Music festivals offer £100m opportunity

Drinks suppliers could reap a £100 million booze bonanza this summer thanks to alcohol loving festival-goers, according to new CGA research on festivals.

New crop of bartenders added to William Grant & Sons 1887 Collective

William Grant & Sons UK has invited 26 UK-based bartenders to join its on-trade advocacy programme, the 1887 Collective.

All Bar One introduces sustainable rosé range

All Bar One will launch a new sustainable rosé wine collection on 4 June 2019. It will include Mirabeau Prêt-à-Porter wine in a 250ml can from Provence, which it said is more environmentally friendly than bottled wine as it is lighter to transport.

South African harvest slumps to record low

The South African wine grape harvest in 2019 hit a record low thanks to a drought and fluctuating weather conditions. However, winemakers are positive about the quality of the resulting vintage.

Waitrose adds first English ‘orange’ wine to menu

Waitrose has expanded its English wine menu with seven new offerings, including its first homegrown ‘orange’ wine.

Concha gears up to join ‘wine in can’ category

Concha y Toro (CyT) is poised to become the latest wine producer to turn to the can as the increasingly popular format continues to gather momentum in the UK.

The week that was

In case you missed some of the headlines this week on harpers.co.uk, here’s a review of the top online news, analysis, opinion and features.

People's Choice Awards recognises women-driven wines

A wine competition judged by consumers has added a new category to highlight the contributions of female winemakers.

Kopparberg moves into gin

Cider specialist Kopparberg is moving into gin, releasing a bottle into the on-trade from 6 May and in retail on 22 May.

En primeur report: extraordinary and exceptional 2018 vintage

Gavin Quinney’s annual en primeur and vintage report for Harpers describes 2018 as “an exceptional vintage”, with the top red wines showing “extraordinary depth, opulence and intensity”.

LWF fees came from “aggrieved” exhibitors

The London Wine Fair’s boss has come out in defence of the decision to charge certain visitors to this year’s show, saying the decision came from consultations with “several long-standing exhibitors, who were aggrieved that competitive businesses were not taking a stand yet attending the show en masse with a view to trading”.

Romanian group pulls out of LWF as Brexit hits funding

González Byass UK MD says first Tio Pepe En Rama was “a risk”

Tio Pepe is celebrating ten years of shaking up moribund sherry sales with its en rama or ‘raw’ sherries, which established a new category in the UK.

Bordeaux producers acquitted over fungicides case

A French court has acquitted two Bordeaux wine producers in a highly sensitive case over the spraying of chemicals, which allegedly provoked sickness in a teacher and dozens of schoolchildren.

Berry Bros & Rudd pop up returns for London Wine Week

After proving popular last year, Berry Bros & Rudd will bring back its pop-up wine bar for London Wine Week at Flat Iron Square.

Bodegas Fabre reports “exceptional vintage”

Bodegas Fabre has said its 2019 vintage in Mendoza has benefitted from excellent conditions at its vineyards in the Uco Valley and Lujan de Cuyo.

Australian wine exports to UK up in value but volume stagnant

Exports of Australian wine to the UK jumped 4% in value to AUD$388 million last year, and 0.1% in volume to 242 million litres.

William Grant & Sons launches Verano Gin

William Grant & Sons has launched Verano Gin in Watermelon and Lemon flavours.

Checkout free shopping trial sees alcohol removed from shelves

The need for age verification has led the first UK till-free supermarket to remove wines, beers and spirits from its shelves.

Laine Pub Company snaps up Urban Art Bar

Laine Pub Company snaps up Urban Art Bar