News - Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Tio Pepe back in Hell's Kitchen

Published: 23 July, 2008

Tio Pepe is sponsoring Hell's Kitchen USA, the American version of the show that once again features top chef Gordon Ramsay.

Argentina: who's crying now?

Published: 23 July, 2008

Wines of Argentina Annual Trade Tasting

Date: Tuesday 20 September 2005
Venue: Nursery Pavilion, Lord's Cricket Ground, London NW8
Time: 10am-5.30pm

The Wines of Argentina Annual Trade Tasting will take place on Tuesday 20 September at the Nursery Pavilion, Lord's Cricket Ground. Approximately 70 producers have registered to participate, and a separate, themed tasting will look at Malbec and More', for which exhibitors have been asked to submit wines that retail at 5.99 and above. For further information, please contact Tina Coady: call or fax 01480 384 806, or e-mail t.coady@ntlworld.com

Across the Andes: Colchagua and Mendoza

Published: 23 July, 2008

On a balmy evening last March, at the tail end of the Chilean summer, a group of local vineyard workers from the Colchagua Valley gathered on the terrace of Franois and Jacques Lurton's house in Lolol to enact a song-and-dance dramatisation of the local grape harvest. Soulful and entertaining, this involved a slightly gawky but winsome teenager in a fetching cowboy hat plucking' the grapes from a busty matriarch, doing double duty as a vine', as she sang about the trials and tribulations of the harvest, as well as the challenges facing the itinerant grape pickers.

Constellation's shooting star

Published: 23 July, 2008

Was there ever anybody better at selling himself than Chris Carson? If ours had been a job interview I'd have given him the job. In fact, I'd probably have given him my job. It says a lot for the resilience of the Sands family of Constellation that they're still in charge.

The Interview: Stuart Elmes, Assistant general manager, Pacific Oriental, London

Published: 23 July, 2008

Is the City clientele different from that of other parts of London?
The City clientele is very civilised, although in some ways it is a very clinical audience. They don't really want us to talk that much. It's really about providing them with food and beverages, then leaving them to discuss the business that they need to. We don't check back on customers, which is very different after working in a hotel. We try to drum into the staff an awareness of body language. Could there possibly be a problem? If so, then we will ask if everything is satisfactory. We don't really get into conversations with people, apart from finding out the pet likes and dislikes of some of our regular customers.

More accessible' Laphroaig launched

Published: 23 July, 2008

Islay malt producer Laphroaig has launched a more accessible' single malt, partly matured in 100-litre quarter casks'.

Waverley on a Promise with 1.6M investment

Published: 23 July, 2008

On-trade giant WaverleyTBS is investing 1.6 million to raise awareness of the South African brand Cape Promise in the
run-up to Christmas.

Thresher unveils plans for Wine Rack revitalisation'

Published: 23 July, 2008

Multiple specialist Thresher has announced details of its plans to revitalise' Wine Rack.

TV chef gets creative with cocktails

Published: 23 July, 2008

TV chef James Tanner has created a series of cocktails
with Plymouth Gin.

Zonin warns of Italian crisis'

Published: 23 July, 2008

The world of Italian wine is in trouble. If we don't come out
of this crisis in a hurry, I see thousands of jobs being lost
in vineyards, in cellars, in distribution and in the media,' according to Gianni Zonin, one of Italy's principal wine producers with 1,800 hectares of vineyard spread over 11 estates.

Italian wine on the Web

Published: 23 July, 2008

Cento Per Cento is a new Web-based wine supplier, dealing exclusively with Italian wines.

2005 Country Reports

Published: 23 July, 2008

All the country reports from the Harpers Wine and Spirit Directory 2005, packaged together in one downloadable file.

Please note that as the 42 pages are taken from the Harpers Wine and Spirit Directory 2005, page numbers are not concurrent.

INAO halts Beaujolais yield revolt

Published: 23 July, 2008

The INAO has seen off an attempt by members of l'Union Viticole du Beaujolais to derail proposals designed to shore up Beaujolais's depressed prices through a yield reduction.

New Master of Wine

Published: 23 July, 2008

Fergal Tynan is the latest person to pass his Master of Wine exam, becoming the third MW of 2005.

Juliet Cole

Published: 23 July, 2008

Juliet Cole, wife of Michael Peace MW, died last month after a long illness.

Sake/vodka blend

Published: 23 July, 2008

Cellar Trends is to distribute WOKKA SAKi, an 80:20 blend of British vodka and Japanese sake, and a subtle essence of Asian fruit'.

Cadbury to sell off European drinks arm

Published: 23 July, 2008

Cadbury Schweppes put its European drinks business up
for sale last week.

Casa Silva to Thierry's

Published: 23 July, 2008

Family-owned and run Chilean wine producer Via Casa Silva is to move its Doa Dominga brand to Thierry's.

Safeway to Argentina

Published: 23 July, 2008

Carlos Criado-Perez, the former Safeways chief executive officer, along with two other former Safeways executives, will be using the forthcoming Wines of Argentina annual trade tasting (20 September) to unveil their new venture - Las Bodegas, a specialist wine importer and distributor majoring on putting more Argentinian wines on the shelf'.