People & Opinion - Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Q&A: Laura Jewell, Wine Australia

Published: 28 September, 2017

Laura Jewell MW talks to Andrew Catchpole about life at the UK helm of Wine Australia and her involvement with the Women in Wine Awards

Jerry Lockspeiser: The Problem with Natural Wine

Published: 19 September, 2017

Why aren’t “organic carrots” just called carrots? Why aren’t carrots grown with pesticides called “chemical carrots”?

Independent profile: The Good Wine Shop

Published: 19 September, 2017

Andrew Catchpole drops in on The Good Wine Shop where a hybrid-focused refurb is the latest innovation primed to seduce wine drinkers from the south-west London ‘burbs

Guy Woodward: Gerard Basset - wine's most competitive man?

Published: 15 September, 2017

The one thing everyone knows about Gerard Basset OBE MS MW is that he’s a nice bloke. A true gent. A real gem. As I write this, his latest tweets feature extended thanks to well-wishers and teachers after his son’s successful admission into university, and a retweet of a cute dog. Well I’ve got news for you. It’s all a front. A façade. He might appear as affable as his canine namesake, but have you ever seen a Basset hound when it gets the scent of rabbit in its nostrils? Scary…

Tim Atkin MW: Lidl’s Prosecco party

Published: 12 September, 2017

It was a familiar scenario. Offer Brits what seems like a bargain and they’ll form orderly queues at 6.30am on a Bank Holiday Monday. To be fair to those early morning Lidl shoppers, it looked like a spectacular deal: a case of Prosecco for the flute-clinking sum of £20, the equivalent of £3.33 a bottle. When you bear in mind that the duty and VAT amount to £3.23, it would be legally impossible to offer the wine any cheaper.

Q&A: Judy Kendrick, original SITT creator

Published: 11 September, 2017

Original creator Judy Kendrick kick-started SITT back in 2005 with her vision for an event which puts buyers’ needs at the top of the agenda.

Q&A: Hannah Tovey, head of the London Wine Fair

Published: 07 September, 2017

Lisa Riley caught up with the new head of the annual must-attend event about the changes she’s been implementing in her first few months

Meet the Buyers: Purchasing power

Published: 05 September, 2017

James Lawrence catches up with buyers from some of the UK’s leading agent-importers

Joe Fattorini: There’s no wisdom in crowd sourcing wine columns

Published: 30 August, 2017

Are you friends with wine writers on Facebook, or follow them on Twitter? Then you'll be familiar with "#JournoRequest!!!". Or maybe "Help from the #hivemind..." and "Hey everyone, I need your tips". Crowd-sourced wine writing.

Jerry Lockspeiser: How to sell wine

Published: 24 August, 2017

What’s the most thing important thing when selling wine? Is it the best quality? The best price? The most unique product? The best story? The most compelling packaging?

Q&A: May de Lencquesaing, proprietor at Glenelly Estate, SA

Published: 18 August, 2017

With a career spanning over 40 years and two continents, May de Lencquesaing certainly earned the IWC Lifetime Achievement Award bestowed upon her early this summer.

Q&A: Sebastián Labbé, Santa Rita Estates

Published: 15 August, 2017

Santa Rita Estates’ premium winemaker talks to Andrew Catchpole about the exciting evolution that is transforming Chilean winemaking

Aiming High: Hallgarten Druitt & Novum Wines

Published: 07 August, 2017

Hallgarten Druitt & Novum Wines’ boss Andrew Bewes talks to Andrew Catchpole about meeting the challenges of change

Meet the buyers: Majestic

Published: 07 August, 2017

As Cat Lomax takes up the head buyer role at Majestic, James Lawrence takes an in-depth look at the drinks-buying team

Tim Atkin MW: At the mercy of the elements

Published: 07 August, 2017

It’s squeaky bum time in Chablis. Grape growers the world over consult weather forecasts on a regular basis, but in the Yonne it’s almost an obsession. You can see why the locals are worried: nature has picked them out for some particularly brutal treatment in the past two vintages.

Guy Woodward: Alcohol - the elephant in the cellar

Published: 27 July, 2017

Throughout my time around the wine trade, one fundamental aspect of its make-up has been constantly swept under the carpet. Alcohol. I have seen members of the trade battle addiction issues; engage in drink-driving, embarrass themselves through over-indulgence. And that’s before one turns to the damage wreaked in wider society. Yet never have I heard the topic discussed at any length or in any depth; we’d sooner spend hours debating terroir and tartaric acid.

Q&A: Marty Grant, co-owner, Corkage, Bath

Published: 26 July, 2017

Corkage is a tiny restaurant and wine shop, tucked away in Bath and best known for its eclectic wine offer, but no wine list. Charismatic co-owner Marty Grant talks to Angela Mount about his passion for selling wine in a completely unique way

Jerry Lockspeiser: There is no such thing as the wine trade

Published: 20 July, 2017

In 1987, shortly after winning a third consecutive election, Margaret Thatcher famously said that there is no such thing as society, only individual men and women and families. Forty years later the murdered Labour MP Jo Cox is remembered for saying “we are far more united and have far more in common with each other than things that divide us”.

Guy Woodward: Why the wine trade should embrace rising prices

Published: 13 July, 2017

Guy Woodward, former editor of Decanter, reports on why the wine trade should embrace rising prices

Tim Atkin MW: Roll over leafroll

Published: 11 July, 2017

Tim Atkin MW, wine critic, broadcaster and co-chair of the IWC, talks about the the disease behind South Africa's beautiful autumn colours which is causing significant damage to the country's vines