People & Opinion - Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Q&A: Mitchell Taylor, Wakefield Wines

Published: 20 August, 2019

To mark its first half century, Andrew Catchpole talks to the man behind this leading Clare Valley estate about the Legacy and innovation in Australia

Jerry Lockspeiser: Is this wine’s fake news?

Published: 16 August, 2019

August is traditionally silly season in the media. Nothing serious happens, so they entertain us with the frivolities of life. This year is a little different.

The Wine Society's new groove

Published: 13 August, 2019

With a new chief executive at the helm, Andrew Catchpole visits The Wine Society to discover what’s up at this venerable members’ merchant

Guy Woodward: is using Champagne as a mixer a sin?

Published: 08 August, 2019

GUY WOODWARD

Tim Atkin MW: Canary in the global coalmine

Published: 05 August, 2019

“Phew. What A Scorcher!” I’m old enough to remember June 1976, when we had 15 consecutive days above 32°C. The Sun’s headline captured some of the excitement I felt as a teenager. In those days British summers were frequently cool, overcast affairs and all of a sudden Kent felt like the Costa Brava. What was scorching then seems almost temperate now. Last week Cambridge sweated through the second hottest day ever at 38.1°C, just behind Faversham’s UK record of 38.5°C in August 2003.

Friday Read: Talking hard Graft with Nik Darlington and David Knott

Published: 01 August, 2019

A similar philosophy has brought Red Squirrel and the Knotted Vine into a new chapter for both businesses. Jo Gilbert caught up with the trade’s latest power duo

Joe Fattorini: selling obscure online

Published: 30 July, 2019

JOE FATTORINI

Jerry Lockspeiser: Damned if we do, damned if we don’t

Published: 26 July, 2019

Over breakfast in a lovely B&B in Corbridge, an ideal overnight stop before the last leg of our cycling trip along Hadrian’s Wall, the conversation turned to alcohol consumption in Scotland. One of our group, Paul, a qualified doctor and psychiatrist, was expounding the virtues of Minimum Unit Pricing as a weapon to fight the scourge of alcohol abuse amongst the Scottish poor.

My Perfect Customer: Wolseley Wine Loft

Published: 25 July, 2019

In the first of a new series Dave Eglington from Stafford’s Wolseley Wine Loft shares his customer secrets and tips on how to build and maintain relations in the independent off-trade.

Ask An Indie: Hal Wilson thinks pink

Published: 24 July, 2019

Everyone may be banging on about orange wine at the moment, but let’s face it there’s only one colour that’s flying of the shelves at this time of year – pink.

Graft Wine’s Nik Darlington introduces the company’s new wines

Published: 24 July, 2019

Nik Darlington and David Knott have been busy since merging Red Squirrel and The Knotted Vine to create the Graft Wine Company, signing up a raft of new producers and wines to bring to the UK.

Q&A: Ben Henshaw, director, Indigo Wines

Published: 23 July, 2019

Off-piste importer Ben Henshaw talks Andrew Catchpole through his latest hands-on passion for making wine

Q&A: Jan Konetzki, director of wine, Ten Trinity Square

Published: 18 July, 2019

Lisa Riley meets the sommelier who has been Chatéau Latour and Artemis Domaines’ ambassador since 2016

Q&A: Hemant Kotecha, founder/managing director, Myliko Wines

Published: 15 July, 2019

Widely credited as establishing Hungarian wine in the UK, Myliko Wines’ founder and managing director Hemant Kotecha caught up with Jo Gilbert to explain how importing ski jackets from Romania evolved into a pioneering wine business

Guy Woodward: Accentuate the positive

Published: 11 July, 2019

GUY WOODWARD

Tim Atkin MW: Celebrating Chenin

Published: 10 July, 2019

TIM ATKIN MW

Importer Insight: Seckford Agencies

Published: 01 July, 2019

Seckford was founded in 1999 by Pippa Woods to highlight the brilliant wines of the new world. Twenty years on the importer now works with almost 50 producers from across the new world, with Australia, New Zealand and South Africa being particular strongholds.

Joe Fattorini: Why sometimes, paying more feels like less

Published: 25 June, 2019

Joe Fattorini

Jerry Lockspeiser: Why wine brands are here to stay

Published: 24 June, 2019

Branded wines beware! Man your defences! Private Labels are on the march, and they are coming to get you.

Q&A: Justine McGovern and Damien Jackman, directors, California Wine Institute UK & Ireland

Published: 21 June, 2019

Ahead of a joint Harpers-California Wine Institute session on sustainability (details below), Andrew Catchpole catches up with the team fronting the Golden State’s wines