By Lisa Riley - Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

New Zealand Winegrowers commits to cutting carbon

Published: 22 April, 2020

New Zealand Winegrowers (NZW) has committed to the goal of the New Zealand wine industry being net carbon-zero before 2050.

DesignMyNight launches new platform to support hospitality industry

Published: 22 April, 2020

'Discovery website' DesignMyNight has launched a new platform to showcase and support the best in online events and deliveries taking place across the UK during Covid-19.

Ecommerce sales surge but fail to make up for on-trade losses

Published: 22 April, 2020

Ecommerce sales of beer, wine and spirits (BWS) in the UK surged 50% (volume) in the first week of lockdown compared to the same period last year, while sales through the off-trade were up 20%, according to new IWSR snapshot research.

En Primeur presentations could be held in modified format this summer

Published: 22 April, 2020

The Union des Grands Crus de Bordeaux (UGCB) and Bordeaux Négoce (Association of Bordeaux Wine Merchants) are considering the possibility of proposing the 2019 En Primeurs to be held in a modified format by the end of the summer.

Graft Wine launches series of online tastings

Published: 22 April, 2020

Graft Wine Company has launched a series of online tastings with winemakers.

Catena chief winemaker calls 2019 vintage “one of the best in 10 years”

Published: 21 April, 2020

The chief winemaker at Argentina’s Bodega Catena Zapata has called 2019 “one of the best vintages of the last 10 years”.

Georgian UK wine exports continue to surge

Published: 21 April, 2020

Georgian wine exports to the UK surged, albeit from a small platform, in the first quarter of this year boosted by a quartet of new importers.

CEEV puts together “wine package” to mitigate Covid-19 effects on EU industry

Published: 20 April, 2020

The Comité Européen des Entreprises Vins (CEEV) has put together a Covid-19 ‘wine package’ in order to mitigate the devastating effects of the pandemic – present and future – on the wine sector.

Industry body warns a third of OZ wineries could go under

Published: 20 April, 2020

A key Australian industry body is said to have predicted a third of Australian wineries could go under as a result of Covid-19.

Gove confirms parts of hospitality sector among last to reopen

Published: 20 April, 2020

Cabinet office minister Michael Gove has confirmed that restaurants, bars and pubs will be among the last to reopen for business following the Covid-19 lockdown.

Campari to buy majority stake in Champagne Lallier

Published: 20 April, 2020

Campari Group has announced it is in talks with privately owned French company Sarl Ficoma to buy a majority stake in Champagne Lallier.

Off-trade alcohol sales surge 29% over the Easter weekend

Published: 20 April, 2020

Off-trade sales of alcohol surged 29% over the bank holiday weekend although overall Brits spent £160m less on Easter than in 2019.

South Africa makes U-turn and bans wine exports

Published: 17 April, 2020

The South African government has banned exports of wine and spirits during lockdown.

English wine initiative reaches 13 million consumers

Published: 17 April, 2020

The #theBIGenglishwinegoodfriday initiative has been hailed an "unmitigated success" by English and Welsh wineries, reaching 13 million consumers.

Living with lockdown - Oxford Wine Company

Published: 17 April, 2020

Ted Sandbach, MD, at Oxford Wine Company, gives Lisa Riley a glimpse of the realities of life as a multifaceted indie merchant adjusting to lockdown.

Justerini & Brooks launches weekly spotlight series on ‘affordable’ wine

Published: 17 April, 2020

Justerini & Brooks has launched a weekly spotlight series focused on an "affordable, everyday drinking wine".

Hatch Mansfield and Villa Maria latest to support The Drinks Trust

Published: 17 April, 2020

Hatch Mansfield and Villa Maria have become the latest to support The Drinks Trust’s Covid-19 Emergency Fund.

Delivering a new approach

Published: 17 April, 2020

As lockdown happened, Lisa Riley looked at how the on-trade adapted to create opportunities in an alien situation.

Craft breweries take significant lockdown hit

Published: 17 April, 2020

An average 82% drop in beers sales has been recorded by small independent breweries across the UK since the outbreak of Covid-19, according to new Society of Independent Brewers (SIBA) research released today

Trade associations collectively urge governments to keep food and drink imports and exports flowing

Published: 16 April, 2020

Trade associations from across the UK food and drink supply chain have come together to publish a letter, calling on governments to ensure the continuation of imports and exports of food and drink at this critical time.