France - Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

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.

CIVB goes social with new winter ad campaign

Published: 06 November, 2017

Vins de Bordeaux is releasing a new ad campaign focused on digital formats and social media with the hope of engagining "younger" audiences.

Tim Atkin MW: Rich pickings for the vineyards of Burgundy

Published: 02 November, 2017

Remind me never to play poker against Frédéric Engerer.

Languedoc standing strong

Published: 02 November, 2017

Jo Gilbert looks at how France’s leading volume producer continues to evolve and intrigue the UK market

Crémant production fizzes in Bordeaux

Published: 27 October, 2017

Europe’s love of bubbles has led to a spike in production of Crémant de Bordeaux, where the number of producers turning their hand to sparkling is believed to have doubled in the past three years.

Major fall in Bordeaux 2017 production not expected to raise prices

Published: 18 October, 2017

Bordeaux officials have played down a potential impact on wine prices resulting from the dramatic fall in Bordeaux’s production volumes in 2017.

Flint Wines to balance 2016 shortages with older Burgundy vintage

Published: 18 October, 2017

Burgundy specialists in the UK are having to re-think their en primeur formats this year after 2016’s weather woes meant that allocation in certain appellations are ‘tiny’.

Lassègue reveals distribution deal with négociants in Bordeaux

Published: 04 October, 2017

Lassègue, owned jointly by the Jackson and Seillan families, has announced it is to be distributed by six of the négociants in Bordeaux: Ballande & Méneret, CVBG, Duclot, Joanne, Mähler-Besse et Mestrezat” said Barbara Banke and Pierre Seillan.