Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Hardys launches on-trade foodies wine range

Published: 17 April, 2019

Hardys, the wine brand from Accolade Wines, is targeting food matching with its new on-trade exclusive ‘Foodies Range’.

Tesco boss hails turnaround

Published: 10 April, 2019

Tesco is celebrating the biggest leap in profits since it was shaken by an accounting scandal five years ago, having seen annual pre-tax profits jump 28.8% to £1.67 billion.

Plumpton climate change research could help boost English vine productivity

Published: 05 April, 2019

Soon to be released research carried out in Sussex could help unlock the secret of yields – and discover why they fluctuate so wildly from year to year in the UK.

Diageo World Class strips out semi-finals for “streamlined” admissions

Published: 15 March, 2019

Diageo Reserve has taken out several steps in the admissions process for its World Class bartender competition, promising to make it easier than ever for up and coming talent to apply.

Sales of English and Welsh wine double in 2018

Published: 06 March, 2019

The English and Welsh wine industry produced a record-breaking amount of wine last year thanks to a frost-free spring and a long, mostly dry summer.

France versus Italy: why the French are winning the aperitif game

Published: 01 March, 2019

This year marks 100 years since the birth of the new king of the cocktail world. Named after a thirsty Count who requested gin rather than soda water to be added to his favourite tipple, the negroni has played the long game, delighting drinkers with simple balance of Campari, sweet Italian vermouth, and of course, the juniper-based spirit. Today, it is number one cocktail served with gin – even more popular than the martini.

Google searches for Dry January up 35% on last year as Gen Z knuckles down with no and low

Published: 31 January, 2019

Low and no alcohol serves can no longer be seen as “the poor cousin at the back of the bar” a number of industry experts agreed when faced with the question of what to do about the most teetotal generation in living memory.

Liberty pushes into new frontiers ahead of Brexit

Published: 16 January, 2019

An English winemaker, a French winemaker and an Italian winemaker walk into a winebar.

Looking ahead: Stephen Finch, Vagabond Wines

Published: 03 January, 2019

Once again we are catching up with the trade to find out how businesses looked to make the most of the all-important Christmas trading period, while also looking ahead to the challenges and opportunities 2019 will bring.

Looking ahead: Miles McInnes, Jascots Wine Merchants

Published: 29 December, 2018

Once again we are catching up with the trade over the next few weeks to find out how businesses are making the most of the all-important Christmas trading period, while also looking ahead to the challenges and opportunities 2019 will bring.

Scotch Whisky Association takes action on alcohol misuse

Published: 17 December, 2018

Thirteen projects set up to tackle alcohol misuse in Scotland have been granted awards by the Scotch Whisky Action Fund.

Looking ahead: Ian Harris MBE, chief executive, WSET

Published: 14 December, 2018

Tumultuous political times are offering an interesting backdrop to our latest Looking Ahead series.

Rioja picks its leading lights for night of celebration

Published: 21 November, 2018

Raul Diaz, Bar 44 and Corks Out were some of the big winners at last night’s Rioja Recognises awards, which singles out the top ambassadors flying the flag for Spain’s flagship wine region.

Rioja 10x10 to make a triumphant return

Published: 11 September, 2018

Harpers is once again partnering with Rioja 10x10, bringing yet great opportunity to discover of Rioja’s top wines and key trends.

Tim Atkin MW: Critical times for Argentina

Published: 06 September, 2018

Every year at the end of my tour of Argentina, I sit down with Dr Nicolas Catena of Bodega Catena Zapata. He wants to talk about wine – new bodegas and regions, the latest vintage – while I want to talk about economics, his speciality. Before he became one of the leading figures in the Argentinian wine industry, Catena was a top academic and is still enormously perceptive.

Pernod Ricard plugs Scotch growth back into NPD with new launch

Published: 30 August, 2018

Pernod Ricard is capitalising on encouraging growth in the Scotch category with the launch of its new Chivas XV.

Why the Rhône’s white evolution is gathering pace

Published: 09 August, 2018

The Rhône Valley is not – predominantly – known for its whites.

Wine set to help global alcohol consumption to reach £830bn by 2022

Published: 08 August, 2018

A relatively sunny outlook is being forecast for the global alcohol industry over the next five years, with the wine set to see the largest portion of growth.

South Africa 2018 harvest “most challenging” in living memory

Published: 31 July, 2018

Serious drought in the Western Cape affected both natural supplies of water and government allocations ahead of this year’s harvest.

Flint Wines eyes growth with new senior development manager

Published: 25 July, 2018

Specialist fine wine importer Flint Wines has hired a new company development manager as part of an “ambitious” five-year plan to drive the company forward.