Producers - Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

South America: Diversity does the talking

Published: 24 March, 2023

David Kermode goes on a goes on a varietal journey among South America’s big players, looking at what commercial gains have been made in Chile and Argentina.

Friday read: Hampshire wines making their mark

Published: 24 March, 2023

Ahead of next week’s Vineyards of Hampshire trade tasting, Justin Keay dives into how the wider English wine industry has changed, with regions outside Kent and Sussex growing all the while.

Prosecco DOC announces record shipments to UK

Published: 20 March, 2023

The Prosecco DOC Consortium announced record shipments to the UK in 2022, importing 130 million bottles, a 3.5% increase on 2021 volumes.

Spotlight on the women of CEE at 67 Pall Mall

Published: 20 March, 2023

Women winemakers of Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) were at the centre of a first-of-its kind tasting in London this week, which dove into some of the more esoteric parts of Europe’s winemaking map, spanning Moldova, Slovenia, Serbia, Bulgaria and Romania and Hungary.

Argento’s biodiversity index paves the way for an organic future

Published: 16 March, 2023

Major Argentinian winemaker Bodega Argento is sharing the results of a compelling biodiversity study which aims to put flora, fauna and vine management in harmonious step, as it works to convert its entire estate to certified organic status.

Grandes Pagos de España launches global Terroir Workshop

Published: 14 March, 2023

Leading Spanish producer association, Grandes Pagos de España (GPE), has launched a global education program which puts the country’s ‘grand crus’ front and centre.

Volumes ‘remain stable’ across key regions of France

Published: 09 March, 2023

The Rhône Valley, Chablis and the Loire Valley have all released figures regarding the 2022 harvest, providing a snapshot from three key regions of France and indicating how much wine they may have to offer the market against previous vintages.

Charles Heidsieck announce Elise Losfelt as cellar master

Published: 08 March, 2023

Renowned Champagne house Charles Heidsieck has named Elise Losfelt as its new cellar master, taking over from Cyril Brun.

Vintage 2022 put Austrian winegrowers 'through their paces'

Published: 06 March, 2023

The Austrian Wine Marketing Board has released its assessment of last year's vintage, highlighting the “unusual weather conditions that certainly put Austrian winemakers through their paces.”

The ‘Dram Queen’ and other whisky leaders at the heart of International Women’s Day

Published: 03 March, 2023

The globally known Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival is returning in spring 2023, with many of the industry’s top female leaders and whisky-makers at the heart of the event.

Clean-up underway in cyclone-damaged regions as New Zealand approaches harvest

Published: 24 February, 2023

The impact of Cyclone Gabrielle on vineyards in flooded areas in the North Island is still being assessed, but clean-up is underway as winegrowers look towards this year’s harvest, said Philip Gregan, CEO of New Zealand Winegrowers.

Chiaretto eyes Provence's crown

Published: 24 February, 2023

Chiaretto for Christmas? Sadly, despite more and more people drinking pink all year round, Italy’s bestselling Rosado Chiaretto di Bardolino didn’t grace many British dinner tables last December and won’t at Easter. A quick Google suggests some retailers stock it – Fortnums has two – but most main supermarkets and even The Wine Society draw a blank, suggesting the limited inroads it has made here. Which is frankly rather surprising, given the history of this wine, and the increasing popularity of the rather similar Provence rosé.

Argentina’s ‘white revolution’ moves to newer sites

Published: 24 February, 2023

The slow but steady creep of Argentina’s white wines into new territories has entered a new chapter at Susana Balbo Wines, where the winemaking team has been experimenting with what it believes could be the Uco Valley’s first white-only appellation.

Kai Mayfair sommelier takes home the 2023 UK Ruinart gong

Published: 22 February, 2023

Mateusz Kowlczyk of Kai Mayfair has been announced as the winner of the 2023 UK Ruinart Sommelier Challenge, taking home the title in the seventh year of the competition.

Paul Symington receives CMG at Windsor Castle

Published: 20 February, 2023

Paul Symington received the CMG (Companion of the Order of St. Michael and St. George) from His Majesty King Charles III at Windsor Castle on 14 February for services to UK/Portugal relations and to social and environmental sustainability in Portugal. The award was announced in Her Majesty the Queen’s last Birthday Honours list in the spring of 2022.

Burgundy 2021: A car crash waiting to happen?

Published: 20 February, 2023

Low yields and high quality have caused prices for Burgundy vintage 2021 to soar. James Bayley assesses the outlook in an increasingly febrile market.

Arrogant Frog puts up vineyard resistance

Published: 17 February, 2023

Leading Languedoc producer Jean-Claude Mas is set to bring his first fungus resistant varietal wine to market, with the unveiling of a Souvignier Gris ‘Résistant’ at Wine Paris.

Penfolds launches first-ever multi-vintage Yattarna in Paris

Published: 17 February, 2023

Penfolds officially unveiled its first-ever multi-vintage Chardonnay in Paris this week during a reception hosted by chief winemaker, Peter Gago. The wine is a blend of five Yattarna vintages and aptly named the Penfolds V.

Scottish rum distiller to launch private cask ownership

Published: 10 February, 2023

A new age of rum distilling is on the horizon for Scotland, as the award-winning Matugga Distillery launches its private cask ownership programme to the public.