News - Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Vinum bags Ferrari

Published: 23 July, 2008

Vinum, the Italian specialist, has taken the exclusive agency of Ferrari, Italy's most prestigious producer of metodo classico sparkling wine'.

With a population of just 5 million, Scotland has at least two million fewer potential wine drinkers than the bustling streets of Greater London, and 45 million less than England as a whole. But despite the relatively small consumer base, its wine industry is thriving.

Masterminding a Kiwi coup

Published: 23 July, 2008

Following an introduction by Harpers editor Christian Davis, Sam Harrop MW kicked off the Harpers New Zealand Pinot Noir Seminar by posing a question that has been vexing many in the wine industry.

The Interview - Roberto Della Pietra, Head sommelier, Roussillon, London

Published: 23 July, 2008

What is the main theme of your list?
The first criterion for the list is that the wines make sense with the food that we serve here. The head chef, Alexis [Gauthier], is really into southern French cuisine. His food is fairly close in style to classic French cooking, but with a Mediterranean influence and an emphasis on vegetables. The wines that tend to work best with the food are the more unusual wines from the regions in the south of France, and obviously wines from Roussillon play a big role. About 80% of the list is French, and about 30% of the wines are sourced from the core regions of Roussillon, Languedoc, south-west France, Jura and Savoie. We have very few wines from Burgundy or Bordeaux, although we do have quite a few from the Loire and the Rhne Valley. There is also a good selection from Italy and Spain, because they work well with the Mediterranean elements in the food.

Harpers Debate: Part 1

Published: 23 July, 2008

For the second year in a row, Harpers teamed up with leading industry research group Wine Intelligence, which released original research prepared especially for the debate.

Supreme Court rules

Published: 23 July, 2008

The US Supreme Court has ruled that wine can be sold directly to consumers across US state lines.

Maersk on course for P&O

Published: 23 July, 2008

Some 1,500 jobs are expected to be lost if AP Moeller-Maersk's planned takeover of P&O Nedlloyd goes through.

Adamson lands top job at New Zealand generic

Published: 23 July, 2008

Warren Adamson, Villa Maria's European wine manager, has clinched the new higher-profile UK marketing manager job for New Zealand Winegrowers (NZWG).

Distell deal

Published: 23 July, 2008

Distell has struck a deal with Brown-Forman Wines to distribute its premium brand Durbanville Hills in the UK.

Nomacorc becomes four

Published: 23 July, 2008

Nomacorc, the world's largest synthetic closure producer, has expanded its product range from one cork to four.

New boss at Bacardi

Published: 23 July, 2008

Bacardi has appointed a new CEO and president, Andreas Gembler, effective from 1 June.

Lion Nathan boss pushes regionality

Published: 23 July, 2008

The MD of the Lion Nathan Wine Group is to push for greater knowledge of Australian regionality.

Ancient Burgundy confounds expectations

Published: 23 July, 2008

A revelatory tasting of old Bouchard Pre & Fils Burgundies dating back to 1858, the year before publication of Darwin's Origin of Species, inspired high-profile musings on the evolution of some of the world's most sophisticated wines at a dinner at The Capital Hotel in London on 3 May.

Leading from the front

Published: 23 July, 2008

What makes great leaders in our industry?' asked Lulie Halstead at the LIWSF Wine MBA seminar.

Rock on-trade

Published: 23 July, 2008

With the retail sector consolidating, and ranges and the supplier base being rationalised, the on-trade has become flavour of the month.

New DOC for Basilicata

Published: 23 July, 2008

A new Italian DOC has just been announced.

Chianti Classico Consortia back together again

Published: 23 July, 2008

On 6 May 2005, the assemblies of the two Chianti Classico consortia formally agreed to join forces again after being split for 18 years.

Spanish Mateus

Published: 23 July, 2008

Mateus is expanding its ros portfolio for the first time in 60 years with the addition of a Spanish ros and is backing it with a 1.2 million advertising and marketing spend in 2005.

Italian generic cancels Vinexpo space

Published: 23 July, 2008

Seven weeks from the upcoming Vinexpo 2005, ICE (Istituto Nazionale per il Commercio Estero), Italy's institute for external trade, has informed Vinexpo organisers that ICE, sponsor of Italy's collective hall, is cancelling its participation.