People & Opinion - Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

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

Published: 06 March, 2020

TIM ATKIN MW

Jerry Lockspeiser: Is it game over for wine?

Published: 05 March, 2020

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?

Published: 05 March, 2020

Joe Fattorini

Staffing crisis: Low skilled judgement

Published: 02 March, 2020

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

Published: 02 March, 2020

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

Published: 28 February, 2020

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

Published: 21 February, 2020

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

Published: 19 February, 2020

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

Published: 17 February, 2020

GUY WOODWARD

Big interview: John Colley, Majestic

Published: 14 February, 2020

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

Published: 10 February, 2020

Head of London sales at Fields, Morris & Verdin

Q&A: Frank Lampen, Distill Ventures

Published: 03 February, 2020

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

Published: 24 January, 2020

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

Published: 23 January, 2020

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

Published: 23 January, 2020

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.

Feel Good Grapes: All you need to know about the new online retailer

Published: 23 January, 2020

UK-based wine businessman and writer Mike Turner has added a new string to his bow for 2020. As well as running Please Bring Me My Wine, a wine industry focused digital media consultancy, and co-owning Primrose Hill restaurant La Ferme, where he oversees the wine list and wine training, he has launched a new online wine merchant.

Q&A: Christopher Lecoufle, Les 110 de Taillevent

Published: 21 January, 2020

Andrew Catchpole shares a glass or two with one of London’s youngest rising stars, Christopher Lecoufle, GM and head sommelier at Les 110 de Taillevent, London

Q&A: Anne-Catherine Vigouroux, French Wine Discoveries

Published: 14 January, 2020

Founder of Wine 4 Trade Anne-Catherine Vigouroux outlines to James Lawrence what visitors can expect from the French Wine Discoveries 2020 tasting on January 21, and the opportunities for French producers in a post-Brexit Britain

Tim Atkin MW: Taking wine to the limit

Published: 10 January, 2020

The life jacket seemed like a good idea, given the size of the launch and the strength of the wind barreling down the jetty. Nervously, I climbed on board and prepared for the final leg of a journey that had started more than 1,000km away in Santiago with a flight to Puerto Montt. From there, I’d taken a ferry to the Isla Grande de Chiloé and driven to Quicavi on its eastern coast. Now it was time to visit the tiny island of Añihué, home to one of the most remote and unusual vineyards in the world.