ProWein has to turn away exhibitors for 2014 show as waiting list grows

ProWein, the international wine trade fair, is having to turn away an increasing number of exhibitors who are keen to get in to the show as it is looking to "consolidate" on its strong 2013 performance by not increasing stand or hall space in 2014. 

Wendy Narby on why Bordeaux's 'La Place' system looks as strong as ever

In the latest of our series of "AWEsome tales" from members of the Association of Wine Educators, Wendy Narby examines the advantages and disadvantages of how Bordeaux wines are sold through its "La Place" system.

Q&A with Robert Nicholson of American M&A specialists International Wine Associates

In 2013, vineyard acquisitions and mergers on the US West Coast were a key talking point for industry insiders. As a key party to many of the major transactions that took place last year, Robert Nicholson, president of mergers and acquistion specialists, International Wine Associates, is ideally placed to share his expertise on the future of the West Coast property market. James Lawrence asks the questions:

US merchants call for lower prices in Bordeaux 2013 en primeur campaign

As the trade gets ready for the annual 2013 en primeur tastings an increasing number of leading wine merchants  around the world are calling for lower prices in this year's campaign, including key players in the United States.

New chief financial officer for Quintessential Brands

Trinchero Estates, owner of Sutter Home, sets up own UK distribution

Berry Bros steps in to try and save UK juniper plants for gin production

Berry Bros & Rudd Spirits is looking to help protect juniper plants, vital in the production of gin, by providing grants for three different growing areas in the UK.

David Siddle on why winemakers should fall back in love with goats

Goats have long been seen as the enemies of viticulture and of woodland management as a whole in the regions of Mediterranean climate. Difficult to manage and agile enough to climb steep hillsides or leap terraces they could reach the tallest growths. Left to their own devices a flock of omnivorous goats could wreck a vineyard in no time at all. Their reputation could not have been lower.

BrewDog kicks off 2014 openings with São Paulo bar

Stand out from the crowd and enter the Harpers Awards 2014

The Harpers Awards is your opportunity to be recognised and rewarded for all the hard work you do. With a host of categories across the industry and the on- and off-trade, here's how you can get involved.

Still time for you and your suppliers to get involved in Call Time On Duty campaign

There is still time to make sure your voice is heard in the industry's bid to get the Chancellor to finally Call Time On Duty and scrap the duty escalator on wine and spirits in the 2014 Budget. Harpers has also teamed up the Wine & Spirit Trade Association to give wine producers and drinks manufacturers the chance to take part in the Call Time On Duty campaign and make the government aware of the serious concerns they have about the alcohol duty levels in the UK. Here's how you and your supplier can get involved.

Natasha Hughes on the intricacies of changing appellation names in the Rhône

One of the most frequently cited Shakespearian quotes suggests that: "A rose by any other name would smell as sweet". In the clear light of day, however, this is a proposition that simply does not hold up. Would you, for instance, eat in a restaurant called 'The Rubbish Dump' or buy a house in an area known as 'Price Tank Town'? Nope, thought not.

New Zealand's 2013 vintage is 'one to remember'

Sam Neill's Two Paddocks acquires fourth Central Otago vineyard

Actor- turned- winemaker, Sam Neill, has acquired a fourth vineyard in Central Otago, New Zealand, adding six additional hectares of Pinot Noir to his vineyard portfolio with the purchase of a Bannockburn estate called Desert Heart.

Casa Silva produces first wine from Chile's most southern wine region

Casa Silva has produced the first wine from what it claims is Chile's southern most wine region in the region of Chilean Patagonia some 350km from Bio Bio the previous most southern area capable of growing wine in the country.  

Olivier Krug talks to Giles Falllowfield about ID codes and keeping "Krugists" happy

I know his travel schedules are hectic but four continents in the space of one week seems excessive, even for him. In London, partly to see the pop-up Krug Kreperie in Covent Garden central market run in conjunction with Pierre Koffman, Olivier Krug is on a similarly lightening trip here after recent spells in Australia, Singapore, Canada and the USA. "I prefer quick visits where I can see lots of people in a short time as this means fewer days away from Champagne," says Krug.

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Rolling update: Key drinks figures tell MPs about the damage duty increases have on UK businesses

Leading figures from across the UK wine and spirits industry joined the trade lobby that took the Call Time On Duty campaign to MPs at the House of Commons last night.

Australian Vintage boss predicts strong 2014

Geoffrey Dean on how Australia's future could well be Orange

When Stephen Doyle, the renowned winemaker at Bloodwood in the Orange region of New South Wales, received a complementary message purportedly from an England cricket team official in early January, he was not sure if it was genuine. An avid cricket fan, Doyle sent a witty response, writing that his wine's "deceptively spicy aromatic movement through the air is likely to bowl you sweetly over". He was pleased to hear from your Harpers correspondent that the individual in question, Colin Gibson, is indeed the ECB's director of communications.