News - Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Co-op launches online tastings for customers

Published: 04 April, 2024

The Co-op has launched online wine tastings for its members, offering customers exclusive access to the producers behind its own-label ranges.

Be Inclusive Hospitality launches winemaking programme with Plumpton College

Published: 03 April, 2024

Be Inclusive Hospitality has launched a winemaking programme with Plumpton College for hospitality professionals who identify as Black, Asian or ethnic minority.

Padstow Distilling joins forces with Thorman Hunt

Published: 03 April, 2024

Young Cornish distillery Padstow Distilling has appointed Thorman Hunt as its sole UK distributor, in a move which will see its range distributed nationwide.

Nyetimber to buy The Lakes Distillery in £46m deal

Published: 03 April, 2024

English sparkling wine producer Nyetimber has agreed a deal in principle to buy The Lakes Distillery in a £46.1m deal.

Fine wine market shows signs of recovery

Published: 02 April, 2024

Signs of economic recovery are starting to appear in the fine wine market after a year of consistent declines. The industry benchmark, the Liv-ex 100 index, has been in freefall since March 2023, dipping 14.6%, whilst the broader Liv-ex 1000 index has fallen 15.3%.

Largest ever increase to minimum wage takes effect

Published: 02 April, 2024

As of yesterday (1 April), employment costs have increased for hospitality businesses following a rise in the National Minimum Wage.

Easter weekend Hospitality bookings up 40%

Published: 28 March, 2024

The latest insight from hospitality technology partner Zonal reveals bookings for Easter weekend are up 40% compared to 2023.

Ticket sales surge for Whisky Exchange in-person events

Published: 28 March, 2024

The Whisky Exchange has revealed a surge in consumer interest towards immersive, educational experiences within the world of wine and spirits.

Australia welcomes removal of Chinese wine tariffs

Published: 28 March, 2024

The Chinese Commerce Ministry has confirmed that China will end three years of anti-dumping and anti-subsidy tariffs on Australian wine from March 29.

Inside Berry Bros. & Rudd's new Spirits Shop

Published: 28 March, 2024

After over one hundred years of being a wine-front merchant, a spirits fascia bearing the name Berry Bros. & Rudd (BBR) is days away from opening to the public on the hallowed pavements of St James’.

London Wine Fair to host ‘Judgement of Paris’ inspired tasting

Published: 27 March, 2024

London Wine Fair (LWF) will host a homage to the late Steven Spurrier’s (pictured) landmark ‘Judgment of Paris’ blind tasting in 1976, which saw Burgundy and Bordeaux pitched against California, with the latter comparing favourably to the former, sending shockwaves around the wine world.

Trade bodies unite for diversity and inclusion programme

Published: 27 March, 2024

The Drinks Trust, the WSET and the WSTA, are co-ordinating a drinks industry-wide Equity Diversity & Inclusion programme with the stated aim, ‘to create an inclusive and equitable UK drinks industry where everyone feels welcome, safe and supported’.

Rioja launches education programme for UK sommeliers

Published: 27 March, 2024

Launching for the first time this summer, Rioja Wine UK has opened applications for its Rioja Somm’er School, an educational programme based in Logroño aimed exclusively at UK-based sommeliers and on-trade buyers.

WSTA takes aim at Gareth Davies on duty

Published: 26 March, 2024

The government is using public health arguments as a “thin veneer to maintain market distortions” Miles Beale, chief executive of the WSTA, has said in a rebuttal of the claims made by Gareth Davies at the Westminster Hall debate earlier this month.

Orkney Distillery latest to join whisky boom

Published: 26 March, 2024

The production of single malt Scotch whisky is underway at The Orkney Distillery, marking a new era for the business, best known for its award-winning range of Kirkjuvagr gins.

Italy dominates Old Vine Hero Awards winners

Published: 26 March, 2024

The co-founders of The Old Vine Conference announced the second Old Vine Hero Awards winners yesterday (25 March) via a virtual results webinar, with Italian individuals and organisations dominating the winners list.

Virgin Wines announces 2% revenue increase

Published: 25 March, 2024

Virgin Wines, one of the UK’s largest direct-to-consumer online wine retailers, has today (25 March) announced a 2% revenue growth in the six months ended 29 December 2023 (H1 2024).

Rosebank Distillery back in business after 30 years

Published: 25 March, 2024

Rosebank Distillery, known as the ‘King of the Lowlands’, is set to re-open its doors to the public in June after a three-decade hiatus.

DO Cava announces all-time record sales for 2023

Published: 25 March, 2024

Spanish DO Cava has announced all-time record sales figures for 2023, led by a notable increase in the domestic market.

Round table: Sustaining the trade

Published: 25 March, 2024

Imagine a near future where there is little need for talk of sustainability. This would be coupled with an overarching accreditation that joins the dots for sustainably-minded consumers, with drinks companies naturally taking an holistic view of all aspects of their businesses, aligned with their partners up and down the supply chain. There would, of course, be those left behind, who had failed to embed sustainability in their DNA. But such companies will have become few and far between as the combined power of green consumer purchasing and supply-partner pressure increasingly left such organisations by the wayside, as relics of a bygone era.