News - Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

New Caballeros appointed to Gran Orden

Published: 20 March, 2013

Restaurateur brothers Sam and Eddie Hart, and winemaker Antonio Sanz are the latest people to be invested into the Gran Orden de Caballeros.

Spirits distributor Marblehead announces new appointments

Published: 20 March, 2013

Spirits distributor Marblehead has promoted Emma Wykes to the newly created role of commercial director.

Budget News Blog: Drinks industry split as duty escalator cut on beer but not wine and spirits

Published: 20 March, 2013

Whilst the beer industry celebrates the "brilliant news" that the Chancellor is to scrap the duty escalator on beer, the wine and spirits sector is faced with further increases under the controversial measure, with wine duty now up to £2.

Jenny Mackenzie reports from the first Morrisons Cellar wine showase

Published: 20 March, 2013

Morrisons Cellar's first wine showcase to the press was on its Taste Test theme. The venue space in Marylebone was decorated like an interiors stand at a lifestyle event, with four open-plan, "room set" layouts and the wines grouped in the Taste Test flavour profiles of Sweet, Fresh, Smooth and Intense.

Chancellor reported to be ready to freeze beer duty rates in Budget

Published: 19 March, 2013

Ahead of tomorrow's Budget there are rumours circulating around Westminster and across the national media and major news channels that the Chancellor could be set to introduce a tax freeze on beer duty.

Local Wine School looks to expand franchise operation to the United States

Published: 19 March, 2013

The Local Wine School is to take its franchise wine education model to the United States after building up a network across the UK.

LIWF launches innovative navigation tool

Published: 19 March, 2013

The London International Wine Fair has launched MyWineFair, a web-based tool designed to help visitors navigate the wines exhibited at the trade show.

Vineyard Cellars and Wine Treasury link up for specialist Californian tasting

Published: 19 March, 2013

Specialist Californian importers, the Vineyard Cellars and the Wine Treasury, are teaming up again with the Wine Institute of California to showcase their wines at a trade and press tasting on May 13 in London.

Provence rosé enjoys huge sales and volume increases in the UK

Published: 19 March, 2013

Rosé wine exports from Provence to the UK jumped 82% on volume and 37% on value between 2011 and 2012, according to new figures out this week.

Diageo announces plans to roll out Smirnoff Espresso vodka

Published: 18 March, 2013

Diageo has announced it will launch Espresso Smirnoff vodka from April. The flavour extension is to be available through...

Wine and spirits sales down, reveals WSTA

Published: 18 March, 2013

Wine and spirit sales continue to fall as consumers battle with year-on-year duty rises, according to the Wine & Spirit Trade Association's latest market report.

PLB brings Estrella Galicia to UK in on-trade exclusive

Published: 18 March, 2013

Estrella Galicia, a premium beer brand, which to date has only been imported by small independent Spanish importers in bottle format, is now being brought into the UK in kegs by PLB exclusively for the on-trade.

Two men jailed over £5m wine scam

Published: 18 March, 2013

Two men found guilty of smuggling illicit Italian wine into the UK have been jailed following an investigation by HM Revenue & Customs.

Brancott anticipates quality vintage

Published: 15 March, 2013

New Zealand winery Brancott Estate is anticipating a balanced, moderate yield for the 2013 vintage, following...

Morrisons Taste Test tackles consumer confidence

Published: 15 March, 2013

Three-quarters of consumers lack confidence when it comes to choosing wine according to recent research by Morrisons Cellar, so to help overcome this the multiple retailer has unveiled an online Taste Test which it says will help will help consumers to buy with more assurance.

Broadlands Wineries to 'undercut' wine agencies

Published: 15 March, 2013

Broadland Wineries claims it can get new wines to market, from inception to shelf, a month earlier than its competitors.

Vogue publisher Condé Nast moves into on-trade

Published: 15 March, 2013

Magazine publisher Condé Nast, owner of glossy titles including Vogue and GQ, is moving into hospitality with a string of restaurants and bars around the world backed by its famous magazines.

Local Wine School in M&S link-up

Published: 14 March, 2013

Marks & Spencer has signed a deal with Local Wine School that will expand its programme of in-store consumer tastings.

Morrisons Taste Test to dictate shelf display

Published: 14 March, 2013

Morrisons is four weeks into a trial that has completely remerchandised its wine department to arrange the wines on shelf according to their tasting profiles.

Institute of Masters of Wine in emerging markets drive

Published: 14 March, 2013

Newly appointed executive director of the Institute of Masters of Wine, Penny Richards, has announced plans to develop the organisation in emerging markets.