europe and chairman of the Wine & Spirit Trade Association.

Profile - Jasper Morris MW

Published: 23 July, 2008

Basingstoke!' as Mad Margaret says in Gilbert and Sullivan's Ruddigore. She says it to restore herself to sanity whenever she's about to relapse: for Jasper Morris, it's more of a biography. He was born there and lately he's been working there; and its clay-limestone soil (so he says; I have no idea) gives it an affinity with Burgundy, which of course has been the foundation of most of his working life. Neat, no?

The Interview - Seumas MacInnesProprietor, Caf Gandolfi

Published: 23 July, 2008

Did you change many things when you took over the business?

This is one of those places where if you change anything you get millions of letters complaining! We've got a very loyal customer base. We have, of course, developed things over the years though, mostly the Scottish elements. My family are from the isle of Barra, so because of my Gaelic heritage I've really encouraged all the staff here to find out more about Scottish products.

Inspectors' fruitless Camel Valley visit cost 3,000'

Published: 23 July, 2008

by Stuart Peskett
The owner of Camel Valley winery in Cornwall has hit out at the way EU vineyard inspections are carried out, after four officials arrived to collect just 10 bunches of grapes.

Cyrus Todiwala MBE - Chef, restauranteur and educator

Published: 23 July, 2008

You have just come from speaking to the BBC on issues that you clearly find emotive. What's going on?
The Government has put forward a new proposal that restaurateurs cannot import staff from India who don't speak English. But people who come from Poland, Bulgaria or Lithuania don't necessarily speak English. The restaurateurs are saying it is unfair, because those people who come from remote areas, who might have a particular skill that is lacking here, won't necessarily know the language. I agree you can't survive in this country without English - the Government has a point. But the fact that every single person coming out of the subcontinent of India must speak English I think is very arrogant on the part of the Home Office.

Beaujolais gets new UK campaign

Published: 23 July, 2008

A new promotional campaign for Beaujolais wines will be unveiled at this year's London Wine Show.

Beam set to blaze a trail

Published: 23 July, 2008

By Christian Davis
Beam Global Spirits & Wine is aiming to become a top-three global spirits and super-premium wine company, which will mean growth rates of 20% over the next 10 years.

Speculation that Fortune could be subject of break up bid

Published: 23 July, 2008

By Ron Emler
The trend for international companies to focus on single sectors is focusing attention on the American conglomerate Fortune Brands. Following its participation in the takeover and break-up of Allied Domecq with Pernod Ricard last year, analysts are suggesting it could suffer the same fate.

Bordeaux gets its own vin de pays- de L'Atlantique

Published: 23 July, 2008

By Dawn Cran
Vins de Pays wines will be allowed in Bordeaux for the first time, following the recent introduction of a new appellation for the departments of Dordogne, Gironde, Charente, Charente Maritime and the north of the Lot-et-Garonne.

New Age Discrimination Act: most important employment legislation

Published: 23 July, 2008

In potentially the greatest single change in employment law for a decade, controversial new legislation came into force last Sunday (1 October) prohibiting discrimination against employees and job applicants on the grounds of their age.

Uvine into administration; MD declared bankrupt

Published: 23 July, 2008

By Stuart Peskett
Uvine, the wine exchange company that acts as an intermediary for the buying and selling of wine, went into administration on Tuesday - with its MD, Christopher Burr MW, declared bankrupt.

IMW to auction 400 top wines at Christie's

Published: 23 July, 2008

Nearly 400 of the world's most expensive wines are being donated by members of the Institute of Masters of Wine (IMW) for two auctions.

Life's a beach for relaunched Barramundi

Published: 23 July, 2008

Barramundi, the Australian winery owned by Evans & Tate, has been relaunched with totally new packaging and a refreshed' range of varietals.

William Grant & Sons takes full control of First Drinks Brands

Published: 23 July, 2008

Bacardi Martini Ltd has sold its 50% share in distribution company First Drinks Brands to independent distiller William Grant & Sons.

Diageo rapped by advert watchdog

Published: 23 July, 2008

By Stuart Peskett
Two alcopop manufacturers have been criticised by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA), which ruled that their respective ad campaigns appealed to under-18s.

Tagus Creek wins Poppy Appeal deal

Published: 23 July, 2008

Portuguese brand Tagus Creek is to bear The Royal British Legion's poppy logo until the end of 2007.

Profile on Paul Henry of the AWBC: 'Henry bosses the Aussies' - by Tony Keys

Published: 23 July, 2008

Young family, new job, rising star within his chosen field. All of these are applicable to Paul Henry, who took over the role of general manager market development at the Australian Wine and Brandy Corporation (AWBC) in April this year.

New on-trade ambassador for the wines of Chile

Published: 23 July, 2008

As part of a new drive to increase shelf space for Chilean wines in the UK on-trade, Wines of Chile sponsored a 2006 Travel Award for the Academy of Food and Wine Services.

News special: IWC's wine fault analysis

Published: 23 July, 2008

By Paul White - Anyone who has watched the wine closure debate closely over the past few years will have noticed the almost complete absence of objective statistics available to tell us how corks, synthetics and screwcaps actually behave in real-world conditions.