Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

The rise of ultra-prestige Champagne

Published: 05 August, 2019

Champagne houses are separating out prestige cuvées from the struggling lower end. James Lawrence reports

Piper-Heidsieck creates signature Champagne for Wright Brothers

Published: 11 July, 2019

London-based seafood chain Wright Brothers has partnered with Piper-Heidsieck on an exclusive Champagne to be poured in-house.

TWE launches Squealing Pig in the UK

Published: 09 July, 2019

Treasury Wine Estates has launched a new wine brand into the UK market. Named Squealing Pig, it is the producer’s first multi-country-of-origin wine brand to be on sale here.

UK overtakes Spain as biggest market for Brockmans Gin

Published: 05 July, 2019

Gin continues to boom for Brockmans here in the UK, which is now the brand’s top market thanks to a recent push into the supermarkets.

Jerry Lockspeiser: Why wine brands are here to stay

Published: 24 June, 2019

Branded wines beware! Man your defences! Private Labels are on the march, and they are coming to get you.

Guy Woodward: On good breeding in wine

Published: 07 May, 2019

From the moment visitors touch down at Lexington’s Blue Grass airport, they are confronted with stylised images of two of Kentucky’s most prominent industries. The local tourist board seems keener, funnily enough, to promote the state’s whiskies and horses than its other famous export. Compliant stooge that I am, I took in both pursuits over the course of a whistle-stop tour last month.

Q&A: Robin Copestick, co-managing director, Freixenet Copestick

Published: 07 February, 2019

It’s hard to overstate the impact that I Heart has had on the trajectory of Robin Copetsick’s business – formerly Copestick Murray and, as of January 1, Freixenet Copestick – and where it is today.

Jerry Lockspeiser: Wine needs to project values – not vineyard soil type - to be heard

Published: 22 November, 2018

Forgive me if the opening to this month’s piece seems a little self-indulgent, even self-congratulatory. It is not meant to be. It is just my personal example of the topic I want to highlight, one that should be a huge opportunity for the wine sector.

Insights: Focus on fizz

Published: 06 November, 2018

Drawing on sparkling wine research carried out with Wines Direct, Harpers assesses the state of play

Black Tower chooses low cal range for new campaign

Published: 02 November, 2018

Leading German brand Black Tower has announced it will be highlighting its low calorie range ahead of the festive season with a new neck collar campaign.

Treasury Wine Estates introduces Cavaliere d’Oro

Published: 21 September, 2018

Treasury Wine Estates (TWE) has launched a new Italian wine brand called Cavaliere d’Oro.

Fever-Tree puts the UK at the forefront of premium and healthy drinking trends

Published: 24 July, 2018

Fever-Tree continues to gain ground in the UK and the US as the trend for premiumisation and healthy long drinks continues worldwide.

La Châsse producer Gabriel Meffre looks to make its name in the on-trade

Published: 23 May, 2018

Rhône Valley producer Maison Gabriel Meffre is looking to expand its presence in the UK on-trade, growing on the success of its La Châsse brand in Sainsbury’s and Asda.

Leading Spanish sangria to touch down in the UK

Published: 15 May, 2018

Spain’s Zamora Company has teamed up with independent distributor Indie Brands to launch its recently acquired premium sangria into the UK market.

Broadland’s new hire to drive branded portfolio following Schaafsma exit

Published: 09 April, 2018

Following Paul Schaafsma’s brief tenure as chief executive of Broadland Wineries, new senior brand manager Liz Cobbold is now joining the team to drive the branded portfolio which accounts 50% of sales

TWE declares war on Rush Rich and other ‘copycat operators’

Published: 16 February, 2018

Treasury Wine Estates (TWE) is embroiled in yet another legal challenge, this time against a label which it claims intentionally riffs off the look and feel of one of its flagship Australian brands.

Sir George Fistonich steps down as Villa Maria CEO after 55 years

Published: 14 February, 2018

Top New Zealand winery Villa Maria has a new CEO.

Gonzalez Byass goes sherry light with a twist on an old classic

Published: 13 February, 2018

Packed out sherry and port stands at Gonzalez Byass UK’s tasting yesterday showed there is strength in the traditional fortified category, with Quinta do Noval and flagship Tio Pepe brand drawing crowds.

Jerry Lockspeiser: What wine would you drink in an igloo?

Published: 26 January, 2018

During November and December last year, a skiing inspired pop-up appeared on London’s Southbank near the Festival Hall. Close to the skate boarders and overlooking the river Thames, Jimmy’s Lodge featured an outside bar and grill, inside restaurant and three heated Private Dining Igloos (or Snow Globes) for 6-10 people.