Champagne and Sparkling - Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Prosecco DOC announces record shipments to UK

Published: 20 March, 2023

The Prosecco DOC Consortium announced record shipments to the UK in 2022, importing 130 million bottles, a 3.5% increase on 2021 volumes.

Managing the flames of Champagne demand

Published: 15 March, 2023

Out of the Covid frying pan into the cost of living fire – having experienced a strong bounce in premium sales, how is Champagne faring as inflationary pressures continue to impact? James Bayley reports.

Charles Heidsieck announce Elise Losfelt as cellar master

Published: 08 March, 2023

Renowned Champagne house Charles Heidsieck has named Elise Losfelt as its new cellar master, taking over from Cyril Brun.

Kai Mayfair sommelier takes home the 2023 UK Ruinart gong

Published: 22 February, 2023

Mateusz Kowlczyk of Kai Mayfair has been announced as the winner of the 2023 UK Ruinart Sommelier Challenge, taking home the title in the seventh year of the competition.

Danbury Ridge shows eastern promise

Published: 21 February, 2023

Essex clays are poised to lead the charge of quality English still wine. Andrew Catchpole reports from Crouch Valley’s Danbury Ridge.

Taste off: Tasmania vs England

Published: 17 February, 2023

In the first of our new series, Andrew Catchpole invited a panel to put Tasmanian and English sparkling wines through their paces.

Nyetimber announces America’s Cup partnership

Published: 13 February, 2023

Nyetimber, a leading English sparkling wine producer, has announced its partnership with INEOS Britannia, the British race team challenging for the 37th America’s Cup.

Harpers Taste Off: Adding more ‘oomph’ to sparkling sales

Published: 06 February, 2023

Everyone loves a glass of fizz and nowhere is this evidenced more than in the rise and rise of English sparkling. But it’s not just English bubbly that is buoying sales of wine. As Harpers recently reported, analyst firm IRI’s most recent FMCG Demand Signals report confirmed that across six major European markets, sparkling wine sales remain in robust shape, set against a 4% off-trade decline in wines, beers and spirits.

Bolly team revamp ahead of ‘ambitious’ bicentenary plans

Published: 20 January, 2023

Maison Bollinger has announced a shake-up of its core team, following the departure of its long serving chef de cave, Gilles Descôtes.

Cult Wines posts more positive outlook for Burgundy and Champagne

Published: 13 January, 2023

Fine wine investment platform, Cult Wines, closed 2022 with a ‘positive end to the year’, the company has revealed, with its Cult Wines Global Index concluding the 12 months with a 20.54% gain.

ABS adds first English wine to Portfolio

Published: 20 December, 2022

Awin Barratt Siegel Wine Agencies (ABS) is partnering with House Coren, to distribute their sparkling wine, Boco – the first English wine to join the ABS portfolio.

Prosecco DOCG launches Green Academy and Wine Tourism lab

Published: 19 December, 2022

To mark its 60th anniversary, the Consorzio of Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco DOCG has announced the launch of two new initiatives. The first is a research facility called, The Green Academy, which will enable producers to work more efficiently for the benefit of the region environmentally.

Headline heroes: Prosecco – the jewel in the crown

Published: 24 November, 2022

Affordable and trendy, Italy’s famous sparkler has been in the fizz category’s driving seat for some time.
James Lawrence reports

Champagne trade share at all-time high according to Cult Wine Investment

Published: 16 November, 2022

Fine wine investment specialist Cult Wine has released its 2022 Champagne report and the investment potential “speaks for itself” according to the experts.

Cava’s return to power

Published: 31 October, 2022

Cava’s image has been bruised in recent years, not least by an exodus of nine influential producers in 2019 from the DO. Nonetheless, it remains a sparkling powerhouse, led by corporate giants Codorníu and Freixenet. The numbers speak for themselves: global exports rose by 16.45% in the first nine months of 2021, according to the Consejo Regulador. However, with stagnant growth in the UK, there are challenges ahead if the DO hopes to reconquer one of Europe’s most dynamic sparkling wine markets.

The rise and rise of Franciacorta

Published: 28 October, 2022

The sparkling wine industry has arrived at a crucial moment. As markets have expanded and consumer attitudes evolved beyond the ‘just for celebrations’ paradigm, brands can expect to achieve growth that would have been impossible in the 20th century. As the hottest consumer wine topic in the UK, the scope to encourage further premiumisation across different sparkling categories is unprecedented.

Sandridge Barton estimates 80,000 bottles after bumper harvest

Published: 24 October, 2022

Sandridge Barton, the home of Sharpham Wine, is toasting a bumper harvest after collecting more than 80 tonnes of grapes, enough for approximately 80,000 bottles.

Extreme summer shrinks Cava harvest in 2022

Published: 19 October, 2022

Cava's regulatory council has issued a statement about the difficult growing season this year, characterised by “continuous and above-average high temperatures, along with successive heat waves in late spring and early summer.”