People & Opinion - Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Soapbox: Battling the behemoths

Published: 17 November, 2022

Nick Gillett, MD of Mangrove UK, on the uphill battle smaller brands face with ever more powerful players dominating the industry.

Guy Woodward: Language matters

Published: 15 November, 2022

I was corresponding recently with the human dynamo that is Laura Catena. Turns out the Argentinian winemaker is a big fan of this column.

Five minutes with Hamilton Lowe, Carmosina Holdings & Vitoria Regia gin

Published: 08 November, 2022

Andrew Catchpole catches up with Hamilton Lowe, co-founder of Carmosina Holdings, which launched the globe’s number one cachaça, to discover more about his new Brazilian range of gins.

Q&A: Fernando Muñoz Naranjo, Wines From Spain

Published: 03 November, 2022

With Spain’s colours still flying high, Andrew Catchpole invited its UK director to outline his vision for its future

Spain embraces a modern approach

Published: 01 November, 2022

Jo Gilbert catches up with top Spanish specialists to identify the leading current and future trends.

Producer Q&A: Praisy Dlamini, Adama Wines

Published: 27 October, 2022

Following on from the Her Wine Collection range from all-female South African company Adama Wines, Praisy Dlamini, winemaker and general manager, Adama Wines, talks to Andrew Catchpole about her new Amandla brand, inspiring the next generation and the importance of mentors.

Jerry Lockspeiser: Liz Truss has gone, but was she right?

Published: 24 October, 2022

"How is the electorate feeling? Anxious, in a word. Our August optimism score was the lowest we’ve ever recorded.

Profile: Hallgarten keeps it interesting

Published: 18 October, 2022

Hallgarten & Novum Wines’ Andrew Bewes and Steve Daniel talk Andrew Catchpole through the challenges posed by today’s extraordinary market conditions.

Tim Atkin MW: The value of honesty in wine

Published: 14 October, 2022

A good friend turned 80 recently. To celebrate, he invited a few of us round for dinner and opened a bottle of 1942 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Grands Échézeaux. I don’t often get the chance to try bottles like that. Thoughts of the German occupation goose-stepped through my head as we pulled the surprisingly small cork. The wine was glorious: fragile, sweet, gamey and appropriately autumnal.

Five minutes with rosé expert, Elizabeth Gabay MW

Published: 11 October, 2022

As her latest book, Rosés of Southern France, hits the shelves, Elizabeth Gabay explains to Andrew Catchpole why we should all take the pink category more seriously.

Q&A: Peter Vinding-Diers – the 'viking in the vineyard'

Published: 04 October, 2022

Viking in the Vineyard author Peter Vinding-Diers has had a one-of-a-kind winemaking life. Jo Gilbert catches up with the Danish-born vigneron on his latest venture – a selection of standout Sicilian Syrahs at his Montecarrubo winery.

Jerry Lockspeiser: We need to talk about sustainable wines

Published: 27 September, 2022

I hesitate to reproduce what follows for fear of dishing an event that I love, but it is such a superb example of terrible communication that I can’t resist. This is not from the world of wine, but I have had equally awful comms from wineries in non-English speaking countries.

Profile: Virgin’s positive mission

Published: 20 September, 2022

With his relaxed style and ample enthusiasm, Jay Wright certainly doesn’t fit the old stereotype of a wine trade CEO. As the boss of one of the more successful online retailers, though, he is clear about the vision and values that underpin the popularity of Virgin Wines. And much of that comes down to what he believes the company – and, by extension, the wider drinks trade – actually sells.

Soapbox: Is keg wine a blessing or a curse?

Published: 13 September, 2022

As an experienced wine consultant specialising in the on-trade, Neil Bruce – aka wine margin optimiser at Studio Alto – turns his sights to the good, the bad and the ugly when it comes to the keg-versus-bottle ‘green’ debate.

Guy Woodward: Intercontinental blends challenge the sanctity of terroir

Published: 06 September, 2022

Earlier this year, Penfolds announced its ambition to essay “a strategic shift from fine wine brand to global luxury icon”. The brand’s new marketing campaign, it said, encapsulated Penfolds’ “innovative spirit and desire to push the boundaries through self-belief”.

Five minutes with Alex Brogan, Plumpton student

Published: 30 August, 2022

Jo Gilbert catches up with Alex Brogan about his collective winemaking venture, where customers can vote on every step of the winemaking process.

Producer Q&A: Gabriel Asseily, Château Biac

Published: 25 August, 2022

Gabriel Asseily, co-owner and head of production at Château Biac, talks Andrew Catchpole through the challenges and triumphs of swapping a cosmopolitan life in London to head up a family-bought estate in Côtes de Bordeaux.

Talking heads: Oz is back in style

Published: 23 August, 2022

Producers and importers share with James Bayley their thoughts on the hot trends with Oz wines shaping Australia’s present and future offer in the UK market.