News - Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Bancroft adds first Czech winery to portfolio

Published: 17 February, 2025

Thaya, based in Moravia, Czech Republic, is the first Czech winery to be added to importer Bancroft’s portfolio.

Global Scotch sales: Slight decline with £5.4bn exported in 2024

Published: 14 February, 2025

Figures from the Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) reveals that the total global export value for Scotch whisky stood at £5.4bn for 2024. This represents a slight decline of 3.7% in exports by value compared to 2023.

Napa Valley remains steadfast in its global outlook

Published: 14 February, 2025

Connor Best of Napa Valley Vintners, speaking at the recent Premiere Napa Valley tasting in London, explained that the premium wine region's outlook will stay resolutely outward-looking despite the potential impact of global trade wars.

Wine Paris delivers on international flavour at record event

Published: 14 February, 2025

Wine Paris has confirmed what the busy aisles suggested, namely that this year’s event (10-12 February) had record-breaking attendance of global drinks trade, propelling it to current pole position in the battle of the big wine and spirits shows.

Koshu brings flavour of Japan to London

Published: 14 February, 2025

This year’s Koshu of Japan (KOJ) tasting at Japan House, which brought together some 100 or more trade and press for a tasting of the nine collaborating wineries last week, marked a further advance of these wines’ delicate footprint in the UK market.

Hospitality trade sees growth again in December

Published: 13 February, 2025

New data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) can reveal hospitality had another strong month in December 2024, with output for the food and drink sector growing 2%. This made it the largest contributor to growth for the wider consumer-facing services industry.

LWC ramps up substantiality goals with new ESG commitments

Published: 13 February, 2025

LWC, the UK’s largest independent drinks wholesaler, has announced a new set of ESG commitments, which is aimed at helping the wholesaler reach its net zero by 2050 target.

Boutinot partners with Uco Valley winery for new joint venture

Published: 13 February, 2025

Greater Manchester importer Boutinot is partnering with Uco Valley estate and winery Bodega Urqo, in a wine-making joint venture called Azul y Blanco (AyB).

Cape Mentelle: new range showcases Margaret River region

Published: 12 February, 2025

Margaret River winery Cape Mentelle is introducing its new Marri range to UK customers via its importer, Bancroft Wines. The four-wine range includes wines synonymous with the Western Australian appellation in Semillon Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz.

Leadership change at Symington Family Estates

Published: 12 February, 2025

Current chairman Johnny Symington MBE is retiring from the eponymous Port business after 40 years at the helm, passing the baton on to younger family members.

Hallgarten recruits Madame F to rosé portfolio

Published: 12 February, 2025

Madame F, the queer-owned rosé brand with an ethos of championing the LGBTQ+ community within the wine trade, has been added to Hallgarten & Novum Wine’s expanding roster.

New figures show night time economy in slight decline

Published: 12 February, 2025

A new report by CGA by NIQ and the Night Time Industries Association (NTIA), the trade association representing the night time industry, shows that the total number of nightclubs, late-night bars and casinos fell by 2.8% to 2,264 venues as of December 2024.

Vagabond announces suite of new senior appointments amid expansion drive

Published: 11 February, 2025

Four new senior appointments have been made by the Majestic-owned wine bar business Vagabond, including the hiring of Jack Merrylees as head of marketing and PR.

Be Inclusive Hospitality report: barriers persist for ethnically diverse talent

Published: 11 February, 2025

Be Inclusive Hospitality’s fifth industry report, drawing from over 4,000 survey responses over the past three years, reveals persistent challenges faced by ethnically diverse talent within the hospitality sector.

Fells commercial team restructures in growth push

Published: 11 February, 2025

Among a suite of changes at Fells, Richard Brockett (pictured, left) has been promoted from national off-trade director to sales director for the company. The changes come in a renewed growth push at Fells for 2025 and the years ahead, as the importer seeks to a pursue new a brand development strategy, and also coincide with a reshuffle at the top of majority owner Symington Family Estates.

Gérard Basset Foundation leads UK winners at V d’Or awards

Published: 10 February, 2025

The Gérard Basset Foundation and the Bordeaux Mentor Week won the ‘Best Education & Knowledge Sharing V d’Or’ category at the V d’Or awards 2025. The event, attended by Harpers, was hosted by Vinexposium at the Pavillon Gabriel in Paris on the eve (9 February) of Wine Paris.

Japanese sake exports grow by 6% globally

Published: 10 February, 2025

Sake exports grew by +6% year on year for 2024 compared to the year prior, with the export value reaching 43.5bn yen (approximately £230mn) with 3.45mn cases of the rice wine reaching a record 80 countries and regions.

González Byass announces alliance between its Casa Pedro Domecq and mezcal distillery

Published: 10 February, 2025

The new alliance between mezcal distillery, Destilería Los Danzantes, and Casa Pedro Domecq, the Mexican joint venture between González Byass and Emperador Group, will aim to expand the reach of the Mezcal producer. The alliance follows a capital injection by Casa Pedro Domecq.

Nick Gillett: Growth by the barrel – why Rum can do no wrong

Published: 10 February, 2025

What’s not to love about rum. It’s a party drink, it’s fun, it makes you think of tropical climates and holidays – and above all else, it’s delicious. The ideal tonic for the depressing outlook of a dull British winter. For 25 years we’ve been saying ‘Rum is the next big thing’. But unlike the gin boom of the early 2010s, the slow and steady growth of the category has actually turned into 25 years of unwavering success. It snuck up on us to become one of the largest and most successful spirit categories – and it looks like there’s even more growth to come.

Oregon and Washington's winemaking coalition

Published: 10 February, 2025

Once again presenting a united front, Washington and Oregon returned to the UK on Thursday (6 February) to showcase the unique offering of the Pacific Northwest as North America’s answer to Burgundy and Bordeaux.