Producers - Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Speciality Brands unveils new sake partnership

Published: 12 May, 2025

Leading distributor Speciality Brands has welcomed a UK-based sake brewery into its diverse portfolio, strengthening its already strong Japanese offering.

Iggy Pop and Tilda Swinton among latest DP collaborators

Published: 12 May, 2025

Dom Pérignon has announced its latest “creative chapter”, with a series of portraits and films designed to deliver an immersive experience for guests from 15 May.

Leadership change at Wakefield Wines

Published: 12 May, 2025

South Australia's Wakefield Wines has announced that, after 25 years as MD, Mitchell Taylor (pictured left) is taking on the new role of chairman of the board and John Freeman (pictured right) will become CEO from 21 July.

Campari sees Q1 sales drop amid tariff squeeze

Published: 09 May, 2025

Italian drinks giant Campari Group has seen a –4.2% fall in organic net sales for Q1 of 2025. The company believes the drop has come amid ‘heightened macroeconomic volatility’, in part caused by the uncertainty caused by US tariffs during this period.

Glen Scotia unveils oldest ever whisky

Published: 08 May, 2025

Campbeltown scotch producer Glen Scotia has announced the release of a 50-year-old whisky, its oldest ever. The 1973-distilled single malt marks a fresh trajectory for the Kintyre distiller.

South African growers report ‘exceptional’ quality harvest for 2025

Published: 08 May, 2025

The trade body South Africa Wine has shared details of what it characterises as an ‘exceptional harvest’ for wine estates in the country.

Sustainability Report: on the ground in France

Published: 02 May, 2025

France has become one of the leaders in sustainability protocols in the 21st century, with its myriad regions now producing a network of best-practice roadmaps which can be used in the wine world’s global fight against climate change.

Europe shows innovation in green winemaking

Published: 30 April, 2025

When Véronique Cochran first converted Château Falfas to biodynamic agriculture in 1989, it looked unconventional. Fast-forward to today and many of the methods she uses at her vineyard in Bordeaux’s Côtes de Bourg – not using chemical pesticides, growing cover crops between vines – seem mainstream. Such is the march of organics and biodynamics in Europe in recent decades. But today those shifts are part of a wider sea change towards more sustainable production.

Taylor’s releases Sentinels Vintage Port 2023

Published: 23 April, 2025

Taylor’s has made its declaration of Vintage Port today, St George’s Day – the traditional date for the announcement – and alongside launches Sentinels Vintage Port 2023.

Achaval Ferrer launches Fincas 2021

Published: 23 April, 2025

As part of the release of its Fincas 2021 vintage, Argentinian winery Achaval Ferrer has added to its existing trio of wines with the launch of Nazarenas Malbec.

2024 sees Domaine Bousquet cut carbon footprint by 20%

Published: 23 April, 2025

Argentinian estate Domaine Bousquet has released its 2025 sustainability report, highlighting encouraging progress made at the organic wine producer during 2024. The Mendoza winery, a long-time advocate of organic and biodynamic viticulture, has redoubled its sustainability efforts in recent years.

Gin rides the wave of consolidation and falling consumption

Published: 23 April, 2025

After an unprecedented run of success, gin has hit some problems: consumption is falling and the industry is going through a painful process of consolidation. “The days of seeing a new gin brand appear almost every week are over,” observes Martin Reid, co-founder of The Gin Cooperative. “Unfortunately, we will see many gin brands vanish over the next two years.” Yet the weakening of the craft sector does not tell the whole story – not by a long shot.

Symington announces Quinta Vintage Port from six estates

Published: 17 April, 2025

Port giant Symington Family Estates has announced that it will produce 2023 Quinta Vintage Ports from its top six Douro estates. The move will see the wines bottled in May and available from mid-June.

Wiltshire-based Witchmark latest distiller to become B Corp

Published: 17 April, 2025

Wiltshire spirits producer Witchmark has become part of the B Corp community, joining a growing list of British distillers which have earned the certification.

OIV: ‘Generational’ change in drinking habits as production and consumption fall to 60-year low

Published: 16 April, 2025

World wine consumption and production have plummeted to their lowest levels in over 60 years as the wine industry grapples with the intersection of climate-related challenges and generational changes in drinking habits.

The intriguing proposition of rhum agricole

Published: 16 April, 2025

In light of rum’s recent success, the subject of rhum agricole, the category’s quieter and less well-known cousin (at least outside La Francophonie), has swung back into the conversation at Harpers. Made minus the molasses, rhum agricole offers up a fresh, grassy and slightly green flavour from its sugarcane juice-only recipe. This in turn offers an undeniable point of difference to the traditional molasses-based rums which make up 98% of the world’s production, according to statistics from Markwide Research and its Global Rhum Agricole Market report.

Kiwi wine shows sustainability progress across board

Published: 15 April, 2025

New Zealand Wine’s (NZW) Sustainability Report 2025 highlights the strides being made across the island nation’s vineyards and wineries. The progress is welcome in a year that marks 30 years of the trade organisation’s Sustainable Winegrowing New Zealand (SWNZ) certification programme.

Mediterranean Wine Symposium: Pondering categorisation and regionality

Published: 15 April, 2025

One of the more fascinating events of the year so far was the inaugural Mediterranean Wine Symposium, convened at the Perelada estate in Emporda, where an ambitious programme of presentations sought to define what it means to be a ‘Mediterranean’ wine producer and whether this could mean more than just being a ‘state of mind’.

Hill-Smith Family Estates reduces emissions by 38% since 2011

Published: 09 April, 2025

The Australian producer, Hill-Smith Family Estates, owner of 22 wine brands across its estates in Australia and New Zealand including Oxford Landing and Jansz Tasmania, has announced a 38% reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions since 2011.

First cask filled at new Eden Mill distillery

Published: 09 April, 2025

Independent St Andrews distiller Eden Mill has announced the commencement of production at its new distillery, based astride the Eden Estuary a short journey north of the famed university town.