Artisan gin producers throw weight behind WSTA campaign

Artisan gin distillers have joined the Wine and Spirit Trade Association's campaign calling for a 2% cut in alcohol duty.

Smith & Wollensky hires Boisdale's Nathan Evans to spearhead its London launch

Nathan Evans has been recruited from the Boisdale Group to help oversee the launch of the famous US steakhouse chain, Smith & Wollensky in to the UK

Oddbins opens first standalone beer shop

Portuguese wine exports up 10% in UK says ViniPortugal

Portuguese wine exports to the UK rose 10% by volume in 2014, according to the latest figures from ViniPortugal. Values were also up 23%, it said.

Spain and Argentina are the two big winners in the UK on-trade says new report

Spain and Argentina were the two big winners in the UK on-trade last year, according to the latest Wine On-Premise report from Wine Business Solutions.

Leading Labour MP calls on Chancellor to cut "shocking" duty levels in Budget

Leading front bench MP Sadiq Khan has followed up a Harpers request to lobby the Chancellor for a 2% cut in alcohol duty for wine and spirits and back the Wine & Spirit Trade Association-led Drop the Duty campaign.  

2015 London Wine Fair will be the "most diverse" ever promises show organisers

This year's London Wine Fair will be the most diverse in its 35 year history, according to show director Ross Carter.

ProWein Preview: The Brits are coming!

Downtown Düsseldorf will be the place to be this March as ProWein opens its doors to hordes of international buyers - with the Brits increasingly first in the queue. Here is what you can expect for arguably the largest drinks tradeshow in the world.

Pernod Ricard's Denis O'Flynn urges senior industry figures to sign up and back WSTA

More senior businesses and figures in the UK wine and spirits industry need to get behind the work of the Wine & Spirit Trade Association to try and protects its future growth, according to Denis O'Flynn, managing director of Pernod Ricard UK, and the trade body's new chairman.

Bordeaux's last chance to transform "out of touch" en primeur system says Tim Atkin

Leading UK wine critic and Harpers columnist, Tim Atkin MW, has fired a warning shot across the bows of Bordeaux and warned its producers and chateaux that they need to listen to the international critricism of its en primeur system and make serious changes or risk looking "ridiculous" in the eyes of the wine world.

Chiefs of the Week: the UK's independent wine merchants

For over the last month Harpers has been celebrating and putting the spotlight on the work independent wine merchants do and the growing importance they have on the drinks industry as part of our March for the Independents campaign.

Sherry to benefit from boost to marketing spend

Sherry is set to benefit from a boost, after the regulatory body successfully doubled its global marketing spend.

Lords committee calls for reform of EU tax laws

A House of Lords committee has called on the EU to reform the structure of alcohol tax so that variable taxes on wine and cider according to alcoholic strength can be introduced.

South Africa's wild fires under control as wineries assess damage to vines

Cape Town, South Africa, which has been battling some of the worst wild fires the country has seen in over a decade, has now seen the blaze brought under control and wine authorities are starting to assess any potential vineyard damage.

Diversifying in to cafes, bars and events are key for growth hears March for Indies conference

Independent merchants are seeing growth through expansion and diversification, moving from a purely traditional merchant and wholesale model to embrace new revenue streams, the March for the Independents conference heard.

To succeed online takes hard work, time and money independents are warned

Driving online sales may be a priority for independent wine merchants, but to do it successfully requires a lot of hard work, takes up a great deal of time and crucially costs a lot of money.

Indies must set the agenda with suppliers to be better buyers hears Harpers conference

It does not matter how good you are at tasting wine, if there is one skill every independent merchant must master it is the power to get the most out of the suppliers you choose to supply your wine.

Last chance for the Bordelais to get it right with 'out of touch' en primeur

There's a scene in This is Spinal Tap, Rob Reiner's 1984 spoof rockumentary about English heavy metal band Spinal Tap, that features a live performance of a song called "Stonehenge".

Jascots launches own Italian sparkling wine on draught called 'Vino Vispo' for the on-trade

Jascots Wine Merchants launched its own brand Italian sparkling wine on draught called 'Vino Vispo' targeting the on-trade casual dining sector.

Dan Jago was "never suspended" from the business says Tesco

Tesco has confirmed to Harpers.co.uk that Dan Jago, who is returning to the business on March 9, was never actually suspended from the company, but asked to "step aside".