Analysis & Insights - Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Gavin Quinney: The en primeur results and wrap-up

Published: 03 May, 2016

After a marathon tasting, our resident Bordeaux correspondent Gavin Quinney assesses 2015 quality and where to look for value

Insights: What lies ahead following En Primeur?

Published: 03 May, 2016

It has been nearly five years since the Bordeaux fine wine market, which had been riding an incredible high, came to a screeching halt and it has been on a downward spiral ever since - until now.

Analysis: Burgundy's best buys

Published: 29 April, 2016

With Burgundy prices edging ever upwards, supply short and demand on a high, Tim Atkin MW looks at canny buys.

Insights: Suppliers are focusing on value-added services to the service industry

Published: 29 April, 2016

Today suppliers have to offer an array of services to help their customers sell on their wines and they are becoming increasingly more sophisticated in their repertoire.

ICCWS 2016: What to expect from climate change

Published: 28 April, 2016

In recent weeks, much emphasis has been placed on the short-term benefits of global warming.

From an MW inside Parliament: What the wine trade needs to do to combat duty hikes

Published: 27 April, 2016

Conal Gregory, the only Master of Wine to have been elected to Parliament, warns that there is no hope for duties to be reduced or even frozen if there is no effective campaign fighting that battle. He gives tactical tips on what the trade could do better to combat future hikes.

Analysis: Are wine and spirit companies making the most of marketing in today's tech savvy world?

Published: 26 April, 2016

The production of wines and spirits is based on centuries' old, traditional methods, but have producers failed to make the most of digital marketing to engage consumers?

Insights: Some chateaux urge Bordelais to be 'very prudent' with en primeur pricing

Published: 21 April, 2016

Bernard Magrez and his daughter Cecile Daquin, of Chateau Pape Clement, are urging other chateaux owners to be 'very prudent' this year when it comes to en primeur pricing. "This could be the last chance for Bordeaux" to woo back buyers warns Daquin.

OIV reveals China behind Spain as country with second biggest vineyard surface area

Published: 21 April, 2016

A major new report has found that the size of the global area under vines rose to 7534 kha in 2015, with consumption and production also on the up.

Analysis: Are organic and biodynamic wines going mainstream?

Published: 19 April, 2016

Following the positive response over the past two days at the fifth annual Real Wine Fair, Doug Wregg, co-organiser of the event, confidently believes that natural and biodynamic wines are no longer niche products but are increasingly becoming more mainstream.

Prosecco sales grow by a third, with retailer own labels taking biggest share

Published: 18 April, 2016

Sales of Prosecco continue to outpace those of Champagne, according to new figures from retail insight leader IRI.

Insights: 'We are at a crossroads' in the UK wine trade, says Fontannaz

Published: 14 April, 2016

Across the supply chain the UK wine trade has been under tremendous pressure, according to Bernard Fontannaz, founder of Origin Wine, and it has got to stop focusing so heavily on price and start communicating better with consumers.

Analysis: The wine trade has a case of 'Budget Blues' and rightfully so

Published: 08 April, 2016

The wine trade has a case of the 'Budget Blues. While spirits, beer and cider saw a duty freeze in the 2016 Budget, wine duty was handed an increase in line with inflation.

Insights: Indies find creative ways of attracting and retaining customers

Published: 08 April, 2016

From eye-catching shop window displays to well-honed social media campaigns, there are many ways for indies to reach new customers and retain their loyalty.

Insights: The importance of design when wine customers buy with their eyes

Published: 06 April, 2016

Customers across all retail sectors are buying with their eyes and the message behind the label has never been so important.

Analysis: California cool climate wines see sales soar

Published: 06 April, 2016

California wines are red hot in the UK at the moment, with their popularity driven by more restrained styles from cooler climates.

Insights: South Africa's bigger players need to drive the quality message

Published: 04 April, 2016

After a flush of niche successes, it's now up to South Africa's bigger players to drive the quality message home.

LWF 2016 Preview: London Wine Fair 2016 goes hi-tech with Bottlebooks

Published: 04 April, 2016

London Wine Fair is stepping up a digital gear by joining forces with wine software provider Bottlebooks. See the impact the new software will have on this year's fair.

Insight: The psychology of drinks selection in the on-trade

Published: 01 April, 2016

New research into the psychology of drink selection in the on-trade puts the focus firmly on customer needs

Analysis: The power of ProWein

Published: 01 April, 2016

With ProWein over for another year, Harpers.co.uk looks back at one of the mightiest wine trade fairs around and hears what attendees and exhibitors had to say