Producers - Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Argento relaunches key varietals at higher price

Published: 23 July, 2008

The Argento Wine Company is relaunching its key Argento brand at a higher price point, starting with its two main varietal wines - Chardonnay and Malbec.

Santa Rita gets planting

Published: 23 July, 2008

Via Santa Rita is about to embark on one of the largest planting projects in the recent history of the Chilean wine history, with an estimated 1,700 hectares (ha) of premium vineyard to be planted by the end of the decade.

Rioja to allow new whites

Published: 23 July, 2008

By Christian Davis
The Rioja Regulatory Council (Consejo Regulador DOCa) is set to allow new white grape varieties such as Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Verdejo to be grown in Rioja and used in the region's DO white wines.

Montes invests in Napa

Published: 23 July, 2008

Chilean winery Via Montes is investing in a new venture in California's most famous wine region, the Napa Valley.

Waitrose backs New World

Published: 23 July, 2008

Waitrose is giving the New World a boost with a New World Wine Showcase to be held in all branches from 4 to 24 September.

The Interview - Kevin Howell, Thresher franchisee, Thresher shop, Hythe, Kent

Published: 23 July, 2008

Kevin Howell has been in the licensed trade just about all his 44 years. His parents ran the White Hart, one of major pubs in Hythe High Street in Kent. After studying at Portsmouth College, he went to work in a Peter Dominic off-licence in nearby Bearsted in Kent. He then moved to the Thresher shop in Hythe, 17 years ago. Kevin is the second person to switch from manager to fracnhisee under the new Thresher franchisee scheme. He is also vice-chairman of the local chamber of commerce.

Bolla to be bought by GIV?

Published: 23 July, 2008

by Nicolas Belfrage MW and Franco Ziliani
One of the biggest names in traditional Italian viniculture, Bolla, may be on its way into the portfolio of the giant Gruppo Italiano Vini (GIV).

Constellation: the story of a wine scandal'

Published: 23 July, 2008

Constellation Europe made it into the national newspapers for all the wrong reasons late last month after news leaked out that employees of Matthew Clark - Constellation's on-trade distribution arm - were being urged to buy the company's wines while they were being trialled at JD Wetherspoon pubs and claim the cost back on expenses.

Santa Rita buys 1,600 ha

Published: 23 July, 2008

Chilean winery Via Santa Rita has acquired 1,600 hectares (ha) of vineyard land - both virgin and planted - in the areas of Pumanque and Limar.
This purchase has almost doubled the land ownership of Santa Rita, from 2,000 to 3,600ha, making it the second-largest land-owning winery in Chile after Concha y Toro.
Pumanque, around 30km west of Apalta, has no other vineyard plantings at present, and Santa Rita has already installed irrigation, including a reservoir and 10km of pipes. A wide spectrum of grapes will be planted shortly.
Limar, situated 400km north of Santiago, is also a relatively new area, with Via Tabali the most high-profile producer in the area at present. Santa Rita has acquired 470ha in this region, 65 of which are already planted with Chardonnay, Shiraz, Carmnre and Cabernet Sauvignon. The remaining land will be planted over the next five years primarily with Chardonnay and Shiraz.

Football boss to open restaurant

Published: 23 July, 2008

Outspoken Crystal Palace chairman Simon Jordan is to open a restaurant on the site of the former Sugar Club in Warwick Street.

New from Boschendal

Published: 23 July, 2008

South African wine producer Boschendal has introduced a new range of premium wines for the off-trade made up of three single varietals and two dual varietals.

John Power Head Sommelier, Prestonfield

Published: 23 July, 2008

Prestonfield
Priestfield Road
Edinburgh EH16 5UT
Tel: 0131 662 2305
www.prestonfield.com

John Power began his career at the five-star Gleneagles Hotel in Perthshire, where he trained as a sommelier before moving to the Witchery by the Castle in 1998. Earlier this year he took on the new role of central wine buyer for all of James Thompson's Edinburgh restaurants, including the Witchery by the Castle, Tower restaurant in the Museum of Scotland and Rhubarb at the five-star Prestonfield hotel, where he is now based.

Key suppliers: Raeburn Fine Wine, Cheviot Wine, Corney & Barrow, Justerini & Brooks, Fine & Rare Wines.

Ian Dunkerley, chef/proprietor, Dunkerleys

Published: 23 July, 2008

How did you get started?
I was born in Ashford (Kent) but then
we moved to Cyprus, because my father worked with the army. He became ill and died, so we returned initially to Deal but then moved to Ashford. It was full of London overspill so it was a tough environment. To keep out of trouble, I did two paper rounds, worked in a sweet shop and in a fish and chip shop - I used to have a barrow at Ashford station and served Bill Deedes (the Conservative MP and former editor of the Daily Telegraph).

Paul Dolan takes the chair in California

Published: 23 July, 2008

California wine legend Paul Dolan has been elected as the new chairman of the California Wine Institute.

Sainsbury's triumphs at Quality Drinks Awards

Published: 23 July, 2008

Sainsbury's was the big winner at last week's Quality Drinks Awards 2006, scooping five trophies in all.

New Argentina boss aims to double market share

Published: 23 July, 2008

By Stuart Peskett
The new director of Wines of Argentina's inaugural UK office plans to double the country's market share in the UK.
James Forbes, senior buyer for Oddbins, will take up his new post at the end of July, and said he hopes that Argentina's UK market share will increase from 1.8% to 3.6% within three years.

The Interview: Kevin Griffin, Proprietor, Maison du Vin

Published: 23 July, 2008

What possessed you to buy a shop on a really busy A' road between the two parts of a Kent village?

6-7 category up 27%

Published: 23 July, 2008

The 6 to 7 price band is booming in the UK's multiple grocers - with sales by volume up 27% in the last year.

Which? barbecue wines

Published: 23 July, 2008

A Vergelegen Chardonnay from South Africa (9.49, Majestic) and a French Old Vines Grenache Noir from Marks & Spencer (5.49) are the top scorers and among the best buys in the Consumers' Association's Which? magazine On Test: Wines for Barbecues'.

Brown-Forman shake-up

Published: 23 July, 2008

The reorganisation of Brown-Forman's corporate structure announced last week - which has seen the wines and spirits divisions combined into one entity in the US and other selected markets - will not affect the UK, according to David Cox, managing director of Brown-Forman Wines Europe.