Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Buyer’s Spotlight: New perspectives on Rioja

Published: 19 December, 2024

Jason Millar gets a new take on how the region can balance out its affordable offerings with more premium expressions.

DO Rueda celebrates export bounce

Published: 02 December, 2024

New figures released by the Rueda Designation of Origin (DO) suggest that the dry white is stealing a march abroad, with exports to the UK rising by 11.5% between 2020 and 2024.

AWL welcomes clearance for Accolade Wines merger

Published: 25 October, 2024

Australian Wine Holdco Limited (AWL) has welcomed the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission's (ACCC) decision to grant merger clearance for the combination of Accolade Wines with Pernod Ricard's Australian, New Zealand and Spanish wine businesses.

From gelato to Gunderloch – Liberty hits a high note at autumn tasting

Published: 20 September, 2024

An amped up Tom Platt, CEO of Liberty Wines, was keen to share his optimism this week as the trade steams ahead into the last months of 2024, with a particular focus on a handful of new Italian wines and a “significantly developed” Spain category striking a chord with visitors at Tuesday's (17 September) autumn tasting.

Indigo turns 21 with special guests tasting

Published: 11 September, 2024

Indigo Wine celebrated 21 years in business this week via a special gathering of the wines and winemakers which helped to put the business on the UK map.

AI delivers individual bottle labels for new Maison Wessman wine

Published: 24 June, 2024

Bergerac producer Maison Wessman defines itself as ‘reinventing tradition’, and this innovative winemaker has embraced AI-enhanced graphics which deliver an individual label for each bottle of its Imprévu wine.

Gran Orden de Caballeros del Vino welcomes familiar faces

Published: 14 June, 2024

Historical organisation Gran Orden de Caballeros del Vino has welcomed three new members, including Spain’s first and only female Spanish MW and Hal Wilson, owner of Cambridge Wine Merchants.

Bierzo producer launches campaign to save old vines

Published: 29 April, 2024

For star Spanish producer Raul Perez, who’s done much to put Bierzo on the map of wine, the key to production has always been the use of field blends of old vines, bringing depth and consistency to wines.

Lanzarote’s battle to protect tradition

Published: 22 March, 2024

Following the launch of Jable de Tao’s first artisanal wines, Barnaby Eales charts the progress being made to protect the hoyos-grown vine legacy of La Geria, asking if enough is being done to secure their future.

Embracing change in Rioja

Published: 20 December, 2023

Setting out to discover the renewed dynamism and diversity in Spain’s flagship DO, Harpers teamed up with Wines of Rioja to host an indie merchant buying trip to the region. Andrew Catchpole reports.

Ribera harvest battles ‘pronounced and changing climate’

Published: 06 December, 2023

Ribera del Duero is celebrating a bigger than expected harvest, with this year’s crop up by 12% and the grapes achieving optimal levels of ripeness despite being one of the ‘most complex harvests to date’.

Producer Q&A: Jaime Suárez, Dominio De Atauta

Published: 31 October, 2023

Working with 700 microplots of vines of between 140 and 190 years old, Jaime Suárez, winemaker at Dominio De Atauta, shares his passion with Andrew Catchpole.

Sign up now for Wines from Spain inaugural summit

Published: 15 September, 2023

There is still time to register for the Spain Food Nation Summit 2023, where Harpers will be chairing a brand-new event in central London to showcase the quality of Spain’s food and vinous offer.

Spanish Wine Master competition announces winner

Published: 05 July, 2023

Wine and Communications professional Kirsty Woodgate has been crowned 2023 Spanish Wine Master UK by Rioja winery Ramón Bilbao.

Producer Q&A: Félix Solís Avantis

Published: 27 June, 2023

UK MD Richard Cochrane and President Félix Solís, the two leaders of the major wine company, fill Andrew Catchpole in on the latest innovative developments.

Rioja’s top wines take the spotlight in London

Published: 26 June, 2023

A selection of age-worthy styles from recent to older decades were on full show at the recent Rioja Residency – a new, unbeatable showing of the region’s best wines.

Friday read: ‘Grape of the sun’ in the hot seat with Peter McCombie MW

Published: 02 June, 2023

Monastrell was given a chance to shine in London recently, via a masterclass which aimed to show a sun-loving variety in a brand new light.

CVNE folds Rías Baixas winery into portfolio

Published: 16 March, 2023

Rioja group CVNE has acquired Bodegas La Val in Rías Baixas, taking the number of wineries in its portfolio to eight.

Spain now has confidence to ‘walk naked in the street’

Published: 14 March, 2023

Champions of Spain’s diversity articulate a wine scene that has for some time been generating excitement, revealing an increasingly compelling collective offer, with individuality, accessibility and sense of place to the fore. The country has been dubbed by some as the ‘New World of the Old’, in recognition of its ongoing innovation.

Grandes Pagos de España launches global Terroir Workshop

Published: 14 March, 2023

Leading Spanish producer association, Grandes Pagos de España (GPE), has launched a global education program which puts the country’s ‘grand crus’ front and centre.