Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

On-trade: Somms chart the trends

Published: 01 July, 2026

Harpers invites leading sommeliers and buyers to reveal what is most exciting them in the world of wine.

Headline heroes: The fruits of Friuli

Published: 19 June, 2026

Tucked into the north-eastern corner of Italy, hugging the borders of Austria and Slovenia, Friuli is both a shorthand for Friuli-Venezia Giulia and a byword for fresh and fruity wines with gentle depth and complexity perfectly suited to summer.

Laudun becomes new Côtes du Rhône Cru

Published: 20 September, 2024

Laudun has officially been recognised as the 18th Cru of the Côtes du Rhône, with 2024 set to mark the first vintage under this prestigious title. Formerly classified as Côtes du Rhône Villages Laudun, the wine-producing area achieved communal appellation status following a decision by the National Institute for Origin and Quality (INAO) on 11 September.

Wine buying hits shoppers' sweet spots at the multiples

Published: 28 March, 2017

High levels of shopper-satisfaction and the willingness of consumers to linger in the wine aisle, are presenting opportunities to engage the customer and drive trade-up sales, a new supermarket study has suggested.

Boost for Soave with new UK campaign

Published: 27 February, 2017

Soave, the dry white wine produced in the Veneto region of northeastern Italy, is looking to boost its fortunes here in the UK this summer with the help of new trade and consumer campaign.

White revolution at the forefront of Heart of Spain 2017

Published: 13 January, 2017

Winemakers from Spain will continue to further the white revolution and promote varieties from new and unexpected corners of the country when the Heart of Spain 2017 tasting comes to London.

Burgundy en primeur: Spotlight on whites

Published: 11 January, 2017

While there has been a consensus that Burgundy's 2015 reds have much to offer buyers in this year's en primeur market, there is less agreement about the quality of the region's whites.

Bolney Wine Estate on opening the door to 2017

Published: 13 December, 2016

When Bolney Wine Estate was started in 1972 by owners Janet and Rodney Pratt, it was one of only six commercial vineyards in the country.

Indian summer and 2015 reserves help to bolster troubled Loire harvest

Published: 14 November, 2016

One of the world's preeminent winemaking regions has bounced back following a troubling year, with ideal weather conditions at the close of the season helping grapes to reach "peak levels" of ripeness.

White wines of the Douro: Emerging from fortified's shadow

Published: 08 November, 2016

Famous for its Port fortified wines, far less is understood about the Douro's long history of white winemaking.

Provence Part 2: Oaked, whites and reds coming to the fore

Published: 01 November, 2016

In Part 1 of our Provence two-parter, we looked at how Provence is evolving its 'pink summer quaffing' reputation.

On-trade update: Premium driving growth

Published: 21 October, 2016

The figures all indicate that the total on-trade Great Britain wine market is continuing to shrink, albeit at a slower pace. The total GB on-trade is made up of over 124,000 outlets, with volume sales down 2.5% and value sales down 0.5%.

The week that was: top news, Q&As and opinion on Harpers.co.uk

Published: 14 October, 2016

In case you missed some of the headlines this week on harpers.co.uk, we have put together a review of the top online news, Q&As, and opinion stories.

Champagne harvest "isn't all doom and gloom", says Bollinger

Published: 10 October, 2016

Champagne has had its fair share of challenges so far this year, with a slew of bad weather meaning that crop loss is as severe in some parts - as is the case in he Aube - according to Champagne Taittinger.

Leading Italian online wine retailer launches first international branch in the UK

Published: 06 October, 2016

A consumer website selling the "largest selection of Italian wines in Europe" has launched its first international base 50km north of London.

Tim Atkin MW: What will happen to brand Brangelina?

Published: 30 September, 2016

You can always rely on the wine trade to show a sense of perspective. As Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie prepare to eviscerate one another in the divorce courts, no doubt damaging the lives of their six children in the process, the question on everyone's lips is: what's going to happen to Château Miraval?

Insights: White wine renaissance

Published: 28 September, 2016

Sales of premium whites are on the up, but restaurants still see red when it comes to higher-end sales.

Graham Norton expands his wine range

Published: 04 August, 2016

Following the tremendous success of his own-label sauvignon blanc, Graham Norton will be expanding production the GN Sauvignon Blanc and will be adding an Australian Shiraz to the range this Autumn.

IWC 2016 Results: 2016 Champion wine winners

Published: 08 July, 2016

Last night at the annual International Wine Challenge awards dinner in London, five wines were crowned Champions and one wine took home the Champion of Champions award, recognised as some of the top gongs in the industry.