Live report from the France Summit 2013

The darling of the UK market, France, is being celebrated today at St Ermin's Hotel in London, with players in all channels coming together to discuss the importance and future of the UK's favourite wine-producing country.

Leading UK wine trade figures head to London for first France Summit

Leading figures from across the UK wine trade will be attending tomorrow's inaugural Harpers France Summit that will look at how well the industry is sourcing, promoting and selling French wine across the on and off-trades.

Late Champagne harvest should still bring good balanced vintage

France Summit to reveal latest off-trade and promotional performance of French wine

Gerard Basset to take part in trade wine clinic at France Summit

Master sommelier and former World Sommelier of the year, Gerard Basset, is to take part in a special wine clinic at this month's Harpers France Summit, in which he will give his expert, personal advice on how best to source, range, price and promote French wines on a wine list.

Château Margaux releases first ever Balthazar bottle

Le Clos, retailer of fine wines and spirits, unveiled today it will be selling a Balthazar (12 litres) of Château Margaux 2009 for US$195,000, which is currently on display at Le Clos' flagship store at Dubai International Airport.

Shortlist announced for Harpers French Wine Awards

The shortlist for the inaugural Harpers French Wine Awards has been announced and includes who the trade see as being the best performing retailers, supplilers and indiviudals in promoting and selling French wine in the UK.

Grignan-les-Adhémar AOC looks to drive awareness in UK

Wine producers of the southern Rhône Valley's northernmost AOC, Grignan-les-Adhémar, are launching a campaign to generate awareness of its wines in the UK on the back of a 20% rise in exports.

Laurent-Perrier's Guillaume Deglise to replace Robert Beynat as chief executive of Vinexpo

Bruno Paillard releases 2004 vintage and praises family-owned Champagne houses

Bordeaux breaks away from 'traditional wine advertising'

Rather than a series of regional arrangements, Bordeaux Wines has opted for a single global advertising account.

London's only winery switches to Italy after turning down rotten French grapes

London Cru, the first central London winery, has had to turn away seven tonnes of grapes due to arrive from Bordeaux and the Loire Valley as the quality was not deemed to be up to scratch.

UK representative chosen for Champagne Ambassador's Awards 2013

The Champagne Bureau has announced the winner of the Champagne Ambassador's Awards 2013 UK final, which recognises excellence in wine education and will see the winning candidate represent the UK in the European final later this month.

UK trade's favourite French wines showcased at Absolutely Cracking tasting

Some of the wine trade's favourite French wines were on show this week at the Absolutely Cracking Wines from France tasting and Harpers is giving you the chance to win a case of specially selected wines from the event.

Sud de France crowns Sommelier of the Year 2013

Sud de France has announced the winner of its coveted Sommelier of the Year title - Adam Pawlowski of Michelin-starred restaurant Northcote.

Top speakers announced for France Summit 2013

A line-up of top speakers from all sectors of the trade is being pulled together for Harpers' inaugural France Summit, which will be held at London's St Ermin's hotel on October 22.

Abbotts & Delaunay appoints new oenologist

Languedoc-Roussillon specialists Abbotts & Delaunay have appointed a new agronomist and oenologist, Hilde Chevillot, to replace winemaker Vincent Charleux.

Last chance to enter Harpers' French Wine Awards

This week is the last chance for companies and indviduals to nominate themselves or other organisations to be considered in the inaugural Harpers French Wine Awards that look to recognise the best retailers, restaurants, suppliers, distributors  and ambassadors for the French wine category in the UK over the last 12 months.

Matthew Dickinson on rubbing shoulders with the French political elite

Last week, I had the potentially dubious pleasure of being invited to the French Embassy in London to participate in a round table discussion with a roll-call of French dignitaries - the French export minister Mme Bricq, a senator, a (rather attractive, and surprisingly young) 'député' - as French MPs are known -  the Ambassador, a raft of bureaucrats, the chief executive of Danone UK etc. As far as egos, remuneration and importance in the general pecking order went, I was way down the far end of the table.

Wines announced for the 2011 Crus Bourgeois du Médoc