News - Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

On-trade drinkers unwilling to experiment

Published: 22 January, 2015

Eight out of 10 on-trade drinkers say they rarely or never try new alcoholic drinks - that's according to research from Canadean.

US wine industry facing 'unprecedented' third large harvest, says SVB

Published: 22 January, 2015

Silicon Valley Bank is forecasting an "unprecedented" third large harvest in a row for the US, and that 2015 will be the "breakout" year for fine wine, which will grow 14 to 18%.

Small distilleries back cut in duty campaign

Published: 21 January, 2015

Small distillers across the UK have come out in force in favour of a 2% cut in the rate of duty, which they maintain would boost growth in the industry.

Spain's wine exports jumped by 380m litres but revenues plummeted

Published: 21 January, 2015

Spain exported almost 380 million litres more wine in the first 11 months of 2014, but its revenues were down €93 million, as prices took a nose dive by 31 cents per litre.

Glenmorangie launches 'rare' grain whisky Tùsail

Published: 21 January, 2015

Glenmorangie has launched Tùsail whisky made from the rare and recently resurrected Maris Otter barley grain.

ProWein shakes up 2015 wine trade fair

Published: 21 January, 2015

ProWein 2015 is actively preparing visitors for changes to this year's show including new halls, the 'drinks of tomorrow' show focusing on bar trends and the 'same but different' show which will look at innovative and creative trends in the drinks trade.

Champagne celebrates return to growth as sales hit €4.5 billion

Published: 21 January, 2015

Champagne shipments grew 1% by volume in 2014, with sales expected to exceed 307 million bottles and hit €4.5 billion.

Australia's premium wines drive exports to bounce back

Published: 21 January, 2015

Australian wine exports have grown 1.9% by value and volume to 700 million litres and $1.82 billion in 2014, with premium wines leading the charge.

Naked Wines toasts soaring 2014 sales

Published: 21 January, 2015

Online wine specialist Naked Wines has seen its festive wine sales soar 40% on 2013, and says it sold 13 million bottles altogether in 2014.

UK's wine recession to end in 2015, says Vinexpo

Published: 20 January, 2015

UK wine consumption has fallen 10.5% per capita since the recession hit in 2008, but Vinexpo says the worst is over and wind drinking will start to edge up over the next five years.

Groceries Code Adjudicator hamstrung in efforts to fine supermarkets

Published: 20 January, 2015

The Groceries Code Adjudicator has admitted she is hamstrung in her efforts to reprimand retailers as the government has not yet finalised her powers to hand out fines.

New Zealand wine producers 'excited' about 'rebalanced' UK market

Published: 20 January, 2015

Sauvignon Blanc continues to be the most popular variety in the UK and no other region is more synonymous with the aromatic grape variety than New Zealand, which continues to make inroads in the UK market.

Cockburn's Port lines up year of celebrations for bicentenary

Published: 20 January, 2015

Cockburn's Port is embarking on a year of celebration in 2015 to mark the company's bicentenary - including launching a commemorative edition of its Special Reserve.

Vinexpo 2015 set for radical revamp after producers felt 'cut off'

Published: 20 January, 2015

Exhibitors and visitors to this summer's Vinexpo in Bordeaux can expect to be "wowed" by a completely different type of trade show, which is looking to be more welcoming to producers from outside its Bordeaux heartland.

Heidsieck Monopole Champagne signs 3-year deal to sponsor Hyde Park concerts

Published: 20 January, 2015

Champagne brand Heidsieck Monopole has signed a deal to become the official Champagne partner for the Hyde Park summer series of concerts for the next three years.

English sparkling wine Coates & Seely moves from Liberty to Gonzalez Byass

Published: 20 January, 2015

English sparkling wine producer Coates & Seely has switched its UK distribution from Liberty Wines to Gonzalez Byass.

On-trade supplier Matthew Clark toasts bumper December as sales top £100m

Published: 20 January, 2015

On-trade drinks supplier Matthew Clark says December was its most successful month ever as sales broke the £100 million mark, as customers plumped for top-end wines and Champagnes.

Top-up shop and vloggers tipped as major trends for 2015, says Euromonitor

Published: 20 January, 2015

Euromonitor forecasts the rise of convenience shopping and the growing power of vloggers or "native influencers" as two consumer trends expected to grow in 2015 that could impact the drinks trade.

Restaurant and retail property prices up 11% in 2014

Published: 19 January, 2015

The restaurant and retail property markets saw average prices move up more than 11% in the last year, according to a report from Christie + Co.

Diageo's World Class Bartender of the Year search begins with bartender semi-finals

Published: 19 January, 2015

Fifty of the UK's top bartenders have been selected to take part in the semi-finals of Diageo's competition to find the best bar talent as part of its Reserve World Class 2015 competition.