The Co-op revamps wine range to focus on own brand

The Co-operative is introducing 56 new wines to its range, which will have greater focus on own brand wines - especially its Fairtrade and Truly Irresistible wines.

Alliance Wine aims to create 'iconic' rosé brand

Alliance Wine has high hopes that its new French rosé wine La Vie en Rose will become an iconic brand.

Over 100 buyers head to Windsor to take part in first Wine Buyers' Forum

Over 100 buyers from across all channels of the trade are heading to Windsor today to take part in the first Wine Buyers Forum where they will get the chance to have in-depth discussions with over 30 suppliers and take part in a series of targeted business workshops.

Buckingham Schenk ramps up sales of pre-filled wine goblets

Buckingham Schenk is aiming to double sales of pre-filled wine goblets this year to 1.5 million, which managing director Jon Pepper MW says are incremental to the wine category.

Deadline for Harpers Awards 2014 extended for a further week

The deadline for entries to this year's Harpers Awards has been extended for another week.

Average 2013 harvest "very necessary", says head of Bordeaux body

Sud de France to invest more funds to drive distribution in independents and the on-trade

The Sud de France promotional body in the UK hopes to capitalise on the good 2013 vintage in the region to help build up distribution in independents and the on-trade during the rest of 2014.

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, Q&As, and opinion stories.

New Vinexpo chief open to idea of starting new shows around the world

Guillaume Deglise, the new chief executive of Vinexpo, said he remains open to running events in new markets around the world but only in the context of the bi-annual Bordeaux show remaining "the number-one priority".

New device aims to turn water into wine

The founder of struggling flash wine sale site Lot 18 has come up with another radical idea for the wine trade -a machine to turn water into wine within three days.

Vente-privee.com to launch wine flash sales in the UK

The growth of flash-sales sites looks set to hit online wine retailers as French giant vente-privee.com prepares for its UK wine launch.

France's LGI Wines promotes winemaker Xavier Roger to MD

Southern French specialists LGI Wines' chief winemaker Xavier Roger has stepped up to the role of managing director in the wake of founder Alain Grignon's retirement.

TaxPayers Alliance calls on the public to get behind Call Time On Duty campaign

Jonathan Isaby, chief executive of the TaxPayers Alliance has thrown his weight behind the wine and spirit industry's Call Time On Duty campaign, by callling on the public to lobby their MPs to urge the Chancellor to stop the duty escalator.

?Brown-Forman raises fiscal outlook for 2014

Jack Daniel's brand grew underlying sales 10%, helping Brown-Forman Corporation continue its momentum to post further gains in its third quarter financial results which were released yesterday.

Portugal claims its wine sales are 'misrepresented' in UK

Portugal says its wine sales are being misrepresented in the UK off-trade - it claims it should be ahead of Argentina and among the top 10 importing countries.

Wines of Argentina's Cambalache event to return to London in April

The ground breaking consumer tasting, Cambalache, organised by the Wines of Argentina, is to return in 2014 bringing the culture, music, art, food and wine of Latin America to London's East End.

Bottle Green's on-trade arm going from 'strength to strength'

Bottle Green's on-trade and independent division is going from "strength to strength" - accounting for one third of business in just two years.

New Scottish whisky region to be created on the Island of Harris in the Outer Hebrides

A new whisky region is being created with the buildilng of the first distillery on the Island of Harris in the Outer Hebrides.

In the spotlight: Fairtrade issues in South Africa

South Africa's agricultural sector came under fire in the past few years over infringing the human rights of farm workers, some of whom helped build the country's wine trade. Erin Smith takes a look at two initiatives aimed at combating such problems, namely the Wine Industry Ethical Trade Agreement and Fairtrade.

Ruinart: 2013 was good year in Champagne

Ruinart's cellar master says despite bad news elsewhere in France, 2013 was a good year in Champagne, and the house will make a 2013 vintage.