Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

55 minutes with Rathfinny Estate’s winemaking team

Published: 06 March, 2023

A double dose of decision-making is this month’s focus as Andrew Catchpole join’s Rathfinny for 2019 Blanc de Blancs and Blanc de Noir dosage trials

Cult Wines posts more positive outlook for Burgundy and Champagne

Published: 13 January, 2023

Fine wine investment platform, Cult Wines, closed 2022 with a ‘positive end to the year’, the company has revealed, with its Cult Wines Global Index concluding the 12 months with a 20.54% gain.

Hospices de Beaune clinches record total for Sotheby’s Wine Auction

Published: 21 November, 2022

The 162nd Hospices De Beaune wine auction has reached a new, impressive milestone, with sales of €31 million ($32 million) making it the highest ever wine lot for one of the world’s top auction houses.

Extreme summer shrinks Cava harvest in 2022

Published: 19 October, 2022

Cava's regulatory council has issued a statement about the difficult growing season this year, characterised by “continuous and above-average high temperatures, along with successive heat waves in late spring and early summer.”

Gran Orden de Caballeros welcomes three new members

Published: 19 October, 2022

At a gala dinner held at the Savoy hotel yesterday (18 October), three ‘leading lights of the Spanish wine industry in the UK’ were invested into the order.

Sud de France – register now

Published: 07 October, 2022

Registrations are now open for the Sud de France Top 100 Discovery tasting – Part II – where members of the trade are invited to meet producers and winemakers.

Gosset Matchmakers 2022 winners announced

Published: 30 September, 2022

A chef and sommelier team from Alain Ducasse at The Dorchester has been crowned the winners of Gosset Matchmakers 2022, beating out tough competition from peers in Hampshire and Edinburgh.

Sud de France pushed back to avoid rail strikes

Published: 17 June, 2022

Organisers of Sud de France have taken the decision to delay next week’s tasting due to ongoing travel disruption, with the event now being pushed back from June to July.

Tim Atkin MW: Albariño under a cloud

Published: 07 June, 2022

In English, it’s just drizzle. In Spanish, it’s more graphic. The literal translation of ‘calabobos’ is something that soaks fools. Rather than a downpour – the sort of weather that sends you scurrying for a doorway – it’s the kind of rain you barely notice, the stuff that drenches your clothes, drip by drip by drip.

Full steam ahead for Harpers Loire Valley competition

Published: 04 April, 2022

Merchants across the UK continue to sign up to the Loire Valley Wines competition, organised in collaboration with Harpers and the region’s promotional body.

Depleted yields create ‘tension’ following a stellar year for Burgundy exports

Published: 28 March, 2022

Burgundy is struggling to keep up with rising demand, as a record revenue-producing year in 2021 now puts pressure on winemakers to make the most of depleted stocks.

Occitanie Tasting returns to London after three year hiatus

Published: 04 February, 2022

The 10th edition of the Occitanie Annual Trade Tasting will showcase a diverse range of wines from the South of France, featuring over 300 labels produced in the largest wine region in the world.

The Wine Society creates new sustainability post

Published: 21 January, 2022

Leading online retailer The Wine Society has appointed Dom de Ville as its inaugural 'director of sustainability and social impact', adding a new strand to the organisation's executive team.

Graham Beck appoints new cellar master

Published: 19 January, 2022

South African sparking wine brand Graham Beck has appointed Pierre de Klerk as their new chef de cave, replacing the incumbent Pieter Ferreira, who has been promoted to the role of chief operating officer.

Ehrmanns founder Peter Dauthieu passes away

Published: 07 January, 2022

The chairman and founder of import business Ehrmanns sadly died just before Christmas, aged 77.

Hospices de Beaune Wine Auction achieves landmark sale

Published: 24 November, 2021

The 161st Hospices de Beaune Wine Auction has set a new world record, after €800,000 (£671,000) was bid for a barrel of Corton Renardes Grand Cru.

Sherry Week’s global tasting jamboree hailed a success

Published: 19 November, 2021

With some 1,755 tastings, split 50:50 between physical and virtual events, International Sherry Week (8-14 Nov) drew in participants from some 27 countries this year, being the biggest global celebration of the region’s wines.

South of France to open new somm school

Published: 03 November, 2021

The Roussillon region is to host what is described as a “unique training centre” for sommeliers, planned to open in September 2022.

González Byass named ‘Best Spanish Winery of the Decade’

Published: 28 October, 2021

González Byass has become the “Best Spanish Winery of the Decade” according to a Spanish Association of Journalists and Writers.

Over 100 vinous gems take centre stage at inaugural Sud De France tasting

Published: 26 October, 2021

Over 100 wines, including Armagnac, from the southern French Region of Occitanie, will be showcased at a wine tasting in London this month, focusing in the region's litte-known wines.