News - Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

English Wine Producers heads to ProWein

Published: 08 February, 2013

English Wine Producers is to exhibit at ProWein for the first time, marking a significant new focus on wine markets outside the UK.

Drinks industry shows increasing web presence

Published: 08 February, 2013

The Whisky Shop is currently sitting at the top of the drinks industry listings at 12th place in the Sitemorse 500 best-performing UK retail websites in Q1.

Jenny Mackenzie joins the hordes at Bibendum's annual tasting, February 6

Published: 07 February, 2013

Bibendum's annual tasting always has a party atmosphere, more like a fashion or art event than a conventional trade tasting. The vast, multi-room, ex-industrial building, The Brewery in Chiswell Street, London, suited the various themes, activities and zoning of individual wine countries. Bibendum's in-house design team fits out the spaces with the same on-trend flair as the décor of bars and clubs.

Increased web presence for drinks in Sitemorse top 500

Published: 07 February, 2013

The Whisky Shop is currently sitting at the top of the drinks industry listings at 12th place in the Sitemorse 500 best-performing UK retail websites in Q1.

UK retail sales see January uplift

Published: 07 February, 2013

UK retail sales increased 1.9% in January on the previous year, despite the snow, and is the largest year-on-year rise since 2011, according to the British Retail Consortium.

UK to remain top wine importer, despite projected slump

Published: 06 February, 2013

Still wine sales in the UK are set to decline for another five years, as consumers scale back on consumption but trade up to more expensive bottles, according to Vinexpo.

Beefeater to open gin distillery visitors' centre

Published: 06 February, 2013

Pernod Ricard-owned Beefeater gin is to open London's first ever gin distillery visitors' centre at the back end of 2013...

Beefeater Gin to open distillery visitor centre

Published: 06 February, 2013

Pernod Ricard owned, Beefeater Gin is to open London's first ever gin distillery visitor centre at the back end of 2013, with the aim of telling the story of London gin .

Crepes and cocktails combine at new speakeasy

Published: 06 February, 2013

A new experimental crepe and cocktail speakeasy is opening in the heart of Shoreditch.

Henners launches multi-vintage sparkling wine

Published: 05 February, 2013

East Sussex-based English sparkling wine producer Henners has announced a new multi-vintage concept that is to form a major part of its portfolio from 2016.

WSTA urges government to end duty escalator

Published: 05 February, 2013

The Wine & Spirit Trade Association is to meet with economic secretary to the Treasury in a bid to make a case for an end to the alcohol duty escalator.

Liberty Wines lists its first Tasmanian producer

Published: 05 February, 2013

Liberty Wines has been appointed as the exclusive agent in the UK and Ireland for Dawson & James from Southern Tasmania.

Hallgarten Druitt strengthens senior management team for growth

Published: 05 February, 2013

Hallgarten Druitt has poached two new senior members for its management team from major competitors as part of its continued strategy to improve and deepen its level of service across the on and off-trades.

ACS chief slams Sir Terry Leahy's high street claims

Published: 05 February, 2013

Former Tesco chief executive Sir Terry Leahy's comments on this weeks' BBC Radio 4's Desert Island Discs that some high streets are "medieval" has brought a strong reaction from the small retail groups.

John Shearlock reports from the Pinot Noir NZ 2013 conference

Published: 05 February, 2013

John Shearlock from the Drinking Well heads to New Zealand to uncover the world-class Pinots on show at the Pinot Noir NZ 2013 conference.

Home Office criticised for leaving minimum pricing questions unanswered

Published: 04 February, 2013

The Wilson Drinks Report has criticised the Home Office for leaving a number of qustions unanswered prior to the consultation relating to the practicalities of implementing minimum unit pricing.

Name change for Grupo Codorníu

Published: 04 February, 2013

Grupo Codorníu has changed its name to Bodegas y Viñedos Codorníu Raventós as it looks to draw attention to its broad portfolio of products and heritage.

Douglas Blyde on a taste of Croatia at Cuthbert Pub & Kitchen, Brighton

Published: 04 February, 2013

Pacta Connect's Trevor Long and Judith Burns, enthusiastic importers of quality Croatian wines from Umag to Pula and also Slavonia and Dalmatia, invited Harper's to taste a tailored menu of British food and Croatian wines at The Cuthbert, Brighton. An Enterprise Inn with appealingly quirky decor by landlady, Susanna Searle, which evokes a 50s street party, was reopened after a year's closure by a young trio. This also includes Searle's partner, Robin Koehorst, an Anglo-Dutchman and late starter to professional cooking from age 28 (now 35) and Dave Mothersill.

Sales up as PLB sets sight on indies and on-trade

Published: 04 February, 2013

Wine importer PLB Group has reported a double-digit rise in sales after increasing its distribution and selling a greater range of products to existing customers.

Fiona Sims heads to Istanbul for the Dom Pérignon 2002 launch

Published: 04 February, 2013

I am led in silence to a white curtained tasting booth. On the Philippe Starck-designed table is a Riedel glass of rosé Champagne. There is also a spittoon - though I don't hear any spitting coming from the other nine occupied booths, just the odd sigh. And there is a view of the Bosphorus, glittering in the sunlight through the former sultan's palace window. Welcome to the launch of the Dom Pérignon's rosé vintage 2002 in Istanbul.