News - Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Oz prepares for poor 2008 harvest

Published: 23 July, 2008

With water allocations again reduced and the 2007 grape harvest down 20% on last year, Australia's winemakers are predicting a dire 2008 vintage.

New Zealand pulls out of Vinexpo

Published: 23 July, 2008

There will be no generic presence from New Zealand at this year's Vinexpo fair in France - for the second time in three events.

Chinese wines from Bibendum

Published: 23 July, 2008

Two new Chinese wines are to be launched by Bibendum, with Austrian winemaker Lenz Moser involved in the project.

Vinexpo and IWSR

Published: 23 July, 2008

Vinexpo is fully booked and has been since November, according to chief executive, Robert Beynat.

Southern US states come to town

Published: 23 July, 2008

The Southern US Trade Association's
inaugural UK tasting will present wines from 10 wineries across Texas, North Carolina and Tennessee on 25 January. The event takes place at Strictly Hush in Mayfair from 11.30am to 3.30pm. The wine industry in these states is growing fast from increased domestic demand: in North Carolina, the number of wineries has doubled to 60 since 2003, while Texas is now the fifth-largest wine-producing state in the US. Contact Madeleine Waters (01225 832237; madeleine@watershedcommunications.com) to attend the tasting.

Use your Buddy, mate

Published: 23 July, 2008

The revolutionary Tasting Buddies system will be used at the Australia Day Tastings in London on January 31 and 1 February - the first time a generic body has used the software at a show.

Sauvignon Blanc takes top Chile award

Published: 23 July, 2008

For the first time in its four-year history, a white wine has triumphed at the Annual Wines of Chile Awards.

Somerfield wine boss quits after 15 years

Published: 23 July, 2008

Angela Mount, Somerfield's wine trading manager for the past 15 years, is to leave the company.

English professor takes top Champagne job

Published: 23 July, 2008

An English-born academic has been appointed the inaugural Professor of Champagne Management at one of France's leading business schools.

English sparkling producers flattered by French interest

Published: 23 July, 2008

Flattered' was the response to the news that a Champagne house may be just weeks away planting roots in English soil.

Pichon second wine goes under screwcap

Published: 23 July, 2008

Les Tourelles de Longueville, the second wine of Bordeaux Second Growth Chteau Pichon-Longueville, will be bottled under screwcap for the UK on-trade.

Fells loses Champagne house to Enotria

Published: 23 July, 2008

Champagne House Henriot has swapped agents from John E Fells to Enotria Winecellars.

Bushfires ravage Oz vineyards

Published: 23 July, 2008

By Tina Gellie

Following frosts that ruined 55 per cent of Victoria's grape harvest, bushfires and winds now threaten to decimate what is left.

Foster's fights against phylloxera outbreak

Published: 23 July, 2008

By Max Allen

Following the discovery of phylloxera in a Fosters-owned vineyard in the middle of Victoria's Yarra Valley in December, the state government's Department of Primary Industry (DPI) has extensively surveyed all vineyards within a 5km radius of the site and found no more signs of the vine aphid.

High and dry

Published: 23 July, 2008

2006 was the driest year on record in many parts of Australia. Even though temperatures did not reach the history-making heights of 2005, new research published in November by the University of Melbourne and Australia's Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) forecast temperature increases of 0.3 to 1.7C in most Australian wine regions by 2030.

NZ producer has world's first carbon-neutral winery

Published: 23 July, 2008

New Zealand winery Grove Mill is the first in the world to go carbon neutral.

What makes a brand cool?

Published: 23 July, 2008

By Tina Gellie

A new book about Britain's coolest brands cites Chivas Regal, Disaronno and Campari alongside Aston Martin, Chanel and Topshop.

Bargain 1er Cru Chablis at Aldi

Published: 23 July, 2008

Aldi's fine wine selection just got bigger with the addition of the 2003 Premier Cru Chablis Grande Rserve from Bovier & Fils. Atypical, having spent nine months in French oak, it retails for 7.99 and is available in Aldi's 300 stores nationwide.

Krug Ros does it by halves

Published: 23 July, 2008

Krug is the first prestige cuve to release its Ros
Champagne in half bottles - the most romantic of sizes, perfect for celebrating tte--tte', suggests company president Rmi Krug.

New at Codornu

Published: 23 July, 2008

Arthur O'Connor has moved from head winemaker at Seppelt in Victoria to the newly created position as head of winemaking at Codornu, while Jordi Ratera has been appointed the new technical director of Codornu, succeeding Juan Jos de Castro, who held the position for 37 years. Ratera has been with Codornu for 20 years, and most recently set up the new Codornu winery in the Napa Valley.