Nero d’Avola: An ancient grape for a modern era
Published: 26 September, 2022
Jo Gilbert travels to the home of Nero d’Avola in south eastern Sicily to chart the course of a success story.
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The evolution of Chile
Published: 23 September, 2022
Just 10 years ago Chile was still talking about emerging regions in its push to communicate diversity and move on from its somewhat ‘safe and reliable’ image. This has fast changed, with a steady drip feed of generic-backed tastings focusing on ancestral and alternative varieties, from resurgent País to a host of contenders as varied as Semillon and Cinsault, Moscatel, Mourvèdre and Riesling, plus much else besides.
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Coping with the on-trade’s staffing crisis
Published: 20 September, 2022
While a severe lack of staff to power the on-trade is having an impact on many businesses, Chris Losh looks at the factors at play beyond Covid and Brexit.
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The nitty gritty of soil data
Published: 16 September, 2022
When it comes to battling climate change, working closely with the vineyard is a given. Yet, as time goes on – and the climate becomes more unpredictable – the role of technology is growing in tandem with approaches that seek to have minimal interference with the land; and where that interference is necessary, using data to carry out the best possible response.
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UK’s most popular wines unveiled
Published: 14 September, 2022
Much is written in Harpers about alternative styles and lesser-known grape varieties, and for good reason – discovering new and exciting wines is all part of the fun in this business.
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Multiples: Consumers swapping to convenience stores
Published: 12 September, 2022
The pandemic years have shown a marked alteration in the fundamental patterns of shopping. During the first lockdown, there was a noticeable shift to more local shopping, as consumers strove to minimise contact with others. Today it would appear this trend has embedded itself in the very mindset of the average shopper, with convenience stores now accounting for 28.9% of UK grocery shopping.
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Over the inflation cliff
Published: 09 September, 2022
Inflation is 2022’s pandemic. As we emerge from a health-focused crisis, it’s increasingly becoming clear that the health of the public purse and the damaging cost of living is now society’s most pressing issue. No sector is unaffected. From household items to commercial costs – largely driven by spiralling fuel and shipping increases – all are feeling the additional weight of rising costs, which even the biggest players aren’t able to absorb.
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Fine wine goes global
Published: 07 September, 2022
Australia and Spain are at the forefront of an increasing number of ‘rest of the world’ (RoW) wines that are fuelling growth on the negociant-driven La Place de Bordeaux marketplace.
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What next for UK wine labelling scheme?
Published: 05 September, 2022
By the time this feature is published, a new UK wine labelling scheme should be effective. However, according to the Wine & Spirit Trade Association (WSTA), the government has signalled its intention to defer the introduction of the forthcoming labelling rules until 1 January, 2024.
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Tackling throwaway culture in the drinks trade
Published: 02 September, 2022
With Scotland announcing it will be going ahead with the introduction of its deposit return scheme (DRS) next year, on-trade operators have been voicing their concerns and identifying some potential pitfalls. England, Wales and Northern Ireland are also set to introduce their own schemes in 2024, so operators there will also have an eye on how it goes north of the border.
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The Wine Yard, Surrey’s newest drink-in/take-home bolthole
Published: 30 August, 2022
Just over 40 miles from London, Farnham’s new watering hole, The Wine Yard, has become part of the regeneration that is taking place in the UK’s satellite towns. During Covid, many places felt the wrath of the virus and its various mitigation measures, with lockdowns leaving shop and restaurant fronts empty along what were once the more bustling parts of the nation’s high streets.
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Australia: UK market overview
Published: 25 August, 2022
The theme of today is adaptation. The collapse of Australia’s trading relationship with China has left many casualties in its wake, forcing brands to look to new markets and consumers. According to Wine Australia, “exports to mainland China declined by 97% in value and 93% in volume to 6.4 million litres in 2021, a loss of nearly $1bn (£574m) in value when compared with 2020”. Ironically, China was once touted as Australia’s salvation, when demand in Western Europe and the US started to slump in the mid-2000s. Everyone anticipated that Asia’s biggest country would plug the gap.
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The endless benefits of bulk
Published: 22 August, 2022
Levi’s and Lego; Marc Jacobs and Snoopy; Gucci and a TikTok trainspotter. These are just some of the unlikely collaborations between brands we’ve seen in recent years. The world of retail is a volatile market, made more uncertain by Covid and near-deserted high streets, but one trend is keeping things alive and has engaged the younger generation in particular – cross-brand products.
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The unusual suspects
Published: 19 August, 2022
In line with a growing taste for more off-piste wines, Andrew Catchpole invited notable champions and producers of emerging regions and wines to explain their appeal.
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Tech & Innovation: Detecting fine wine forgeries
Published: 17 August, 2022
According to a 2021 report from Business Insider, fake wine accounts for 20% of wine sold worldwide. If this is true, and many credible sources seem to agree, then the chances are you have drunk from a bottle containing fraudulent wine. The report referred to numerous cases of wine crime in recent history, including the seizure of 4,000 bottles of the counterfeit ‘super-Tuscan’ Bolgheri Sassicaia, which fetches up to £320 a bottle.
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Analysis: Low and no hits the mainstream
Published: 15 August, 2022
Having grown exponentially in recent years, it’s no surprise that the low and no category is evolving at rapid speed, with the latest twist in this 21st-century tale being that it is now moderate drinkers, rather than teetotallers, driving the category.
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Supermarkets and the benefits of own-label wines
Published: 12 August, 2022
When a ‘wine person’ opens a bottle of wine, it is safe to say much has been considered beforehand. Where is it from? What is the back story? How was it made?
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Never Mind the Bollocks
Published: 10 August, 2022
Creating a brand that upends the wine-centric view of the trade has been tried many times, but a new collaboration between experienced buyer Andrew Ingham and Cape winery Journey’s End may just have what it takes to bridge the gap with wine-interest-lite consumers. And, if it does gain traction, there may well be salient lessons to learn for the wider trade at a time when interest in wine – especially among younger consumers – has stalled.
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Alternative formats: Is the tide finally turning on glass?
Published: 25 July, 2022
“The heart of the issue is simple – the manufacturing and recycling of glass bottles is by far the largest contributor to wine’s carbon footprint, and if we don’t use alternative formats wherever possible, we won’t make the deep and meaningful cuts required across all sectors.”
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Personality and value from winning indie wholesaler Lea & Sandeman
Published: 18 July, 2022
In last month’s edition of Harpers, we unveiled our annual Top 50 Drinks Wholesalers. In 10th place on that list was Lea & Sandeman, the independent wine merchant with a penchant for grower-led, artisanal wines from around the world.
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Registered in England No. 6646125. VAT No. 938 4452 95
