France - Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

CA Grand Crus appoints commercial director for Santenay

Published: 07 February, 2018

CA Grand Crus has appointed Stéphane Charreyron as commercial director of Château de Santenay.

Burgundy winemakers elect duo of presidents

Published: 29 January, 2018

Two stalwarts of the French wine industry have been elected as co-presidents of the BVIB, the Burgundy Wine Board.

Domaine Jessiaume sets sight on UK as it nears organic certification

Published: 24 January, 2018

Burgundy producer Domaine Jessiaume has revealed it is gearing up to enter the UK market for the first time.

UK bound: French Wine Discoveries

Published: 22 January, 2018

It can be a double-edged sword being a French winemaker.

War over planting rights erupts in Champagne

Published: 16 January, 2018

A war over planting rights is being waged in France, where Champagne growers want to severely limit new plantings of vines by rival growers in areas surrounding Champagne’s production zone.

British wine trade figures receive top French accolade

Published: 09 January, 2018

Four prominent figures from the British wine trade have received the ‘Ordre du Mérite Agricole’ from the French Ambassador, Jean-Pierre Jouyet.

Chinese investor Peter Kwok buys seventh Bordeaux vineyard

Published: 08 January, 2018

Chinese investor Peter Kwok has acquired his seventh vineyard in Bordeaux with the purchase of Château Bellefont-Belcier - a Grand Cru Classé estate in Saint-Emilion.

Regionalised price increases set to squeeze Europe’s big three thanks to woeful harvest

Published: 05 January, 2018

Europe ran the full gamut of extreme weather conditions last year - everything from frost to fires and heatwaves.

Major alleged fake Bordeaux investigation causes stir in Bordeaux

Published: 13 December, 2017

French customs authorities have opened a major investigation into the alleged sale of more than half a million bottles of fake Bordeaux to key international wine distributors.

Jean-Claude Mas continues quest for Languedoc domination

Published: 08 December, 2017

Since founding Domaine Paul Mas in 2000, Jean-Claude Mas has been building up a wine empire across the Languedoc Roussillon. Harpers caught up with the Paul Mas proprietor and pioneer behind some the Languedoc’s biggest exports to discuss how the newest portfolio addition continues his quest to own estates “in all the great areas" of this versatile region

CA Grand Crus hails 2017 Bordeaux vintage one of the most challenging to date

Published: 07 December, 2017

The 2017 vintage in Bordeaux has been hailed as one of the most challenging in the region's history as extensive frost damage in April dramatically reduced yields in key appellations.

Burgundy varieties predicted to thrive in Languedoc

Published: 22 November, 2017

The Languedoc is set to become one of the key regions for growing Burgundian varieties over the next decade, according to winemaker Laurent Delaunay of Abbotts and Delauney.

Marrenon returns to the UK after 7 year hiatus

Published: 20 November, 2017

Marrenon, the southeast France producer, is re-launching its portfolio in the UK with ambitions to become the leading Luberon and Ventoux winery.

“Underrated and under-priced” Beaujolais gets a kick out from under Georges Duboeuf’s shadow

Published: 17 November, 2017

Beaujolais Nouveau Day is long past its heyday in the late 1980s when merchants made a mad dash to southern France to pick up the first release of the year. In 2017, however, London’s restaurants, bars and independents are using the day as a way to celebrate the region’s unsung heroes.

The vintage before the storm: Rhône 2016 primeur tasting

Published: 16 November, 2017

Yesterday’s Thorman Hunt & Co Ltd Rhône 2016 en primeur vintage tasting made overtures of incomparable quality, promising the likes of which tasters have not seen before.

Hallgarten banks on the Burgundy stars of tomorrow

Published: 14 November, 2017

Hallgarten Druitt & Novum Wines has overhauled its Burgundy list to put a greater focus on rising stars and lesser-known appellations.

Crémant upping the pressure

Published: 14 November, 2017

The love of sparkling has led to a spike in production in the Crémant de Bordeaux AOC and others around France. Jo Gilbert reports

New role at GCF puts focus on UK

Published: 07 November, 2017

Major French exporter Les Grands Chais de France (GCF) has appointed a new UK based wine director to oversee the group’s activities outside of France.