1. Home
2. News

The week that was

Top Stories: Fifteen months since the referendum, Brexit and how the government is dragging its heels was the focus of the WSTA’s annual conference on Tuesday.

Read Harpers’ editor Andrew Catchpole’s report below, and watch out for our more comprehensive report in the upcoming edition of Harpers’ sister mag, the Drinks Wholesaler.

Elsewhere, we looked at how a still white wine from Rathfinny has become the first ‘Sussex’ wine to be approved under the new Sussex Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) scheme.

• Rathfinny first to gain ‘Sussex’ wine approval as it seals distribution deal with Gonzalez Byass
• Former Accolade CEO Paul Schaafsma joins Invivo board
• Tim Atkin MW: Lidl’s Prosecco party
• Broadland launches low-calorie, lighter-alcohol range
• Europe's harvest woes
• Brexit-focused WSTA Conference delivers greater clarity on state of uncertainty

Analysis and Insights: Following the devastating bouts of frost earlier in the year Harpers sized up the potential deficit by examining the vintage 2017 shortfalls across Europe.

We also pinned down Araex’s Javier Galarreta, one of the key architects behind the changes in Rioja to find out what he thinks about the single vineyard and village classification debate.

• Resurrecting premium Rioja 
• Europe's harvest woes

People and Opinion: Guy Woodward asked if Gerard Basset is wine’s most competitive man, and Tim Atkin deconstructed reactions to Lidl recent frenzy inducing deal of a case of Prosecco for £20.

Harpers also spoke to Judy Kendrick, original creator of SITT ahead of our refreshed, independent-focused event coming to Bristol on Monday (September 18) and London (September 20).

Find out more about to register for this free event on the link below. We look forward to seeing many of you there.

• Guy Woodward: Gerard Basset - wine's most competitive man? 
• Tim Atkin MW: Lidl’s Prosecco party
• Q&A: Judy Kendrick, original SITT creator