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The week that was

Top Stories: Our 50 Best Indies continued to set tongues wagging this week. The list, which was compiled by our Harpers voting academy spread throughout ten zones across the UK, highlighted the exceptional work of our independent sector, not quite from Land's End to John o' Groats…but almost.

This was also the week that Scottish merchants Woodwinters revealed plans to expand south of the border, and Harpers caught up with the London office’s new MD, former Armit Wines sales director, Andrew Johnson, about their strategy for ramping up distribution.

Other big news included the forthcoming return of the Big Fortified Tasting, which will return under new leadership, following the sad passing of Ben Campbell-Johnson earlier this year.

• Woodwinters talks plans for London and beyond
• Introducing the UK’s 50 Best Indies
• The b.f.t to return in 2018
• EWP and UKVA to merge to form one unified UK wine body
• Michelin buys stake in Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
• Vindependents flying high

Rule Britannia:  The big news this week from the world of English wine was that the two main bodies looking out of the health of the industry are due to unite under a brand new title. 

The merger, which has been in the works for around a year, will see English Wine Producers (EWP), which have traditionally focused on the image of English wine’s brand and the brands of larger vineyards, and the United Kingdom Vineyards Association (UKVA) which deals with things like regulation, working as a single unit going forward.

• EWP and UKVA to merge to form one unified UK wine body

• Bolney becomes first English magnum to be sold in John Lewis

Analysis and Insights: We caught up with Jessica Hutchinson, managing director of indie merchant buying group Vindependents, about the business’s successful first two years of trading, and where they go from here.

• Vindependents flying high
  
  

People and Opinion: In our meet the buyers spotlight piece, we spoke to the wine buyers and suppliers responsible for curating Michelin-starred wine lists across the on-trade and found out what gets their wine juices flowing.  

We also spoke to Sogevinus’ head honcho about his intriguing ideas on how Port producers should take inspiration from the Swiss watch industry and work closer together for the benefit of all.

• Meet the buyers: On-trade specialists
• Q&A: Gonzalo Pedrosa, chief executive, Sogevinus
  
  
  

• week that was