Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Cockburn’s revamps range with eco-friendly focus

Published: 23 September, 2024

Cockburn’s Port is ‘challenging perceptions in the category’ with a significant redesign which introduces a new lightweight bottle across the core range.

Adrian Bridge calls for market reforms in Port industry

Published: 29 July, 2024

Adrian Bridge (pictured), CEO of The Fladgate Partnership, has his say on a so-called “social catastrophe” for winegrowers in the Douro region.

Graham’s unveils historic 50-Year-Old Tawny Port

Published: 14 May, 2024

In a rare and historic move, Graham’s has introduced its first-ever 50-year-old Tawny Port, signalling a significant addition to the world of Port wines. The release marks the first for the business since the 50-year-old category was permitted in 2020.

Symington Family releases 2022 Capela do Vesúvio Vintage Port

Published: 22 April, 2024

The Symington family has introduced the 2022 Capela do Vesúvio Vintage Port, marking only the fifth vintage of the micro-terroir wine.

Navigating Port’s choppy waters

Published: 27 November, 2023

In some quarters, Port sales received something of a lockdown boost as consumers made the most of longer, more relaxed at-home-drinking occasions. Jo Gilbert asks, can restaurants utilise this goodwill to maximise sales this winter?

Portuguese diversity on show as exports rise

Published: 12 September, 2023

The breadth of Portugal’s diversity was on full show in London yesterday, where lower yields, good value and newly emerging grape varieties formed an interesting picture of one of the world’s fastest growing-in-popularity regions.

Symington predicts ‘high quality vintage’ in Douro

Published: 11 September, 2023

With the red grapes still coming in across various estates, leading producer Symington Family Estates is predicting one of the best Douro vintages in recent years.

The Douro’s steep learning curve

Published: 08 September, 2023

To keep up quality with its expanding still wine production, Sogevinus must also fight climate change. Andrew Catchpole reports.

Symington launch pushes Douro’s white potential

Published: 27 February, 2023

Symington Family Estates has launched a new Douro white, Pequeno Dilema 2020, as part of what the company describes as its “mission” to demonstrate that Port’s vineyards can also produce “outstanding white wines”.

Paul Symington receives CMG at Windsor Castle

Published: 20 February, 2023

Paul Symington received the CMG (Companion of the Order of St. Michael and St. George) from His Majesty King Charles III at Windsor Castle on 14 February for services to UK/Portugal relations and to social and environmental sustainability in Portugal. The award was announced in Her Majesty the Queen’s last Birthday Honours list in the spring of 2022.

2022 harvest puts Sogevinus ‘to the test’

Published: 28 November, 2022

Leading Port and still wine producer Sogevinus is celebrating making its way through a "very difficult and challenging harvest", which was able to overcome significant viticultural challenges, including heat intensity and the lack of rainfall, particularly when it came to lower altitude vines.

2022 Douro harvest: “We faced some of the greatest challenges that our family has seen”

Published: 12 October, 2022

Following the theme in many European wine-growing regions this year, the 2022 Douro harvest has now been confirmed as the earliest ever recorded in the region.

Paul Symington Awarded a CMG in the Queen’s Honours List

Published: 06 June, 2022

Paul Symington has been awarded a CMG (Companion of the Order of St. Michael and St. George) in The Queen’s Birthday Honours List, published 2 June, for services to UK/Portugal relations and social, environmental sustainability in the Douro.

Landmark Portuguese wine festival 'FESTA' to take place in June

Published: 13 January, 2022

London’s Tobacco Dock will host an inaugural consumer-led festival in June, dedicated to Portugal’s wine, gastronomy, music and arts. The event is set to coincide with the Festa de São João, a famous event within Porto’s calendar where thousands travel to the city and surrounding neighbourhoods to celebrate Porto's patron saint, John the Baptist.

Symington Family Estates launches new ‘School of Port’ series

Published: 21 October, 2021

Symington Family Estates has launched a new video course ‘School of Port’, an online video course about port and the Douro.

Fladgate Partnership heralds return to “normal”, though warm winters and hail persist

Published: 21 September, 2021

The Fladgate Partnership has welcomed the return of normal weather conditions in the Douro, with a mild summer in 2021 allowing for differentiated ripening across vineyards and lending “flavour, elegance and natural acidity to the grapes”.

Wines of Portugal promo boosts independent sales

Published: 08 July, 2021

Wines of Portugal is reportting sales uplift of +286% in volume and +300% in value at participating retailers that were specially selected for June’s month-long promotion.

Long Read: Wave of Portonic RTDs to fortify Douro sales

Published: 06 May, 2021

The Instituto dos Vinhos do Douro e Porto (IVDP) has given Port producers the green light for the commercialisation of Port & Tonic RTDs, dubbed as 'Portonic' by the trade.

Sogevinus declares 2019 a vintage year

Published: 15 March, 2021

Sogevinus Fine Wines has declared the launch of two single Quinta vintages, Kopke Quinta de São Luiz 2019 and Burmester Quinta do Arnozelo 2019, as well as two classic vintages under the seal of Casas Cálem and Barros.