'Normal' vintage kicks off in Spain as government moves to curb last year's excess

The first grapes of the 2014 crop are being harvested in Spain, with winemakers predicting a "normal" sized vintage of between 42 and 45 million hectolitres.

Chile's Santa Carolina switches from Percy Fox to Ehrmanns

Chilean wine brand Santa Carolina has ditched Diageo-owned distributor Percy Fox in favour of Ehrmanns in order to boost UK sales across all channels.

Liberty Wines adds Australian Tempranillo to portfolio

Liberty Wines has added Australia's La Linea to its portfolio, which managing director David Gleave MW says demonstrates the potential for Tempranillo in the Adelaide Hills.

Bordeaux's 2014 wine harvest to be up 50% on last year

Bordeaux's upcoming wine grape harvest should see a return to normal for the region, with forecasts placing it as coming in at 5.6 million hectolitres. 

Constellation Brands to buy Casa Noble Tequila to grow spirits offering

Constellation Brands announced last week its plans to acquire the Casa Noble Holdings tequila brands

Alliance Wine adds Celler del Roure to wine list

Alliance Wine has boosted its Spanish portfolio with the addition of boutique Valencian producer Celler del Roure.

Bottle Green's on-trade arm toasts busiest month to date

Bottle Green Wines' sales have risen 15% year-on-year to July, as the company took the biggest ever number of orders from the on-trade to date.

South Africa's Kleine Zalze takes on new cellarmaster

Most wine industry's challenges are no different to other sectors, says economist Mike Veseth

Mike Veseth, the celebrated US wine economist and blogger, has dismissed the idea that the dynamics of the wine industry are different to the challenges faced by other business sectors.

The Week That Was: top news, Q&As and opinion on Harpers.co.uk

In case you missed some of the headlines this week on harpers.co.uk, we have done a review of the top online news, financial news for the drinks trade, Q&As, and opinion stories.

One more day to register for Benevolent Fantasy Football League

The countdown to the start of the new English Premier League season is well and truly on. Which means there is only a day left to get your thinking caps on and enter the new Benevolent Fantasy Football League, have some fun, compete against friends (and soon to be foes) and raise some money for the drinks charity along the way.

Tom Conran to open a 12-month pop-up in Notting Hill

Bowmore and Glenmorangie both raise a dram to increased profits and sales

Morrison Bowmore Distillers, a subsidiary of Beam Suntory, and Glenmorangie Company, part of LVMH, both saw sales and profits grow last year, only further confirming the "hot" streak that whisky is currently having

EU and US sanctions unlikely to harm the Russian Vodka industry

Stowfords Press introduces new look to push premium cider image

Leading cider brand, Stowford Press, has gone through a re-design to push more its premium credentials and focus in on the the traditional cider press image on the label which it hopes will reinforce its heritage and provenance.

Echo Falls links up with British fashion designer for new limited edition range

Accolade Wines has introduced two new limited edition bottle designs for its leading Echo Falls wine brand that have been created by top British fashion designer, Holly Fulton.

'Tired' 3-litre bag-in-box wines in long term decline

Three-litre bag in box wines are in long term decline - they plummeted 14.6% in the last year - with consumers being put off by high prices.

Top Champagne brands buck decline as sales grow 9%

The top eight Champagne brands are bucking falling sales in the off-trade, as collective sales have grown by 9% in the last year.

Managed pubs and restaurants see 2.2% sales uplift in July

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Single serve wine glass Intrepid Fox taken over by angel investor

Single-serve tulip wine glass Intrepid Fox, brought to market by entrepreneur James Nash after appearing on Dragon's Den, is being relaunched after the company was bought out.