Louis Latour Agencies boosts its London sales team

Louis Latour Agencies has boosted its London sales team with the appointment of David Hargreaves and Sophie Cruise.

Cloudy Bay's David Hohnen links up with Off Piste Wines to produce Bordeaux wine

Ibiza Ice looks to crack the sparkling wine cocktail category

Ibiza Ice is the latest brand entry in to the growing sparkling wine cocktail category with the added selling point of having only a 5.5% abv.

The week that was: top news, Q&As and opinion on Harpers.co.uk

In case you missed some of the headlines this week (and a bit of last week due to the long weekend) on harpers.co.uk, we have done a review of the top online news, Q&As, and opinion stories.

Formula One drivers can now celebrate with limited edition Champagne GH Mumm

As Formula One drivers spend so much time throwing around quality Champagne, official sponsors, Champagne GH Mumm, has produced a special limited edition bottle unique for Formula One.

Tesco to share consumer insights at the Harpers Debate at London Wine Fair

Tesco is to share some of its consumer insights and how it actively works with its customers to generate feedback, debate and help drive its wine and spirits strategy at the Harpers debate at the London Wine Fair.

Entire state of California suffering from 'severe drought'

The entire state of California is now suffering from either 'severe drought', 'extreme drought' or 'exceptional drought', according to a report released by the US Drought Monitor.

Free Run Wines to take on low alcohol wines from New Zealand producer, Selaks Wines

Free Run Wines, the UK off-trade wine supplier, is to distribute a new low alcohol, 9% abv, wine from New Zealand producer, Selaks Wines, which will be introduced along with the rest of the winery's UK range to the trade at next month's London Wine Fair.

Ubifrance looks to find UK distribution for nearly 30 wineries at London tasting

Nearly 30 independent French wineries looking for distribution in the UK will be showing their wines to the trade on May 22 as part of the latest tasting organised by Ubifrance and the French Trade Commission.

Tech-focused wine entrepreneurs could win start-up help

Tech-focused entrepreneurs with a foot in the wine world could win start-up funds, a trip to Bordeaux, and expert advice after pitching ideas to new club 33Entrepreneurs next month.

Codorniu reaffirms commitment to UK market as search for new chief continues

Cava firm Codorníu Raventós says it is "100% committed" to the UK market in the wake of the departure of its managing director of 12 years, Nick Mantella.

South Africa's Wellington Wines looks to treble UK bulk sales by 2015

South African co-operative Wellington Wines is hoping to treble its bulk sales to the UK to 6 million litres by next summer and have 40% of its production, or 11 million litres, going to the UK by 2016.

OIV reports USA is biggest wine market by volume in the world

The International Wine and Vine Organisation (OIV) says that despite overall wine consumption dropping slightly in 2013 to 238.7 millions of hectolitres, the US overtook France last year and became the biggest wine consuming country by volume in the world.

Blossom Hill launches fruitier wines with Sun-Kissed red and white

Blossom Hill has launched two fruitier style wines - Sun-Kissed red and white - after finding that almost half of its consumers wanted wines with a lighter, fruitier taste.

Wine trade gears up for London Wine Week

The countdown to the first ever London Wine Week has begun, with 130 of the capital's bars, restaurants and independent wine merchants gearing up for the event which kicks off on June 2.

Sam Neill leads strong line up New Zealand trophy winners at IWC 2014

Sam Neill, the winemaking film actor, leads the strong line-up of eight Trophy winners from New Zealand announced today by the International Wine Challenge.

Portugal takes 12 trophies at International Wine Challenge

Portugal has scooped 12 trophies at the International Wine Challenge, putting it in third position for trophy wines after France (28) and Australia (19).

Australia scoops 19 trophies and 890 medals at International Wine Challenge

Australian wines swept the floor at the International Wine Challenge 2014, taking home 19 trophies and 890 medals.

Burgundy way out in front as France picks up 28 IWC 2014 trophies

Wine producers across Burgundy have been awarded 17 out of the 28 trophies awarded across France in the International Wine Challenge 2014.

France still best performing wine in on-trade

On-trade wine sales fell by 2% during 2013, and stayed flat in the first quarter, according to figures compiled by CGA for the WSTA market report. In the long-term, France still remains best-performing country for wine in the on-trade. It has grown 10% in the 12 months to January 25, 2014 and now holds a 27% share of total wine sales.