Free Run launches its own French wine brand

Free Run Wines is launching its own French wine brand - Les Calades - to plug what it sees as a gap in the market.

Douglas Blyde: Behind the scenes in Istria, Croatia at the Piquentum Winery

A five-bolt lock pins the rust-coloured door to the hillside. Trees sprout above, just in leaf, their roots wrapping around, but unable to enter. Beneath, Dimitri Bre?evi?'s winery unravels, church-like in its proportions, verdegris mottling concrete walls and blood of Christ soundlessly maturing. Mightily built, this cavern was conceived as a water tank in 1928, converted for war shelter in the early 90s, and, just months ago, recognised as actually here by cartographers and authorities...

Oddbins matches London's mayoral candidates with wines

Oddbins, the 35-strong high street wine retailer, has selected seven wines that "sum up" each of the mayoral candidates.

Cracks show in en primeur with Latour's withdrawal

Despite assurances to the contrary, Château Latour's withdrawal from the en primeur system could be bad for business and threaten the traditional Bordeaux marketplace.

Les Vignobles de Foncalieu - coup for co-op

Southern French co-operative Les Vignobles de Foncalieu is witnessing a move to their own branded wines, above own label.

Stratford's refocuses on Old World Wines

Stratford's Wine Agencies' move back towards Old World wines and away from its New World stronghold has paid off, says managing director Paul Stratford.

Consumer engagement is key to French success

French wine brands should take a leaf out of the soft drinks or confectionery categories' books by thinking about what the consumer wants.

Blog: Anne Krebiehl meets Margaux's Paul Pontallier

Anne Krebiehl headed to a seminar tasting with Château Margaux managing director and winemaker Paul Pontallier.

Part two of indie merchants' Beaujolais blog

In the second blog from Harpers' Independent Buyers Trip to Beaujolais, run in conjunction with InterBeaujolais, we hear from a few more of the independent retailers who went out to the region.

International Gamay Competition winners announced

The second International Gamay Competition organised by Inter Beaujolais, has announced 169 medal winners.

Beaujolais whites a hit with independent retailers

Beaujolais' lesser-known whites are building up a following among independent wine merchants who praise the wines' "sensible prices", "food-friendly styles" and"consumer appeal".

Indie merchants blog from Beaujolais

Last week Harpers Wine & Spirit, in conjunction with InterBeaujolais, invited a handful of leading independent wine merchants to go out to Beaujolais and discover the wines for themselves.

Chablis Wine Competition announces winners

Twenty-six wines were given awards at the 26th annual Chablis Wine Competition.

Tim Wildman MW: Australia in the Goldilocks Zone

In a bright, white gallery space on The Kings Road in Chelsea the annual Australia Day Wine Tasting took place last week. Amid the slurping and spitting, tasters who listened very carefully may have detected a rumbling; deep, subterranean, underground. It could have been a tube train passing below, or a low flying plane overhead. But it was neither of these. The rumbling you may have heard, over the clatter of bottles of Chardonnay and Shiraz, is the sound made as the tectonic plates of the Great Australian Wine Industry shift and rearrange themselves for the first time in a generation.

Emmanuel Charrier elected president of BIVC

Emmanuel Charrier has been elected the new president of the regional trade body for the AOP wines of the Centre Loire vineyard, the BIVC.

Online wine retailers slash prices in January sales

Online retailers are leading the way in slashing prices for the January sales, offering up to 60% discount, while for the high street merchant it's back to business as usual.

Lorgeril takes to the skies

Burgundy Wine Board cancels annual UK tasting

The Burgundy Wine Board has cancelled its UK-based generic tasting in 2012 following feedback from the British trade and Burgundy producers.

Acker Merrall & Condit launches "Twelve Days of Christmas" wine auction

US rare wine auction house, Acker Merrall & Condit has launched a "Twelve Days of Christmas", a worldwide auction offering gifts of 'incomparable rarity and lavish value'.

Record sale of £2.9m for Christie's London

Christie's London recorded its biggest wine sale total since 1997 as Sir Evelyn De Rothschild's collection hit £2.9 million.