News - Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

'Seeing red' - by Sally Easton MW

Published: 23 July, 2008

Austria, with less than 1% of global wine production, is a hot-house of innovation and aspiration for its red wine producers.

'Land of wine in crisis' -by Caroline Gilby

Published: 23 July, 2008

It's hard not to feel desperately sorry for Moldova, a country being brought to its knees by Russia's strong-arm tactics. This small, landlocked country is Europe's poorest, with the average wage hovering around US$70 a month.

Santa Rita gets planting

Published: 23 July, 2008

Via Santa Rita is about to embark on one of the largest planting projects in the recent history of the Chilean wine history, with an estimated 1,700 hectares (ha) of premium vineyard to be planted by the end of the decade.

New A$10 million Petaluma winery

Published: 23 July, 2008

By Stuart Peskett
Lion Nathan has approved a new A$10 million winery for Adelaide Hills producer Petaluma, to replace the one established by Brian Croser 30 years ago.

Distell links up with Waverley TSB

Published: 23 July, 2008

South African producer Distell has signed a deal with distribution giant WaverleyTBS to represent it in the UK on-trade and selected off-trade accounts.

Pause for Paul? - by Christian Davis

Published: 23 July, 2008

Mike Paul is out of a job and looking for something to do. Now that the Constellation leviathan has swallowed Western Wines, its former boss is chilling out while he weighs up his options.

Edward Cavendish & Sons bought by Thierry's

Published: 23 July, 2008

Thierry's Wine Services - one of the UK's largest independent wine companies - has bought Edward Cavendish & Sons (ECS), the wholly-owned subsidiary of South African wine giant KWV. In return, KWV has taken a stake in Thierry's, with all details undisclosed.

Bolla Winery sale confirmed

Published: 23 July, 2008

Brown-Forman has confirmed that it has sold the production facility for its popular Italian brand Bolla to Gruppo Italiano Vino (GIV) for an undisclosed sum.

New Oxford Companion

Published: 23 July, 2008

The third edition of the bible' - otherwise known as The Oxford Companion to Wine - was published this week.

Rioja to allow new whites

Published: 23 July, 2008

By Christian Davis
The Rioja Regulatory Council (Consejo Regulador DOCa) is set to allow new white grape varieties such as Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Verdejo to be grown in Rioja and used in the region's DO white wines.

Biodynamic charter for winemaking launched

Published: 23 July, 2008

by Sarah Ahmed
The Syndicat International des Vignerons en Culture Bio-Dynamique (SIVCBD), a group of 40 biodynamic wine producers from across France, has launched a charter of vinification requirements to augment those governing viticulture. The charter, which is to be published on the SIVCBD's website (www.biodyvin.com), was agreed at the SIVCBD's AGM in January 2006, following two years of discussion.

Project Tikka Masala - a blind tasting to find a Portuguese wine to go with spicy Asian food

Published: 23 July, 2008

by Christian Davis
The former marketing director of the off-licence chain Unwins, and then the Spanish wine producer United Wineries, had a call to arms last month in an attempt to find one of the holy grails of the wine trade - a wine that goes with spicy food.

Coquard targets UK

Published: 23 July, 2008

Maison Coquard - the innovative Beaujolais producer run by Christophe Coquard - is set to embark on a new UK push in partnership with Eddie Mosdell.

Bonny Doon sells big brands

Published: 23 July, 2008

When Randall Grahm, sometimes known as the wizard of Bonny Doon, sold off his Big House and Cardinal Zin brands in late July, he cut the annual production of Bonny Doon winery from over 400,000 cases to barely 40,000 cases. An unusual step in the wine business, when every day seems to bring news of the global conglomerates getting bigger as they gobble up the little guys.

Cowan to leave Lion Nathan

Published: 23 July, 2008

Peter Cowan, the South African managing director of the Lion Nathan Wine Group, has resigned and will leave the business at the end of the year.

Men wanted for WSET 'wine' dating service

Published: 23 July, 2008

A new wine dating service launched by Nicolla Greaves at the Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) has been inundated with interest from lonely women but can't find enough men to meet them.

Spier appoints Cube

Published: 23 July, 2008

South African wine producer Spier has appointed Cube Communications to handle its trade and consumer PR in the UK. The company has given itself the target of becoming one of the top three South African brands in the UK by 2008. It recently secured new listings in Tesco and Waitrose.