Harpers Global Design Awards 2014: what the judges said

This year saw Harpers' Design Awards go global, with entries featuring a range of products aimed at all levels of the market. From the budget to the luxury, we pick out the medal winners and showcase those products and their designers that stand out from the rest.

What's on at SITT Autumn: Andrew Steel from Connoisseur Estates

Andrew Steel, director of Connoisseur Estates, a UK wine agency, tells Harpers.co.uk, what to expect on his stand today at the SITT Autumn Tasting held at the Royal Horticulture Halls in London.

Growing wine in the desert: Q&A with Alejandro Galaz of Ventisquero

Challenging stereotypes was on the agenda of Alejandro Galaz this week. As one of Viña Ventisquero's winemakers he is part of Ventisquero's latest project in the Atacama Desert: Tara Wines. 

Danilo Zilli, head sommellier at Novikov, talks about how he fell in love with wine

Danilo Zilli, talks to Harpers.co.uk about the how he fell in love with wine.  Like any relationship, it has its up and downs, but being head sommellier at Novikov offers Zilli a great perk- the opportunity to taste some amazing wines.

Jackson Estate's Matt Patterson-Green showcases his Kiwi wines at Chiltern Firehouse

"I believe Marlborough will be known for producing the best Pinot Noir over time," declares Matt Patterson Green, winemaker of Jackson Estate. In his glass is one expression, Vintage Widow 2012, named, he says, "after women who lose their men to the vineyards..."

Francoise Peretti of the UK's Champagne Bureau on the region's 2014 harvest

Peretti tells Harpers.co.uk this year's Champagne harvest is "textbook" so far, with high quality grapes that could lead to a vintage year.

Views from Beautiful South: Roberto Echeverria, Echeverria Family Wines, Chile

Here is the latest producer from last week's Wines of the Beautiful South tasting who is happy to share his thoughts on the UK market and the opportunties for their wines.

Jacob Ehrenkrona on giving up financial career to create Martin Miller's Gin

Harpers.co.uk talked with Jacob Ehrenkrona, the chief executive of Martin Miller's gin, about why he gave up a career in venture capitalism to pursue the classic spirit.

How Oddbins has defied its critics to bounce back to winning ways

In three years Oddbins has risen from death's door to win IWC High Street Retailer of the Year. Gemma McKenna meets Ayo Akintola, its Renaissance Man

Distell's Richard Rushton earns his stripes

In his first major UK interview, Distell's Richard Rushton reveals his big plans for the company's wine division, as Erin Smith reports

Georg Riedel on Riedel's new Veritas range and working with Coca-Cola

Founded in 1756 by Johann Cristoph Riedel, the Riedel name is today synonymous with high-quality glassware; loved by the trade and consumers alike. With an impressive track-record of product innovation and savvy marketing, Riedel's market breakthrough arguably came in 1979, when the firm opened a subsidiary in the US. Having collaborated with such iconic winemakers as Robert Mondavi, Angelo Gaja, and more recently soft drinks manufacturer Coca-Cola, Riedel is clearly not an old-world wine snob. The brand is coming to London's Vinopolis this month, to showcase the new Veritas glassware range. James Lawrence asks Georg Riedel what we can expect:

Jon Chadwick on moving from the NHS to setting up his own craft spirits distillery

Former National Health Service chief Jon Chadwick has gone from advising people to drink less to setting up County Durham's first distillery. He tells Jennifer Ashcroft where the idea came from, what it means to be a "craft" gin distillery and how he's capturing Durham in a bottle.

Halewood International is always on the look out for the next "Crabbie's" says Richard Clark

Richard Clark, director of innovation at Halewood International, says the company is always on the lookout for the next Crabbie's, as it looks to drive innovation across all the drinks categories in its portfolio.

Diana Hunter, Conviviality CEO, on the new BB's Warehouse concept

Diana Hunter is chief executive of Conviviality Retail, owner of the Bargain Booze network. Last week the firm announced the launch of a new concept - BB's Warehouse - a destination discount off-licence warehouse. Gemma McKenna finds out more.

Evuna looks to build on success of second Manchester Spanish wine bar concept

It's taken over a decade for Manchester's tapas and Spanish wine institution Evuna to get round to opening its second site, but now it has its sights set on opening more.

Jayke Mangion on the story behind setting up a restaurant in an old Clapham public toilet

Andrew Weeber Gusbourne looks back at ten years of growth at his English winery

Andrew Weeber Gusbourne, chairman of Gusbourne plc, talks to Anne Krebiehl at the celebration of the estate's tenth anniversary. He remembers the past decade and looks ahead, always with his motto in mind: "There's always room at the top." Congratulations and happy 10^th birthday, Gusbourne!

Croatian billionaire Ernest Tolj shares his winemaking adventure

Croatian electrical cabling billionaire Ernest Tolj owns Saints Hills winery in Dalmatia. He tells us about Croation wine, the country's history, the potential for the wine industry and working with Michel Rolland. 

John Williams at Frog's Leap on the changing face of Californian winemaking

Reflecting on the recent period of uncertainty for this year's vintage in Napa Valley as a result of drought conditions in California, Katherine Canfield catches up with Frog's Leap winemaker, John Williams, in Rutherford to discuss how approaches to winemaking in the region are changing.

Frédérique Dutheillet de Lamothe on why Cru Bourgeois is a wine brand in its own right

The French Appellation Contrôlée system is famously based on guaranteeing the geographical origin of a wine, rather than focusing on the quality of what is actually in the bottle - something that causes a headache for those who are trying to sell French wine and the consumers who wonder what the difference is between a bottle of Bordeaux at £4 and one at £24.