Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Sommelier Wine Awards 2025 now open for entries

Published: 04 November, 2024

The Sommelier Wine Awards (SWA) is once again open for entries for its 2025 round of judging.

Copa Jerez returns with all-star judging panel

Published: 03 July, 2024

The search is on for UK sommelier and chef teams to compete in the 2024 UK finals of Copa Jerez and win their place to represent Britain at the prestigious international culinary competition in Spain next year.

SWAs full results revealed for 2024

Published: 01 July, 2024

Harpers is delighted to announce the results of the revamped and rebooted Sommelier Wine Awards (SWA) which were revealed this afternoon (1 July) at Imbibe Live.

Sommelier Wine Awards entry deadline extended

Published: 23 January, 2024

Due to demand, the entry deadline for the Sommelier Wine Awards 2024 has been extended to 5pm UK time on 29 January.

Gosset Matchmakers 2023 finalists announced

Published: 15 August, 2023

The Champagne Gosset Matchmakers competition has revealed the top sommelier/chef teams who have made it to the final stages for 2023, where they will be battling out to be crowned top of the class.

Kai Mayfair sommelier takes home the 2023 UK Ruinart gong

Published: 22 February, 2023

Mateusz Kowlczyk of Kai Mayfair has been announced as the winner of the 2023 UK Ruinart Sommelier Challenge, taking home the title in the seventh year of the competition.

Gosset Matchmakers 2022 winners announced

Published: 30 September, 2022

A chef and sommelier team from Alain Ducasse at The Dorchester has been crowned the winners of Gosset Matchmakers 2022, beating out tough competition from peers in Hampshire and Edinburgh.

English wine comes of age at the UK’s wine ‘BAFTAs’

Published: 18 July, 2022

English and Welsh wine appears to have entered a new era of maturity, as ‘newcomers’ to the scene continue to rake in accolades alongside more established names.

Gosset Matchmakers Competition returns for its seventh year

Published: 09 May, 2022

Champagne Gosset welcome entries for the 2022 edition of its landmark Matchmakers Competition, run in collaboration with The Sommelier Collective and Le Cordon Bleu in London.

Full steam ahead for Harpers Loire Valley competition

Published: 04 April, 2022

Merchants across the UK continue to sign up to the Loire Valley Wines competition, organised in collaboration with Harpers and the region’s promotional body.

Aldi launches nationwide competition for new suppliers

Published: 16 February, 2022

Aldi is continuing its commitment to British suppliers with the announcement of ‘Grow With Aldi’, a nationwide competition that will see the supermarket uncover and ultimately stock exciting new products from the UK’s best small and medium food and drink businesses – propelling them into the big time.

Entries now open for Tio Pepe Challenge 2022

Published: 03 February, 2022

After a two year break due to the pandemic, Gonzalez Byass is once again hosting the world’s largest international sherry cocktail competition.

Winner of the UKBG's National Cocktail Competition announced

Published: 25 January, 2022

Matteo Basso, head bartender at the Malt Lounge and Bar in London, has won the UK Bartenders Guild’s National Cocktail Competition 2022.

Calling all entries for Harpers Wine Stars 2022

Published: 30 September, 2021

Harpers Wine Stars awards is gearing up for its early 2022 round of judging, with entries for the competition invited by 14 October this year.

Hawksbill and Caskshare prepare for World Rum Day

Published: 08 July, 2021

The great and the good of the rum world are gearing up for World Rum Day, taking place this Saturday 10 July in order to spread word of rum, which was named by the WSTA as the most loved cocktail spirit during 2020’s first lockdown.

Lay & Wheeler charity label to support Drinks Trust Relief Fund

Published: 20 April, 2021

Lay & Wheeler has announced the winner of its label design competition for a special late release of 2015 Sirène de Château Giscours, with 100% proceeds from sales going to The Drinks Trust’s Covid-19 Relief Fund.

Rioja plays a starring role in Cune’s first UK campaign

Published: 20 April, 2021

Hatch Mansfield has announced the launch of its first UK marketing campaign for Spanish label Cune, which will hone in on the brand’s Spanish heritage while promoting their range of Riojas.

Results of Harpers Wine Stars 2021 revealed

Published: 01 April, 2021

The much anticipated results of Harpers Wine Stars 2021 has been revealed, showcasing a host of excellent wines from around the world.

Champagne Gosset Matchmakers 2021 open for entries

Published: 22 March, 2021

Champagne Gosset is once again reaching out to chefs and sommeliers to take part in its annual Matchmakers competition and be in with a chance of winning an all expenses paid trip to its estate.

All-star judging line up for Copa Jerez 2021 revealed

Published: 16 March, 2021

Sherry’s flagship culinary competition has announced the judges for this year’s edition, with Sarah Jane Evans MW, Matthieu Longuere MS, and Anna Haugh all due to appear in this year’s prestigious hot seat.