France - Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Médoc producers approve timetable for move to Crus Bourgeois classification system

Published: 22 September, 2015

Members of the Alliance des Crus Bourgeois du Médoc have voted overwhelmingly in favour of the creation of a classification system for their wines.

Badét Clement buys Pinot Noir and Chardonnay vineyards in Languedoc

Published: 21 September, 2015

French wine producer Badet Clément has acquired its own vineyards in the Languedoc region with the purchase of Domaine de la Métairie d'Alon.

Analysis: A rise in white and red wines from Bordeaux demostrate its diversity

Published: 16 September, 2015

Looking beyond red and the hype of en primeur there seems to be a resurgence in white and rosé wines from Bordeaux.

Prestige Champagne cuvée from Taittinger gets UK release

Published: 15 September, 2015

Taittinger is releasing its 2006 vintage Comtes de Champagne Blanc de Blancs Brut this month.

Sparkling wine continues to fizz with on-trade sales up by more than half in a year

Published: 15 September, 2015

Sparkling wine is the star performer in the drinks trade with the value of on-trade sales up by more than half in the year to July 7, according to Nielsen figures in the third quarter market report from the Wine & Spirit Trade Association.

Q&A: Philippe Dhalluin, managing director of Châteaux wines, Château Mouton Rothschild

Published: 14 September, 2015

Dhalluin has been overseeing the winemaking at Mouton Rothschild and several of its estates since 2003. He talks about the joys, as well as the pressures, of leading arguably one of the most iconic wine labels in the world.

Gonzalez Byass wraps up three prestige Deutz Champagnes in gift pack

Published: 07 September, 2015

Gonzalez Byass UK has launched a Champagne Deutz gift pack featuring three fizzes from the 2008 vintage.

Luxury cuvée matured in steel, wood and glass released by Möet

Published: 07 September, 2015

Moët & Chandon is to release a prestige cuvée called MCIII in October.

Alsace Riesling gets Majestic listing after vote by store managers

Published: 01 September, 2015

A Riesling from Alsace has been added to the Majestic range after winning a poll of the group's 211 store managers.

LGI signs deal with Rhone producer to supply its wines to the UK

Published: 01 September, 2015

Southern French wine specialist LGI is to handle the wines of Rhône producer Dauvergne & Ranvier in the UK.

Hedonism to offer collection of rare Dom Pérignon vintages

Published: 28 August, 2015

Luxury London retailer Hedonism Wines is to open a cellar devoted to rare vintages of Dom Pérignon Champagne.

Model Karembeu joins up with Lanson's Tsarine to launch Champagne

Published: 26 August, 2015

Fashion model Adriana Karembeu has put her name to a new Champagne in the Lanson International portfolio.

Maison Sichel banks on 2008 vintage of Pessac-Léognan's Chateau Olivier

Published: 25 August, 2015

Maison Sichel has bought the entire remaining stock of Cru Classé Bordeaux estate Chateau Olivier's 2008 vintage wine.

Jascots launches on-trade exclusive Champagne

Published: 21 August, 2015

On-trade supplier Jascots Wine Merchants has launched its own Champagne brand.

July fine wine prices soften but fund management firm expects a swing back in the autumn

Published: 21 August, 2015

A leading wine investment fund manager says it expects prices to rise again in the autumn after softening during the summer.

Beaujolais commits to three more years in the UK and a first campaign for Ireland

Published: 20 August, 2015

The Beaujolais wine region has committed to run a generic campaign in the UK for the next three years - and will enter the Republic of Ireland for the first time.

On-trade venues line up programme of events to celebrate National Champagne Week

Published: 12 August, 2015

Nineteen on-trade venues have signed up for National Champagne Week which runs from October 1-7.

Gosset and Frapin leave McKinley Vintners for Louis Latour Agencies

Published: 04 August, 2015

Louis Latour Agencies has poached both Champagne Gosset and Cognac Frapin from McKinley Vintners. The two prestigious brands - both owned by family group Renaud Cointreau - joined the Latour portfolio on 1 August 2015.

Bibendum PLB strengthens buying team with Pyatt hire

Published: 29 July, 2015

Bibendum PLB has recruited Alastair Pyatt, head buyer at Jascots, to join its buying team. Pyatt will be responsible for sourcing French wine for Bibendum, PLB and Walker & Woodhouse.