ProWein: What the trade thought of the 2014 show

Last month it seemed like the entire UK wine trade had decamped to Düsseldorf for ProWein. The Harpers team was there to find out what key trends emerged and why the show is now so important.

French bulk wine availability strictly limited

There is good availability of bulk wines and prices available from the majority of countries, except for France, where the combination of late and light harvests have pushed prices skyward.

Katie Jones of Domaine Jones on the adventure of making her own wines in the Languedoc

Katie Jones, owner of Domaine Jones, tells Heather Dougherty about her journey from Ashby-de-la-Zouch to Fitou in Languedoc and from marketing other people's wines to making her own.

Beltrán Domecq, president of the Consejo Regulador, on sherry's changing image in the UK

Q&A with Nick Mantella, managing director Grupo Codorniu UK

Nick Mantella shares his views on how Cava can compete with the fast-growing Prosecco, its plans to expand its branded portfolio, and Spanish wines in the UK market.

Q&A with Origin Wine founder Bernard Fontannaz, who talks quality control and looking outside South Africa

Bernard Fontannaz, founder of Origin Wine on quality control, expanding its portfolio to include Old World wines and Fairtrade.

How California's wine kings lead the industry

When it comes to innovation, California holds all the trump cards. Erin Smith visits winemakers, technologists and designers across the region to find out why.

How to develop wineries that offer relaxation and wow factor

With wine tourism exploding in key areas around the world, wineries are realising the financial, branding, and marketing importance of creating a "unique experience" to attract visitors in the face of growing competition.

Q&A with Edward Robinson, Fairtrade wine buyer at the Co-operative

Edward Robinson talks about the commercial success of Fairtrade wines at the Co-operative, how the Fairtrade mark works and highlights the group's biggest project in Argentina.

Q&A: Bruce Perry, sales director, Eaux de Vie

Bruce Perry is in good spirits as he talks frankly to Douglas Blyde about Cognac's place in the spirits market

Q&A: Isabelle Kanaan and Sébastien du Boullay, Sud de France

The pair from Sud de France talk to Richard Siddle about how it hopes to use its Top 100 programme to highlight the very best wines from the Languedoc-Roussillon

Treasury Wine Estates presents its independent strategy to Top Merchants

Treasury Wine Estates is one of a number of major wine companies looking to build sales in the independent sector. Its fine wine team joined the latest Independent Wine Crew meeting to set out its strategy and find out how it can better serve the sector. Richard Siddle and Erin Smith report

Working together: leading independent merchants pool their skills and resources

The third meeting of Harpers' Independent Wine Crew of leading multi-site wine merchants reflected a real step-change in how they are able to help each other in buying, sourcing and storing wine. Richard Siddle and Erin Smith report

Big interview: Vinexpo's new ceo,Guillaume Deglise, and his plans to modernise the show

Guillaume Deglise has big shoes to fill in replacing Robert Beynat as chief executive of Vinexpo. Here he tells Richard Siddle how he intends to create a very different type of show - based largely on the customer and branding lessons learnt from his career in Champagne

Q&A: Agustin Trapero, head sommelier, Launceston Place

Harpers caught up with the head sommelier of Michelin-starred Launceston Place

How growth in tapas is driving consumer understanding of Spanish wine

UK consumers are just discovering that Spain's wine regions offer as much diversity, quality and value as its tapas. Andrew Catchpole reports

How China is opening its doors to mainstream imported wine

James Lawrence looks at the bigger picture when it comes to the Chinese wine market

Christmas 2013: the winners and losers

Helen Stares, client business partner at Nielsen, takes a look at premiumisation across the drinks trade last Christmas and how the solid growth was at the top end

Why peer and consumer reviews are becoming crucial to online success

With an abundance of sites encouraging online reviews, wine consumers are listening to each other when it comes to shopping on the web. Gemma McKenna reports.

The merchants of vintage

The third meeting of Harpers' Independent Wine Crew of leading multi-site wine merchants reflected a real step-change in how they are able to help each other in buying, sourcing and storing wine. Richard Siddle and Erin Smith report