News - Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Al fresco summer plans expected to skyrocket cocktails-to-go

Published: 15 July, 2020

Canned drinks and grab-and-go cocktails to go are expected to be given a major boost this summer thanks to a new vogue in outdoor drinking.

Tío Pepe opens first Sherry hotel

Published: 15 July, 2020

Historic Sherry brand Tío Pepe is adding a new page to its story with the launch of a boutique hotel within the grounds of the González Byass winery.

Woes mount as SA wine industry reacts to second drinking ban

Published: 14 July, 2020

South Africa’s already hard-pressed wine industry has greeted the renewed ban on alcohol sales with dismay, with Vinpro describing the government-imposed clamp down as a “devastating blow”.

Premium rosé trend gathers pace

Published: 14 July, 2020

World-wide consumption of rosé has long seen a steady increase, growing 40% between 2002 and 2018, with three countries – France, United States and Germany - accounting for 60% of all volume consumed in 2018. But the category’s value proposition seems to be changing, with consumers increasingly seeking a sense of provenance, expression of terroir and varietal character (all data from Observatoire Mondial du Rosé).

Ex-Lanson MD Paul Beavis pushes Okanagan Valley in the UK

Published: 14 July, 2020

Headed up by previous House of Lanson MD Paul Beavis, Iconic Wineries of British Columbia is hoping to raise awareness of Canada’s Okanagan Valley by bringing CheckMate Artisanal Winery to the UK.

Producers of Prosecco Superiore vote to reduce production

Published: 14 July, 2020

Consorzio of Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco DOCG this week approved a decision by its members to reduce the yields for the 2020 harvest to avoid over-supply.

Henry Boyes joins Freixenet Copestick

Published: 14 July, 2020

Freixenet Copestick has appointed Henry Boyes to the newly created position of buying and innovation controller.

Diageo claims first with ‘paper’ spirits bottle as part of new sustainability venture

Published: 13 July, 2020

Diageo has announced that it has created what it claims to be the world’s first 100% plastic free paper-based spirits bottle.

Hospitality Action launches fundraising campaign

Published: 13 July, 2020

Hospitality Action (HA) has launched an innovative fundraising campaign in support of the beleaguered industry.

Strong support for return of physical tastings

Published: 13 July, 2020

Some 85% of wine professionals have said “yes” to wine tastings in response to a survey organised by leading UK wine PR agencies and generic bodies.

Alcohol sales outperform soft drinks on first weekend back

Published: 13 July, 2020

Sales of alcohol in managed pubs and bars outstripped non-alcoholic drinks on the 4 July weekend, it has been revealed, with beer becoming the celebratory lockdown-breaker of choice among punters.

Bibendum announces exclusive partnership with Tutiac

Published: 13 July, 2020

Bibendum has announced an exclusive partnership with Tutiac - France’s largest winery of Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée, with wines from 16 of Bordeaux’s AOCs.

Further blow to SA as another ban on alcohol is introduced

Published: 13 July, 2020

South Africa has banned alcohol sales again as part of a set of new restrictions to combat Covid-19.

MPs launch probe into the impact of wine certification

Published: 13 July, 2020

A group of MPs is today launching an inquiry into the impact of wine certification set to be brought into force at the end of the Brexit transition period on 1 January 2021.

Takings down 45% for 4 July weekend as managed outlets feel the squeeze

Published: 10 July, 2020

New figures have put a sobering picture on ‘Super Saturday’ and Sunday, with takings for group-operated pub, bar and restaurant outlets down 44.5% compared to the closest 4 July weekend last year.

Economics of on-trade supply have “hit a brick wall”

Published: 10 July, 2020

The Covid-19 crisis has stripped bare the precarious economic situation of the on-trade and its supply-side, with a correction in the market necessary to improve profitability.

GB sustainability initiative given the “green” light

Published: 10 July, 2020

The environmental sustainability scheme for the UK wine industry is now underway, around a year after plans were first announced in order to put GB winemaking on a par with green rivals in New Zealand and Champagne.

Treasury introduces millennial-focused Samuel Wynn & Co to the UK

Published: 10 July, 2020

Treasury Wine Estates (TWE) is bringing Samuel Wynn & Co to the UK, three years after its debut in Australia.

Tune in for Harpers Innovation & NPD webinar

Published: 10 July, 2020

The latest Harpers webinar, Innovation in the time of Covid-19, is primed to kick off this Monday (13 July) at 11am.

Lanchester goes digital with in-venue ordering platform

Published: 09 July, 2020

Lanchester Wines has unveiled its newest technological innovation – an online order and pay tool to help on-trade venues re-open while observing social distancing rules.