Analysis & Insights - Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Rebranding the Languedoc

Published: 14 October, 2021

Premium wines emerging from the Languedoc are shifting perceptions on a global scale, as James Lawrence reports.

France Report: The Rhône’s great whites

Published: 11 October, 2021

A fresher, technology-driven approach to white wine in the Rhône is helping producers in both the north and south of the region to find an audience, as Simon Woods reports.

Discovering the charms of Roussillon

Published: 06 October, 2021

As the home of France’s fortified sweet wines, with a dazzling array of soils and microclimates forming a vinous bridge between France and Spain, the Roussillon deserves to be recognised as a distinct region with its own unique identify. Jo Gilbert discovers a region ready to stand on its own two feet. In partnership with Wines of Roussillon.

Prestige fizz holds its own

Published: 04 October, 2021

Covid may have zapped the fizz out of celebratory occasions, but top Champagne sales are bouncing back. David Kermode reports

France performs against the odds

Published: 30 September, 2021

France has emerged from the pandemic in rude health with the “staggering” performance of rosé and impressive bounce-back from Champagne only representing the tip of what this wine powerhouse has to offer, as Jo Gilbert reports.

Reasons to pick Riesling

Published: 29 September, 2021

Harpers partnered with Wines of Germany for its Big G closing debate, which mulled over the topic ‘A wine for all reasons: why German wine is the smart choice’. These extended highlights give a flavour of that far-reaching discussion and what indie retailers and restaurateurs alike can do to boost their German category sales. Andrew Catchpole reports.

Amazon locks in new approach for wine and spirits

Published: 27 September, 2021

Gated alcohol aisles in Amazon’s growing ‘just walk out’ bricks-and-mortar stores have introduced barriers for wine and spirits sales. Jo Gilbert reports

Seltzers: Hard at work

Published: 23 September, 2021

The big news from the US is that hard seltzers’ meteoric rise is finally levelling off. Jo Gilbert looks at the category’s trajectory in the UK and how it is piggybacking off the success of canned products.

Future-proofing the on-trade

Published: 22 September, 2021

With the buffeting the on-trade has received it’s hardly surprising that many are talking about ongoing change, as Andrew Catchpole asks what form that may take.

Survey: Indie minded

Published: 21 September, 2021

With our UK’s 50 Best Indies 2021 list unveiled, we’re revealing (anonymously) some of the insights gleaned from our entrants’ survey responses as to how businesses adapted their portfolios and subsequently thrived during the pandemic. Andrew Catchpole picks the persistent trends.

English wine pushing for success

Published: 20 September, 2021

The pandemic has been a catalyst for sales of English and Welsh wine at home and abroad, accelerating a sector that was already on its way to great things. How to keep up momentum is the question, writes Jo Gilbert.

Scholarly Tasting Technique

Published: 16 September, 2021

A new Wine Scholar Guild initiative aims to change the way consumers assess wine, as Lisa Riley reports.

Lebanon: Fuel for thought

Published: 15 September, 2021

Lebanon’s latest winemaking challenge is a fuel crisis that has left wineries fighting for power, as Andrew Catchpole reports

Evolution in motion

Published: 08 September, 2021

The growing no/low-alcohol cocktail category has seen some serious innovation as bars and consumers seek more substance in their drinks. Clinton Cawood reports on the latest trends

Ready-made cocktails take off

Published: 06 September, 2021

Pre-batched cocktails hit the spot when it comes to consistency, reducing waste and prep time, according to their advocates, as Lisa Riley reports.

Cocktails: Cans win for on-the-move

Published: 02 September, 2021

Ready-to-drink cocktails continue to grow in popularity despite the reopening of the on-trade. Lisa Riley reports.

Bring back brandy

Published: 31 August, 2021

The dark spirit has fallen out of fashion when it comes to cocktails, but there are many reasons to reconsider brandy as a mixing ingredient. Jacopo Mazzeo reports.

SA: When more is less

Published: 26 August, 2021

With South Africa’s wine industry enduring many challenges, including oversupply, we speak to leading producers and importers/buyers to assess how these will affect the country’s position in key markets, such as the UK. By Andrew Catchpole.

Mind the gap

Published: 25 August, 2021

In a drinks world dominated by pale-pink rosé, sweet Italian fizz and a glut of Argentinian Malbec, businesses have to find a sweet spot between pushing the wine category forwards while catering to popular consumer tastes. It’s a delicate balance, says Jo Gilbert.

On-trade is still king for cocktails

Published: 23 August, 2021

Following a tough year of on-and-off lockdowns, consumers across England celebrated the reopening of the on-trade by splashing out on much-missed cocktails, with CGA recording a wave of interest in the popular drinks as consumers sought high-tempo occasions when going out finally returned to the menu.