‘Pingdemic’ brings more pain

Pandemic restrictions may have been lifted, but for hospitality businesses desperate to welcome punters back, a new challenge is thwarting their ambitions. Lisa Riley reports

Exploring alternative premium whites

Modern food and lifestyle choices often naturally lend themselves to white wine, but is the trade doing enough to encourage consumers to trade up and seek out premium choices beyond the usual suspects? In a world where reds often hold top spot, Andrew Catchpole invited a panel to discuss how to better capitalise on and communicate the USPs of alternative higher-end whites, to inspire and broaden consumers’ repertoire, to the benefit of both trade and punter alike. DO Rías Baixas provided the sponsorship and wines in order to whet appetites for the session.

Selling independence

With on-trade reopening still disrupted, Andrew Catchpole assesses the impact and opportunities for indies’ wholesale operations.

Premium spirits: Paying the price of lockdown

Adding A Splash Of Italian Style

With sparkling driving growth in the UK, Harpers partnered with Consorzio Franciacorta to explore the role that Italy’s premier sparkling wine can play in furthering that lift. James Lawrence reports

Australian wine exports: where do they go from here?

Tyson Stelzer looks at the ramifications of China’s extreme tariffs on Australian wine exports.

Wine: A circular sensation?

Having hosted the ‘Can wine be part of the circular economy?’ debate at the London Wine Fair, Jamie Goode reports back on the sustainability issues in wine packaging.

Reinventing modern wine co-ops

David Kermode charts the growth in flexibility and services offered by leading modern co-ops, and finds those opting for quality over quantity the most secure in their future.

France's great digital shift

A new breed of French digital-solution companies is helping the country’s producers embrace online. Jo Gilbert reports

Room to work from home

As working from home practices become more ingrained, it looks like they will become part of a long-term culture shift, says Jo Gilbert.

Ageism in hospitality

Staff shortages in the hospitality industry have reached alarming levels, but will employers relax their natural tendency to favour younger workers and take on older people instead?

Positive thinking

While the past year has been extremely challenging for alcohol, there’s cause for optimism when it comes to recovery. Lisa Riley crunches IWSR numbers.

Advertorial: Western Australia's fine wine regions ‘unearthed’

Western Australia has long staked its reputation on the premium quality, sustainability and diversity of its wines. Although geographically isolated and remote (Sydney is four hours by plane, London 16), this unique location is a magnet for oenophiles from all corners of the globe. They flock to cellar doors, fortifying themselves before hiking across the exquisitely beautiful Karri forest, or perhaps they'll attempt to conquer Western Australia's legendary surf. The summers are reliably warm and dry, moderated (especially in the south) by cool afternoon breezes courtesy of Antarctic currents and a maritime climate – factors vital in maintaining freshness and acidity in the wines.

Staff shortages threaten hospitality

With pubs and restaurants finding it difficult to recruit, there have been calls for government to step in and help attract workers to the industry. Lisa Riley reports

Harpers Wine Stars 2021: Australia

Highlighting the people and places wowing the judges in the Harpers Wine Stars Awards.

Hospitality hit once more by opening delay

The latest extension of Covid-19 rules could see the industry lose a further 300,000 jobs. Lisa Riley reports on the likely outcome of the measures

Along came Covid

Jo Gilbert examines whether the past year has helped or hindered the pre-Brexit narrative that leaving the EU would benefit sales of English and Welsh wine

Indies: Crossing the divide

Specialist supplier Graft Wine Company has dipped its toe into bricks-and-mortar retail, enhancing its understanding of indie needs. Six months on, Andrew Catchpole discovers what’s been learnt.

The Diversity of Argentina

James Lawrence reports from the recent Harpers webinar.

Italy Report: Supping on the south

Characterful and alluringly individual, Italy’s southern wines are on the rise, gaining more recognition for the blend of quality and value they can deliver. With all of this plugging into current consumer drinking trends, Andrew Catchpole surveyed a handful of Italophile importers and retailers to discover if the south’s time has arrived.