Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Bottles of wine stolen in South Lanarkshire

Published: 21 August, 2013

A lorry trailer carrying 50,000 bottles of wine worth £300,000, which was parked in a haulage yard in Uddingston, South Lanarkshire, has been stolen.

The biggest and best alcohol brands of 2013

Published: 20 August, 2013

So what were the best-performing wine and spirits brands over the past year? Here Erin Smith presents the movers and shakers in wine and spirits taken from The Grocer's Britain's 100 Biggest Alcohol Brands 2013

AC/DC hopes for Platinum success

Published: 12 August, 2013

AC/DC, the legendary rock band, may have seen many of their albums go platinum, but now they hope to experience the same success in their burgeoning wine career with the release of their latest wine range - Platinum.

Absolut Flavoured vodka range gets a facelift

Published: 09 August, 2013

Absolut's Flavoured vodka range has been redesigned and will be rolled out across the UK throughout August starting with Absolut pear and raspberry flavours with other varieties introduced later in the year and into 2014.

Whisky fans invited to name Glenmorangie limited-edition single malt release

Published: 09 August, 2013

Glenmorangie is putting together its first crowd-sourced whisky project which has allowed fans to participate in the decision making process of its next limited-edition single malt Scotch whisky from the style of whisky bottled through to actually naming the release.

Bordeaux winemakers seek government bailout after devastating hailstorm

Published: 07 August, 2013

French wineries and vineyard owners in the Entre-deux-Mers region in south eastern Bordeaux are seeking government assistance in order to avoid bankruptcy after last weekend's "catastrophic" hailstorm, which affected an estimated 20,000ha, reported France 24.

Russian vodka dumped in protest over Putin anti-gay laws

Published: 06 August, 2013

Gay rights activists have sparked a global protest which began last week calling for the international boycott of Russian vodka.

Jeanjean launches new brand Maison du Sud

Published: 06 August, 2013

Jeanjean, a wine producer from the Languedoc region, is launching new wine brand Maison du Sud for the off-trade in the UK.

WSET hits record number of students around the world

Published: 05 August, 2013

The Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) has reported a record number of candidates taking its examinations around the world n the last academic year, with 48,434 students, a 12% increase over the previous year.

Latin American Free Trade Agreement is a boost to Scotch whisky industry

Published: 05 August, 2013

The Scotch whisky industry has received a boost this month with the removal of tariff and non-tariff barriers to how it trades in areas of Southern and Central America including Colombia, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama.

Three New Trustees appointed to the Benevolent

Published: 05 August, 2013

The Benevolent, the Drinks Industry Charity, announced changes last week at the AGM on July 30 to the Board of Trustees with Christopher Carson and Tony Dee both stepping down and the appointments of Andrew Hawes of Mentzendorff, John Mills formerly of InterContinental Brands (ICB) Ltd. and Dan Townsend of Treasury Wine Estates.

Australian Vintage launches low-alcohol wine in the UK

Published: 31 July, 2013

Summer Light Miranda is a new low-alcohol wine brand being produced by Australian Vintage for the UK and will be available on retail shelves this autumn.

Digby Fine English hopes to become a global sparkling wine brand

Published: 31 July, 2013

Digby Fine English, a new English sparkling wine, launched yesterday in London with grand ambitions to become a global sparkling wine brand.

Digby Fine English has global ambitions for new sparkling wine

Published: 31 July, 2013

Digby Fine English, a new English sparkling wine, launched yesterday in London with grand ambitions to become a global sparkling wine brand.

Dom Pérignon launches Rosé 2003 in collaboration with artist Jeff Koons

Published: 30 July, 2013

Dom Pérignon will be launching its Rosé 2003 vintage, collaborating with Jeff Koons who designed a made-to-order Dom Pérignon Balloon Venus case.

Cliff Roberson to open London's first urban winery

Published: 25 July, 2013

London Cru, set to be the first urban boutique winery in London, is busy preparing for harvest and getting ready to open its cellar doors to the public this November in central London.

Brixton's Courtesan Dim Sum re-launches its menu and cocktails

Published: 24 July, 2013

If you are in the mood for some exotic food and libations in a more exclusive...

Bargain Booze's parent company to go public

Published: 24 July, 2013

Conviviality Retail, owner of Bargain Booze, is looking to raise between £60 million to £65 million in an initial public offering on July 31, 2013, on the Alternative Investment Market (AIM).

Symington and Fladgate: Port education is key to China

Published: 23 July, 2013

Giant Port producers Symington Family Estates and the Fladgate Partnership are expanding their joint education programme in China as they look to widen interest and distribution for Port in Asia.

Investment schemes open the door for UK drinks firms

Published: 22 July, 2013

The UK drinks industry is fast becoming one of the hottest areas of investment, with wineries and brewers finding increasingly innovative ways to raise money.