News - Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Tyrrell's gives it both barrels

Published: 23 July, 2008

Australian producer Tyrrell's has just launched a top-end red wine from McLaren Vale.

Oz winemakers attempt to find the sweet spot

Published: 23 July, 2008

By Tom Cannavan
On a recent trip to McLaren Vale, a new winemaking technique was on everyone's lips: sweet spotting'.

New Zealand Winegrowers elect new chairman

Published: 23 July, 2008

Stuart Smith, a grape grower and winery owner in Marlborough, has been elected chairman of New Zealand Winegrowers (NZW), the national trade body. Smith will represent the industry in dealings with government and media for a one-year term. The position complements his role as chair of the national grape growers council.

Islam & alcohol

Published: 23 July, 2008

Imam Shahid was born and grew up in London. He attended state primary and secondary schools, and then at the age of 13 decided, with the support of his parents, to undertake theological studies and to become an Imam. During the nine years following this decision, he attended an Islamic seminary in West Yorkshire for five years, followed by periods of study in Pakistan, Syria and Saudi Arabia. After his graduation in 1998, he served as a junior Imam in Croydon Mosque and Kingston Mosque in Surrey. He is currently Muslim chaplin at St Mary's Hospital and Kingston Hospital, and is the head of the interfaith department at the Regent's Park Mosque.

Top of the Mornington

Published: 23 July, 2008

Don't worry if you have no idea where the Mornington Peninsula is, you are in good company: it appears even Robert Parker has yet to discover the region's existence. In his latest review of Australian wines in The Wine Advocate he had space to review 21 wines (yes, 21!) from a single estate - D'Arenberg (McLaren Vale) - and even Oxford Landing came in for a remarkably good assessment.

The Interview - Neil Pinel, managing director, Dunell's Premier Wines, Jersey

Published: 23 July, 2008

Dunell's is an independent, family-owned wine merchant that has been in business for over 100 years. In addition to listing 1,100 lines, Dunell's also supplies wines en primeur and offers storage solutions. Regular tastings and themed dinners keep the events calendar busy. Neil Pinel took over from his father as managing director in 2000.

Festive fizz price war looms

Published: 23 July, 2008

By Giles Fallowfield
It looks like the UK's grocers will once more use cheap Champagne as a weapon in their fight to win business from competitors in the run-up to Christmas.

Climate scare for Oz

Published: 23 July, 2008

Australia may have to dramatically change both its wine styles and preferred grape varieties due to climate change, according to a new report from the University of Melbourne and the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO).

Threshers launches consumer wine club

Published: 23 July, 2008

Threshers has unveiled On Taste, a new consumer wine club that launches at the end of November. Membership is free and benefits include free bottles of wine with minimum purchases of Radcliffe's wines.

Architect Gehry designs new Wyborowa bottle

Published: 23 July, 2008

Pernod Ricard has released two additions to its spirits range. The first, Wyborowa Exquisite, features a bottle designed by architect Frank Gehry, who, apart from being of Polish descent, designed the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao, and also the Marqus de Riscal winery in Rioja.

Improve staff training to reduce violence

Published: 23 July, 2008

Poor staff training and inadequate venue management are key factors leading to alcohol-related violence in pubs and clubs in the UK, according to a new study by a team of psychologists at Nottingham Trent University.

A compound reaction

Published: 23 July, 2008

An article on volatile sulfur compounds in wine isn't likely to turn many heads. In truth, it's the sort of topic that is filed away as worthy but dull', and only ever gets read by people who are swotting up for their diploma or MW and is then promptly forgotten. Aware of this, I'm willing to strike a deal with readers: if I try my best to cover this otherwise fiercely dull and technical wine science piece in a manner that is both readable and doesn't require any specialist science knowledge, will you try to venture below the first paragraph

Wine competitions only good for unsold plonk'

Published: 23 July, 2008

by Dawn Cran
Major wine competitions in the UK have hit back at claims that medals are a money-making ploy' that are used to sell unsold stocks of "plonk"'.

Mike Paul takes Wine Intelligence role

Published: 23 July, 2008

Wine Intelligence has appointed former Western Wines MD Mike Paul as executive chairman of the company.

Appointments

Published: 23 July, 2008

New head sommelier at Langham Hotel
Valeria Laura Rodrguez has joined the Langham Hotel in London as head sommelier.

Chirac's wine collection auctioned

Published: 23 July, 2008

Part of the personal wine collection of Jacques Chirac, president of France and expert on Finnish cuisine, was auctioned in Paris last Friday - some 6,000 bottles in all.

PizzaExpress looks to Sicily for change

Published: 23 July, 2008

PizzaExpress has launched a new and improved wine list, the most significant changes to be made since 1965.

Guide for wine travellers

Published: 23 July, 2008

Writer Robert Joseph has released a new book aimed at wine drinkers who love to travel.

Stratford's goes cool

Published: 23 July, 2008

Paul Stratford, managing director of Stratford's Wine Agencies, has decided to focus the attention of the business on searching for new wines from cooler climates.

Independent on Sunday scraps drinks column

Published: 23 July, 2008

by Stuart Peskett
Richard Ehrlich, drinks columnist for The Independent on Sunday, has left the newspaper after a decade - with no successor lined up.