Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Campaign highlights the strengths of Soave

Published: 12 August, 2019

Soave is making a comeback thanks to a new Summer of Soave campaign.

Looking ahead: Robin Copestick, MD, Freixenet Copestick Limited

Published: 07 August, 2019

As the first half of 2019 draws to a close, Harpers asked key trade figures to highlight the current challenges, ongoing trends and opportunities

The UK’s favourite wine supermarket

Published: 05 August, 2019

Working together with Wines Direct, Harpers brings you the results of a huge survey into Britain’s wine-buying habits. Lisa Riley reports

Tim Atkin MW: Canary in the global coalmine

Published: 05 August, 2019

“Phew. What A Scorcher!” I’m old enough to remember June 1976, when we had 15 consecutive days above 32°C. The Sun’s headline captured some of the excitement I felt as a teenager. In those days British summers were frequently cool, overcast affairs and all of a sudden Kent felt like the Costa Brava. What was scorching then seems almost temperate now. Last week Cambridge sweated through the second hottest day ever at 38.1°C, just behind Faversham’s UK record of 38.5°C in August 2003.

WoSA reveals Sommelier Cup finalists

Published: 02 August, 2019

The 11 finalists due to compete in the Wines of South Africa Sommelier Cup competition have been unveiled.

Majestic sale confirmed

Published: 02 August, 2019

The sale of Majestic Wine to US private equity firm Fortress has been confirmed.

Scottish government calls for post-Brexit protections for whisky

Published: 01 August, 2019

Scotch whisky must retain its current protected status if the UK leaves the EU without a deal, Fergus Ewing, the Scottish government’s secretary for the rural economy, has said.

Bacardi and Brown-Forman end longstanding UK sales partnership

Published: 01 August, 2019

Bacardi and Brown-Forman are to end their UK collaboration, the companies have revealed.

Half of China's middle class population drinks imported wine

Published: 01 August, 2019

Despite falling wine import volumes, China continues to mature as a market, according to the latest country report from Wine Intelligence.

Aperol continues its ascent with 22% sales spike

Published: 30 July, 2019

The apertivo movement continued to spread across Europe and the rest of the world in the first half of 2019, according to Campari’s latest results.

Sustainable British winemakers to unite under WineGB banner

Published: 26 July, 2019

A new initiative created with the aim of supporting UK growers and winemakers in their efforts to produce sustainable wines has been given an official name.

Double digit growth for Diageo brands as “Nation’s love of gin continues"

Published: 25 July, 2019

Sales of gin continue to boost spirits sales at Diageo, as Tanqueray and Gordon’s clock yet another year of double digit growth.

JF Hillebrand celebrates 175 years with leaps forward in sustainability and tech

Published: 22 July, 2019

JF Hillebrand is currently celebrating nearly two centuries of connecting wine and spirits with consumers, from its humble beginnings in Germany to one of the world’s largest logistics providers.

Dip in Aussie imports as Brexit stockpiling comes to an end

Published: 22 July, 2019

Sales of Australian wine in the UK have declined in the past year – partly due to brand-hesitancy surrounding Brexit.

Wet-led businesses helping high street to recover from “poisonous cocktail” of regulatory costs

Published: 19 July, 2019

Renewed investor interest is improving the health of a malnourished high street – driven mostly by wet-led venues, a group of suppliers and industry leaders were told this morning.

Pernod Ricard to unveil non-alcoholic dark spirit

Published: 18 July, 2019

Pernod Ricard UK is embracing the no and low trend with a premium alcohol-free dark spirit.

New association in works to highlight Leyda’s cool climate

Published: 17 July, 2019

A new members association is underway to highlight the unique terroir of up and coming wine region Leyda and its surrounding vineyards as a destination for premium coastal climate wines.