News - Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Consumers prefer screwcaps, says survey

Published: 20 March, 2014

A survey of 6,000 consumers has shown that the majority prefer screwcaps over other closures because they're more convenient.

Alcohol duty escalator scrapped in Budget

Published: 19 March, 2014

The alcohol duty escalator has been scrapped, while duty on spirits has been frozen and beer duty has been cut by 1p per pint.

New members elected to Gran Orden de Caballeros for services to Spanish wine industry

Published: 19 March, 2014

María José López de Heredia and José Velo Rego are the latest figures to be inaugurated in to the Gran Orden de Caballeros for their services to the Spanish wine industry.

Owners of Bladnoch whisky distillery go into liquidation

Published: 19 March, 2014

Scotland's most southerly distillery Bladnoch is up for sale as a going concern following news that its parent company has entered administration.

Scrapping duty escalator will benefit wine and spirits trade by £175m

Published: 19 March, 2014

Scrapping the duty escalator and freezing spirits duty will boost the wine and spirits trade to the tune of £175 million, says the Wine & Spirit Trade Association (WSTA).

Scrapping duty escalator could be bad news for suppliers warns Robin Copestick

Published: 19 March, 2014

Robin Copestick, co-founder of UK wine agency Copestick Murray, has sounded a warning shot about the Chancellor's decision to scrap the duty escalator in today's Budget and fears suppliers will be forced to take on the costs of inflationary duty increases rather than the higher costs under the escalator that were easier to pass on to consumers.

Budget 2014 Live Updates: Trade celebrates the end of duty escalator

Published: 19 March, 2014

The trade has united to welcome Chancellor George Osborne's announcement that he is ending the duty escalator for alcohol and freezing spirits duty.

Drinks trade nervously anticipates Budget

Published: 19 March, 2014

As time runs out before the 2014 Budget is announced later today, the drinks trade nervously shuffles its papers following a hard-fought campaign to scrap the duty escalator.

Caution urged as eating-out sector returns to growth

Published: 19 March, 2014

The restaurant sector is returning to growth, but operators are urged not to take the recovery for granted, hears Horizons annual conference.

French wine prices skyrocket following second small harvest

Published: 19 March, 2014

Two years of small harvests are taking their toll on French wine prices, with appellation wines up 18% on average on 2012.

The Benevolent Ball raises over £40k

Published: 18 March, 2014

The UK drinks trade united last week at the Benevolent charity ball, raising over £40,000 for colleagues in need.

Wine price comparison site to predict when low prices are coming

Published: 18 March, 2014

Wine price comparison website Bring a Bottle is aiming to make predictions on when individual products will hit their lowest prices as the next phase in its development.

California now making the "white space" wines people want to buy says Joel Peterson

Published: 18 March, 2014

California is now making and exporting what leading US winemaker, Joel Peterson of Ravenswood Wines, calls "white space" wines that are increasingly popular both in America in its key export markets.

?New Zealand on track for record crop

Published: 18 March, 2014

New Zealand is on track to have its biggest harvest ever this year, with estimations of a 15% increase over last year's record crop.

Bacardí launches multi-million pound marketing campaign

Published: 18 March, 2014

Bacardí has launched a multi-million pound marketing campaign in the UK around its "irrepressible spirit".

The week ahead: Budget and tastings dominate the agenda

Published: 17 March, 2014

The wine and spirits trade faces one of its most eventful weeks of the year as it counts down to Wednesday's Budget with a series of major generic tastings.

Public poll gives overwhelming support to cuts in duty in this week's Budget

Published: 17 March, 2014

Only 3% of the British public think alcoholic drinks are not too expensive in pubs and restaurants and unless more is done to cut duty levels they are likely to spend more time drinking at home.

Hello Vino acquires social wine app Corkbin- the "Instagram" of wine

Published: 17 March, 2014

Hello Vino has announced a deal to acquire the US social wine app Corkbin, that allows wine enthusiasts to save and share photos of wines and has been called the "Instagram of wine".

Discover the Origin to hold two masterclasses with Gerard Basset

Published: 14 March, 2014

Discover the Origin, a campaign focused on Bourgogne Wines, Parma Ham, Douro Wines, Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese and Port, is set to host two mastercalsses in May featuring award winning sommelier Gerard Basset.