News - Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

MGuigan writes off

Published: 23 July, 2008

Australian producer McGuigan Simeon revealed last week that it will write down the value of its wine stocks by up to AUS$20 million.

6-7 category up 27%

Published: 23 July, 2008

The 6 to 7 price band is booming in the UK's multiple grocers - with sales by volume up 27% in the last year.

Wine Show London is 30% bigger for 2006

Published: 23 July, 2008

By Jack Hibberd
The 2006 edition of The Wine Show London - which with its first event established itself as the most important consumer event in the wine trade calendar - will be 30% larger than last year, with a host of new exhibitors signed up for the four-day event (26-29 October).

Victoria on the offensive

Published: 23 July, 2008

By Tony Keys
We have a dream' appears to be the mantra coming out of the wine industry of the southern Australian state of Victoria. The dream, for once, is not all theoretical hyperbole; goals and aspirations, including real figures, have been included. The strategic plan for the Victorian wine industry 2006-2010 aims to:

Record NZ vintage

Published: 23 July, 2008

The 2006 New Zealand harvest is the largest ever, with the figure of 185,000 tonnes beating the previous record, set in 2004, by 11%. Sauvignon Blanc accounted for around half the total, at 96,000 tonnes.

KWV buys share in NMK

Published: 23 July, 2008

As reported in Harpers last month, South African producer KWV has bought a stake in NMK Schulz, a distributor in the Cape that handles wines such as Simonsig and Warwick, and also Stella Artois and Grolsch.

Champagne's radioactive threat

Published: 23 July, 2008

A report by action group Greenpeace claims that Champagne vineyards could be at risk following the reopening of a radioactive waste dump in the region.

Best of British

Published: 23 July, 2008

A decade ago, cider had hit rock bottom. A new drinks category had emerged: the alcopop. Brands like Two Dogs and Hooch quickly made inroads into the market, and cider was the main casualty. By the turn of the millennium, alcopop sales had overtaken cider for the first time.

Symington may take control of Cockburn's

Published: 23 July, 2008

Port producer Symington Family Estates is currently in discussion with Beam Global Spirits & Wine regarding taking over production from rival house Cockburn's.

Vincor deal confirmed

Published: 23 July, 2008

Constellation Brands has finally completed its C$1.22 billion (590 million) acquisition of Canadian company Vincor - with both shareholder and court approval now given.

Aussie growers ask for government aid

Published: 23 July, 2008

An Australian grape grower representative has asked the federal government for a AUS$60 million bailout to prevent up to 40% of growers going out of business in the next two years.

Super Italians

Published: 23 July, 2008

Tuscan promise from Richards Walford
The highlight from the Richards Walford table will be the latest releases from Monte Bernardi, Panzano-in-Chianti in Tuscany. The estate was taken over two years ago by brother and sister team, Michael and Jennifer Schmelzer. Jennifer will be in London to present their 2004 Chianti Classico, 2003 Sa'etta IGT (100% Sangiovese) and 2003 Tzingana IGT (45% Merlot 42% Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc and 13% Petit Verdot. Richards Walford's range is primarily from northern Italy and its selection will also include new wines and vintages from Lombardy, Tuscany, Piedmont and Veneto.
Tables 53 and 54

France and SA lose out under three-for-two'

Published: 23 July, 2008

France and South Africa are the big losers at Threshers since the introduction of its buy-two-get-one-free' offer.

forthcoming events

Published: 23 July, 2008

8 May-19 June
Sotheby's - Regional Wine Course Spring Term - 34 New Bond Street, London W1A 2AA. Contact Sotheby's Wine Department on 020 7293 6423.

Delpeuch looks back in anger

Published: 23 July, 2008

By Jack Hibberd
Christian Delpeuch has controversially stepped down from his position as president of the Conseil Interprofessionnel du Vin de Bordeaux (CIVB) in protest against the inertia shown by various groups in dealing with Bordeaux's problems.

Jackson heights

Published: 23 July, 2008

There must be some Alan Sugar-type management byword that nice men (or women) don't make it to the top. At the risk of sounding like a Martyn Lewis acolyte (he was the BBC News presenter who complained that there were not enough nice' stories in the news), Peter Jackson, the new boss at FGL Wine Estates Europe, the merged business of Foster's Beringer Blass and the Southcorp portfolio, defies many people's belief that you have to be nasty and Machiavellian to succeed corporately.

Waverley TBS returns to Hemel Hempstead

Published: 23 July, 2008

Five-and-a-half months after the Buncefield Depot explosion on 11 December, WaverleyTBS has moved back to Hemel Hempstead.

New CEO at Oddbins

Published: 23 July, 2008

Oddbins' managing director, Jacques Duley, is leaving the high street retailer with immediate effect.

The Interview - Paul Askew, chef proprietor, London Carriage Works

Published: 23 July, 2008

Paul was born in Sunderland, and moved to Liverpool when his father joined the Blue Star line as a merchant navy sea captain. He lived all over the world, as his father was stationed in various ports, then returned to catering college in the UK, followed by a spell working in the kitchen of a restaurant on the Wirral. After it was bought by the brewery Greenalls, he left to work in upstate New York for a chef agency. He came back to England for his first head chef position at Wincham Hall in Cheshire, and then became executive chef at the Philharmonic Hall in Liverpool in 1995. While eyeing up the London Carriage Works building he met the man who had bought it, Dave Brewitt, and joined as chef proprietor. They opened the restaurant and attached Hope Street Hotel in December 2003, and still retain control of the Philharmonic kitchen.
Suppliers include House of Townend, Boutinot, Rodney Densem, Laurent Perrier, Justerini & Brooks, Playford Ros and Inverarity Vaults.