Matthew Hennings of Hennings Wine Merchants, says the trade must continue to fight against those intent on 'dumbing down' wine to the consumer with 'whopping discounts and lousy wine'.
Read more...Anita Jackson, UK director for Wines of Chile, says 2014 got off to a tough start, and tips Chile for further organic and sustainable innovations for 2015.
Read more...David Frost, Scotch Whisky Association chief executive, reflects on the Scottish referendum and the increased investment in the sector, while hoping for an improvement in sales in 2015.
Read more...Ted Sandbach, managing director of independent wine merchant the Oxford Wine Company, talks about plans to open a new wine bar in 2015, and how deep supermarket discounting is still a serious challenge for independents.
Read more...Jerry Lockspeiser, chairman of Off Piste Wines and serial wine industry entrepreneur as well as Harpers columnist, gives his thoughts on why 2015 may be a "crossroads year" for the retail trade, and how we are still "failing to inspire" wine drinkers.
Read more...Doug Wood, owner of Scottish independent merchant WoodWinters, lets off steam about supermarkets, credit control and 'parasitic internet-only' retailers, while looking forward to lots of Christmas presents from staff.
Read more...John McLaren, UK director of the Wine Institute of California, on how the UK has changed to become a fresh land of opportunity for Californian producers, how it's in a 'holding pattern' with grocers, and why he 'may scream' if he's told to 'engage with consumers' again.
Read more...Neil Anderson, marketing director at Kingsland, considers how and why brands need to think more about consumers for the year ahead, and reckons companies should be looking to those outside the category for inspiration.
Read more...November's Wine Vision conference brought together the great and the good of the wine world - and focused on everything from how the brain ventriloquises taste to the need to "drag more consumers into the category".
Read more...Giles James, UK business development manager for New Zealand's Mission Estate, talks about Kim Kardashian breaking the internet, why provenance is a major opportunity, and why Noble Inns is one to watch.
Read more...Hal Wilson, managing director of independent merchant Cambridge Wine Company, gives us the low-down on opening a new wine bar, Cahors wines making a comeback and why he's watching this space with Philglas & Swiggot.
Read more...John Osborne, managing director of the PLB trading division at Bibendum PLB, talks about the 'year of transformation', how retailers must adapt to the changes in how consumers shop and further supplier consolidation into next year.
Read more...Julian Dyer, general manager for UK & Europe at Australian Vintage, talks about McGuigan breaking into the Top 5 global wine brands in the UK, consolidation in the supply sector, and why he's back the WSTA's Drop the Duty campaign.
Read more...The new wine 'face' of BBC's Food & Drink programme Joe Wadsack fills us in on Balkan wines, presenting on the Beeb and why London's on-trade margins are 'taking the mick'.
Read more...Miles Beale, chief executive of the Wine & Spirits Trade Association, says the industry's progress against the Responsibility Deal is something to shout about. Meanwhile he's gearing up the pre-Budget Drop the Duty campaign and planning to engage with government after 2015's General Election.
Read more...Pierpaolo Petrassi MW, head of beers, wines and spirits at Waitrose shares his thoughts on grocery retail's decline, his inspiration from the team at Waitrose and why we should all be watching Amazon.
Read more...Bernard Fontannaz, founder of Origin Wines, talks about the 'game-changing' supply base consolidation and what 2015 has in store in his review of the year.
Read more...Neal McAlindon, director at Belfast's Direct Wine Shipments, tells Harpers.co.uk why 2014 has been another good year, despite tricky market conditions in Northern Ireland.
Read more...Carlsberg UK has committed to the government's Public Health Responsibility Deal pledge on packaging - stating it will not sell any carbonated product with more than four units of alcohol in a single-serve can.
Read more...Gordon's, the UK's biggest selling gin brand, is launching a new TV ad featuring a boar this evening, as part of a £2 million marketing spend.
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