Covid-19: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

Writing an opinion piece about the Covid-19 pandemic and what it might mean for society, or the drinks trade specifically, is surely a fool’s errand. The information changes every few hours. It feels rather like trying to bottle goodwill, or as Adele so beautifully sang, setting fire to the rain.

Pierre Mansour, The Wine Society, on trade as the crisis escalates

Pierre Mansour, head buyer at The Wine Society, speaks to Andrew Catchpole on the immediate impact of the crisis, managing the spike in sales, supply and virtual initiatives to keep members engaged.

Chris Losh: averting an on-trade apocalypse

This was the week that the Coronavirus got real. Ten days ago in the UK Covid-19 was largely the source of ironic fist-bumps and the odd cancelled tasting. Dying and panicking was what other people did. With a complacency that now seems barely credible, the government’s message at the end of February was, broadly, ‘Keep Calm and Carry On’.

Q&A: Christopher Delalonde MS, The Dorchester

Jo Gilbert catches up with the straight-talking former Sommelier of the Year about The Dorchester’s new wine vault, keeping abreast of five wine lists and why Gordon Ramsay is the best boss he ever had

Q&A: Charles Tyler, Paladar

Tim Atkin MW: Spare a thought for the wine tasters that get it right

TIM ATKIN MW

Jerry Lockspeiser: Is it game over for wine?

Is it all over for wine as we know it? Shall we pack up and go home, accepting our time has passed?

Joe Fattorini: Do your bottles shame you?

Joe Fattorini

Staffing crisis: Low skilled judgement

The government’s damaging immigration policy will further exacerbate the staffing crisis in an already beleagured on-trade. Chris Losh takes aim...  

Q&A: David Gill MW, Kingsland Drinks

With carbon emissions increasingly under scrutiny, Kingsland’s resident MW and head of specialist sales & wine development, tells Andrew Catchpole about enlightening the trade on bulk shipping and premium wines with less environmental impact

One year of Trade, with Xavier Rousset

As the Soho hospitality hub hits its first birthday, Andrew Catchpole catches up with Trade’s leading light Xavier Rousset

Q&A: Richard Burton, Sorrel

The head sommelier talks to Lisa Riley about the pros of dealing with one supplier and his ambition to develop the wine-pairing offer at Sorrel

Soapbox: Nik Darlington on Brexit hubris

Our second entry in a series of topical viewpoints from the trade finds Graft Wines co-owner Nik Darlington cautioning British producers against talking up the alleged benefits of exiting the EU

Guy Woodward: Luxury brands are turning to hospitality to add extra lustre

GUY WOODWARD

Big interview: John Colley, Majestic

John Colley, executive chairman and chief executive at Majestic, talks to Lisa Riley about taking the helm of the high street wine merchant and how letting customers guide the direction of the business is the way forward

Joe Fattorini: A bump in the road

Head of London sales at Fields, Morris & Verdin

Q&A: Frank Lampen, Distill Ventures

The Diageo-funded, self-proclaimed ‘drinks accelerator’ Distill Ventures backed a winning horse when it helped launch Seedlip on to the market. Jo Gilbert finds out where they go from here, with Frank Lampen, co-founder and CEO, Distill Ventures

Jerry Lockspeiser: The winemakers that changed the world…and those that made themselves redundant

Harpers columnist Jerry Lockspeiser is the former chairman of Off Piste Wines. Lockspeiser left at the end of 2019 after ten years at the company, which he helped to grow from ‘acorn to oak tree’ after joining back in 2010. His departure follows an investment in Off Piste just before Christmas, which will take the company into a new phase of development. Lockspeiser was also involved in the founding and building of Bottle Green in 1990 and organic wine specialist Vinceremos Wines in 1985. Here, he takes a reflective look back on 15 years that changed the wine world. 

How to Buy Wine: James Hocking, James Hocking Wine

We get under the skin of wine buyers to discover how they got into buying, what informs their day-to-day decisions and what tips they’d offer newcomers.

My Perfect Customer: Rupert Pritchett, Taurus Wines

Based in a recently-renovated 400-year-old barn in the Surrey Hills, Taurus Wines is a family-run independent merchant. MD Rupert Pritchett, who has winemaking experience in Gigondas and Margaret River, says his secret to success is simple; don’t rip people off. Fair enough.