UK wine buyers more cautious to try new ideas than in Europe says Origin's Bernard Fontannaz

It is easier to convince retail buyers in Europe to take on new wine ideas and designs than it is in the UK, according to Bernard Fontannaz, founder of Origin Wines.

Alain Ducasse sommelier wins first Wines of Portugal Wine Quest competition

Dorian Guillon, assistant head sommelier at Alain Ducasse at The Dorchester, has won the inaugural Wines of Portugal Wine Quest 2014 competition set up to help spread the word about Portuguese wine amongst UK's leading sommeliers.

Britain continues to drink through the World Cup despite England's exit

England may have crashed out of the World Cup but the nation is continuing to drink through it, according to the latest figures released by the Wilson Drinks Report.

Keep those dreams alive with Harpers World Cup Memories

England may be out of the World Cup but there is still plenty to enjoy from the 2014 Brazil World Cup. Here we start a new series of World Cup Memories where we ask people across the trade to share their best memories from World Cups down the line. If you would like to take part then simply email richard.siddle@wrbm.com with your answers to the questions below.

Glenfiddich rolls out £2m global ad campaign to push its family roots

Glenfiddich is to spend £2 million on a new global advertising campaign focused on celebrating and promoting its 126 years of family-owned independence.

BrewDog launches World Cup publicity stunt with Vote Sepp beer

Another day, another BrewDog publicity stunt, but its idea to launch a Vote Sepp beer in honour of FIFA's president, Sepp Blatter, in a typically cheeky move to get the 2022 World Cup switched from controversial Qatar to a safe bet Scotland, is bound to result in even more headlines - including this one - for the maverick Scottish brewer.

Valentino Monticello, sommelier and acclaimed artist, has died

Penfolds to push back Bin, Icon and Luxury wines to one combined release in October

Premium bottled ale is set to be a £1bn category by 2020 as demand rises

 The premium bottled ale category is on course to be worth £1 billion by 2020 if current trends and interest in craft beers and premium ales continues, according to leading brewer Marston's.

Felix Solis claims it can be "category captain" for Spain for multiple retailers

Felix Solis is in the position to act as "category captain" for Spain for any of the major UK retailers, according to Félix Solís Ramos, the group's export and marketing manager. 

Isabelle Legeron MW publishes comprehensive guide to natural wine

Isabelle Legeron MW has produced a comprehensive guide to natural wine bringing together not only a detailed examination of what natural wine is, but a country by country, producer by producer guide to the wines and styles that newcomers and enthusiasts should be looking to drink.

Wines Direct offers insights as well as new customers for major online wine players

Specialist online aggregator site, Wines Direct, is now able to give its users the chance to pick out the most popular wines by price, style, country or brand from the UK's leading multiple wine retail sites based on the behavior of its 130,000 unique users a month.

Last chance to play in the Harpers World Cup Predictions game

Today's your last chance to stare in to that Brazilian crystal ball and take part in the Harpers World Cup Predictathonand win a whole load of wine along the way. Which is a lot more than the England football team will be winning this summer.

Brewd.com hopes to attract craft beer fans to new social network and beers' sales site

Brewd.com is a new specialist website which hopes to not only promote and sell beers from the best British microbreweries, but also act as a social network for those interested in the new trend for craft beers.

Symingtons release "personal" tribute to AJ Symington with Graham's Ne Oublie 1882

Port family, the Symingtons, has released a special Port - Ne Oublie - that dates back to 1882 and the days when Andrew AJ Symington, aged 18, first went to the Douro Valley to work at Graham's.

Matthieu Longuere comes out top in Wine Australia's Tasting Blind Club

Master Sommelier, Matthieu Longuere, has been announced as the 2014 winner of Wine Australia's Tasting Blind Club.

Your chance to win the World Cup 2014 with Harpers' predictions game

So who has caught your eye in the World Cup? Robben, Muller, Sterling, Pirlo? After wathcing the first round of games across all groups, who do you think has the best chance of winning?
Well why not have a go at our Harpers World Cup Predictathon and show your peers in the trade how much you really know about the beautiful game.

Italian Franciacorta and Brunello producers link up for first UK specialist tastings

The UK wine trade will get the chance to discover some of the premium wines available from two key Italian wine styles  - Franciacorta and Brundello - at special  masterclass tastings taking place in July.

London Wine Week attracts over 7,000 people to 100 events across the capital

Over 7,000 people took part in the first London Wine Week earlier this month which included a series of specialist tastings, including Robert Parker's first UK appearance in 25 years, and events across the capital.

Franciacorta producers look to include old Italian indigenous variety to production process

Producers of Franciacorta, the premium Italian sparkling wine, may soon have to make it with an old indigenous grape variety if changes to the production process are approved.