'Drop the Duty!': whatever the result, thank you for getting involved!

In the final countdown to next week's Budget, Miles Beale, chief executive of the Wine & Spirit Trade Association thanks Harpers readers for their support in rallying to the 'Drop the Duty!' cause. 

St Austell's Brewery appoints first exclusive wine buyer to drive more sales

St Austell's Brewery has promoted Louisa Fizpatrick to the newly created role of wine buyer, in recognition of her hard work and expertise and extensive knowledge of the wine world.

Justin Keay is impressed by what Portugal has to offer

To say Portuguese wine has come a long way is a bit like saying Roger Federer is quite good at tennis.

James Lawrence: Falling in love with Franciacorta

James Lawrence tells a tale of how he fell in love with an Italian fizz called Franciacorta, involving disarmingly honest vineyard owners,  the 21st-century poster-child for the region and a single arrest of a Celtic fan.

Maxxium promotes Mark Riley from head of off-trade to group's managing director

Spirit distributor Maxxium UK has named Mark Riley as its new managing director, who will take up the role next month.

How Armit's Italian tasting turned Justin Keay in to a believer

Richard Siddle: can independents (and their suppliers) grasp their moment in the limelight?

We hear (and we write) a lot about how important the independent sector is to the future of the wine and spirits sector.

María José Sevilla, Wines from Spain, on what we can expect next in the UK

Consumer knowledge of Spanish wines has grown exponentially in the UK in recent years. María José Sevilla, director of Wines From Spain, talks to Harpers about what's next.

Mark Holdsworth, Half Hitch Gin, on breathing new life in to London gin

Camden Lock in north London was once the centre of the capital's gin production. Fifty years after the last distiller moved out, Mark Holdsworth is breathing new life into the area. He talks about craft gin and his plans for Half Hitch with Helen Arnold.

Guy Woodward: why Robert Parker's legacy will be increase in power of peer reviews

How do you choose a hotel? Or a film for the flight? A book for the pool? If you're anything like my wife, you check the user ratings on TripAdvisor, Rotten Tomatoes or Amazon, where peer-to-peer reviews carry far more weight than those of any critic. And what weight.

Tim Atkin MW: Last chance for Bordeaux to get it right with 'out of touch' en primeur

There's a scene in This is Spinal Tap, Rob Reiner's 1984 spoof rockumentary about English heavy metal band Spinal Tap, that features a live performance of a song called "Stonehenge". Keen to add some extra theatre to the gig, the band commission a model of the prehistoic English monument, which descends from above as they play on stage. There's only one problem: the dimensions are all wrong. Instead of 18-foot replica stones, the band orders 18-inch ones by mistake.

Martin Williams: Ex-Gaucho boss on theatre of dining at his new 'M Restaurants'

Martin Williams caused a stir in the restaurant world when he announced he was leaving his top job at Gaucho Grill to go it alone in a 300-seat destination dining venue in central London. But he could not be happier following the opening of his new venture "M".

Guy Woodward: Robert Parker's ultimate legacy - increased power of peer reviews

How do you choose a hotel? Or a film for the flight? A book for the pool? If you're anything like my wife, you check the user ratings on TripAdvisor, Rotten Tomatoes or Amazon, where peer-to-peer reviews carry far more weight than those of any critic.

Denis O'Flynn, Pernod Ricard UK, why we need to get behind the WSTA

Denis O'Flynn, managing director of Pernod Ricard UK, talks about his plans as the new chairman of the Wine & Spirit Trade Association.

Marisa D'Vari : Can New Zealand build a reputation for producing quality reds?

Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand is the success story of the modern wine world, yet is a double-edged sword in terms of the country's ability to promote the excellent quality of all its fine wines.

Tim Carlisle: what the drinks trade can learn from Dr Gregory House MD

House may not have much in the way of bedside manner but he is very good at working out what is wrong with people. In fact in the TV series despite getting it wrong sometimes, usually guessing that at some stage it's Lupus or Sarcoidoisis (and often both) before finally settling on the correct diagnosis.

Colum Egan, master distiller at Bushmills, predicts a strong future for Irish whiskey

These are excavating times for Irish whiskey in general, and for Bushmills in particular. More than 20 distilleries have either started producing whiskey spirit or about to, the country's whiskey industry is awash with overseas money, and is more vibrant and dynamic than at any time in more than century.

Douglas Blyde finds much to savour in the "lovingly" assembled wine list at Stoke Place

Stoke Place, a characterful Georgian pile unfairly tarred by its Slough postcode has retained the accolade of AA Notable Wine List year-on-year. While the hotel may be a little scuffed around the edges, the 30-page wine list authored by general manager, Terry McEvoy is lovingly put together.

Pernod Ricard shakes up team to boost Asian growth

Pernod Richard has shaken up its executive team as it looks to boost growth in Asia.

How to drive a wine brand in the UK on-trade by Wine Business Solutions

Peter McAtamney, principal at research body, Wine Business Solutions, gives his personal assessment on how best to drive and build a wine brand in the UK on-trade with a particular nod to Kleine Zalze, which has been named number one South African brand in its latest 2014 Wine On-Premise report,and Matthew Clark which is reaping the rewards of an astute wine listing strategy