Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Matua introduces new Legends range to its New Zealand wine portfolio

Published: 31 March, 2014

New Zealand winery, Matua, is introducing a new premium range of wines in to its key UK and European markets called Matua Lands & Legends.

Wines of Brazil hopes official World Cup wine will help boost its wines sales in the UK

Published: 28 March, 2014

Wines of Brazil hopes the release of a new limited edition official licensed wine for the FIFA World Cup will bring added attention to all the country's wines in the UK and all its key export markets around the world.

Drinkaware's Derek Lewis to head up Community Alcohol Partnerships scheme

Published: 28 March, 2014

Derek Lewis, the former head of Drinkaware, has been appointed chair of the Community Alcohol Partnerships (CAP)scheme as it hopes to ramp up its impact in troubled drinking areas of the UK.

Jancis Robinson and Justin Howard-Sneyd part of speaker line-up at UK's first cool climate event

Published: 28 March, 2014

Leading UK wine trade figures, Jancis Robinson MW and Justin Howard-Sneyd, are two of the speakers that have been announced for the International Cool Climate Wine Symposium which takes place in the UK for the first time between May 26 and May 28, 2016.

Call My Wine Bluff hopes to top £1m in money raised at May 8 event

Published: 27 March, 2014

Call My Wine Bluff, founded by UK wine trade consultant Jerry Lockspeiser, hopes to again raise much needed money for AcionAid when it takes place on May 8 in London's Gibson Hall.

Les Grands Chais de France to launch wine based and sparkling wine over ice brands to the UK

Published: 26 March, 2014

French wine giant, Les Grands Chais de France, is looking to release a number of wine-based drinks, including a Merlot mixed with cola, as it looks to capitalise on the growing interest in fruit based and innovative sparkling wine products both in France and overseas.

I Heart Wine close to hitting 1 million case sales around the world

Published: 26 March, 2014

Copestick Murray's I Heart brand is closing to hitting 1 million 9 litre case sales around the world.

Prosecco cocktails could be next big UK drinking trend, says Robin Copestick

Published: 25 March, 2014

Prosecco cocktails which have become popular across Italy and Germany could be the next big drinking trend in the UK, according to Robin Copestick of wine agency, Copestick Murray.

Treasury Wine Estates looks to double the size of its travel retail business

Published: 24 March, 2014

Treasury Wine Estates wants to double the size of it travel retail business within five years as it steps its distribution with exclusive and premium wines to airports, cruise ships, ferries and other key travel wine sectors.

UK to host 2016 International Cool Climate Wine Symposium

Published: 24 March, 2014

The official launch of the 2016 International Cool Climate Wine Symposium is set to place today at ProWein in Dusseldorf where details of the event, to be hosted in the UK for the first time, will be revealed.

Hardys to be official wine sponsor of English cricket team

Published: 21 March, 2014

Australian wine brand, Hardys, is to be the official wine of the English cricket team having signed a three-year sponsorship deal with the England Cricket Board.

Majestic's shares fall 20% on back of profits warning for financial year

Published: 21 March, 2014

Majestic Wine's shares have fallen by as much as 20% over the last two days after it issued a profit warning saying its overall profit before tax would be flat for the financial year.

Changes to packaging waste recycling costs could save wine and spirit sector £38m

Published: 21 March, 2014

The wine and spirits industry has welcomed news that the government intends to lower the costs involved in recycling packaging waste, following a huge increase in glass recycling costs, which could save the sector up to £38 million.

UK wine industry is not on same footing as beer, cider and whisky, says Wilson Drinks Report

Published: 21 March, 2014

The UK wine industry is unlikely to receive the same kind of duty cuts awarded to the beer, cider and Scotch whisky industries in this week's Budget as most of the wine drunk in this country is imported.

Les Grand Chais de France backs independents by signing up to Best Practice Guidelines

Published: 21 March, 2014

French wine producer, Les Grand Chais de France, is the biggest wine name to show its commitment to the independent merchant sector by signing up to the Harpers Best Practice Guidelines that oversee how producers and suppliers are working in the independent sector.

Spar launches its fifth annual nationwide wine festival

Published: 20 March, 2014

Spar is to run its annual Wine Festival between March 20 and May 7 which will look to showcase its range of award-winning wines that start from just £4.

New members elected to Gran Orden de Caballeros for services to Spanish wine industry

Published: 19 March, 2014

María José López de Heredia and José Velo Rego are the latest figures to be inaugurated in to the Gran Orden de Caballeros for their services to the Spanish wine industry.

Scrapping duty escalator could be bad news for suppliers warns Robin Copestick

Published: 19 March, 2014

Robin Copestick, co-founder of UK wine agency Copestick Murray, has sounded a warning shot about the Chancellor's decision to scrap the duty escalator in today's Budget and fears suppliers will be forced to take on the costs of inflationary duty increases rather than the higher costs under the escalator that were easier to pass on to consumers.

California now making the "white space" wines people want to buy says Joel Peterson

Published: 18 March, 2014

California is now making and exporting what leading US winemaker, Joel Peterson of Ravenswood Wines, calls "white space" wines that are increasingly popular both in America in its key export markets.

The week ahead: Budget and tastings dominate the agenda

Published: 17 March, 2014

The wine and spirits trade faces one of its most eventful weeks of the year as it counts down to Wednesday's Budget with a series of major generic tastings.