Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Early Rhône Valley harvest looks promising despite drought

Published: 26 August, 2022

France’s second-largest appellation, Rhône Valley AOC, began its 2022 harvest on Monday, 22 August, eight days earlier than last year.

Alliance and Jeroboams join Harpers Sustainability Charter

Published: 24 August, 2022

Alliance and Jeroboams are the latest signatories to be added to the Harpers Sustainability Charter.

Climate Change could make UK leading red wine producer

Published: 17 August, 2022

The average growing season temperature (typically between April-October) in UK wine regions is currently estimated to be 14°C – an increase of 1°C since 1981.

Familia Torres will supply 50% of its own energy at its Pacs del Penedès winery by 2023

Published: 04 August, 2022

The forward-thinking Spanish winery, Familia Torres, aims to supply 50% of the energy at its Pacs del Penedès facility by early 2023.

Alternative formats: Is the tide finally turning on glass?

Published: 25 July, 2022

“The heart of the issue is simple – the manufacturing and recycling of glass bottles is by far the largest contributor to wine’s carbon footprint, and if we don’t use alternative formats wherever possible, we won’t make the deep and meaningful cuts required across all sectors.”

Friday read: Why bulk is the hot ticket in the face of climate change

Published: 15 July, 2022

In a rapidly warming world the wine industry needs to modernise and that means embracing bulk, argues Richard Lloyd, general manager at The Park, Europe’s largest wine packaging facility.

Herdade dos Grous joins IWCA

Published: 13 July, 2022

Herdade dos Grous has joined the International Wineries for Climate Action (IWCA), committing to reduce Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions annually and achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.

Harpers Sustainability Charter hits 30 signatories ahead of Earth Day

Published: 22 April, 2022

Running with the strapline ‘Invest in Our Planet’, 22 April’s annual Earth Day provides an apt backdrop to announce that Harpers recently launched Sustainability Charter has hit a 30-signatory milestone.

How climate change will impact England's vineyards

Published: 24 February, 2022

In the wine world, we can see the consequences of global warming very clearly – from overly ripe grapes to destroyed harvests – vineyards all over the world are experiencing disruption.

Sign up to our new campaign

Published: 04 February, 2022

Welcome to the unveiling of our Sustainability Charter, which forms the central pillar of an exciting new Harpers campaign. With sustainability rising back to the top of the world’s collective agenda, this initiative is designed to further galvanise the drinks trade and assist it in moving towards ever more pressing sustainable goals.

Barcelona Wine Week to lead on sustainability, oenotourism and innovation

Published: 03 February, 2022

The organiser's of the second edition of Barcelona Wine Week (BWW) have unveiled an eclectic programme of events, including masterclasses and presentations led by renowned personalities in the world of wine.

A climate Rubicon

Published: 28 January, 2022

Late frost wreaked havoc in the Loire, the ‘Garden of France’, in 2021. Jo Gilbert looks at how the region is looking to mitigate growing climate issues while keeping up momentum for its plethora of popular styles.

Australia facing the heat

Published: 25 January, 2022

With much of its current viticultural activity already adjusting to a changing climate, Australia’s wine industry is fast progressing with its sustainability programmes.

Climate change and wine: An incurable situation?

Published: 19 November, 2021

There is no vaccine for the climate crisis, the OIV said last week as it put “extremely low” global production estimates for 2021 squarely at the door of climate change, as Jo Gilbert reports.

Nowhere to hide

Published: 17 November, 2021

Wine and spirits are, at their heart, agricultural products, albeit given the somewhat magical twist of fermentation or distillation. Which means that any adverse affect from climate change can and will filter through to the final product, literally under the consumer’s nose, rather than just remaining a more peripheral concern in the wider world. Producers of wine especially are increasingly aware of what was described as an “existential threat” to their livelihoods, as outlined at a recent International Wineries for Climate Action (IWCA) seminar in London.

The Wine Society pledges to hit net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2040

Published: 08 November, 2021

The Wine Society is undertaking an ambitious project to achieve net zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions across its business and supply chain by 2040 as part of its mission to be the most ethical and responsible wine retailer in the world.

Long read: Organic wine, climate crisis and what it means for brand identity

Published: 04 November, 2021

With COP26 pressing the urgency for action on climate crisis, Denomination’s CEO Rowena Curlewis stresses the need for producers to build change into their business strategies and examines what this means for packaging and identity.

UK food & drink businesses ‘behind’ on climate change targets, says WRAP research

Published: 01 November, 2021

Just under two-thirds (63%) of UK consumers want businesses to take immediate action to tackle climate change, a new national survey commissioned by sustainability charity WRAP has showed.

Jerry Lockspeiser: Can we trade our way out of this mess?

Published: 28 October, 2021

Sitting in reception at one of the UK’s biggest supermarkets waiting for the wine buyer to appear for our appointment, I flicked through my newspaper. When he arrived, I hurriedly stuffed the paper into my briefcase, but not before the buyer had caught sight of it. “Ah, you are one of those are you?” he said, having identified my copy of The Guardian.

Long Read: Floods in the Ahr valley – A tale of destruction and solidarity

Published: 22 July, 2021

Large areas of Western Germany were flooded last week and are dealing with an unprecedented level of destruction and loss. The overall sense of bafflement and being overwhelmed has prompted an international movement of solidarity, namely within the wine community, eager to help fellow winemakers many of whom have lost all their cellared stock, equipment, homes and wineries. Whether the foundations of the latter are still sound is yet to be determined; as is, in most cases, whether insurances will cover the damage caused by this unexpected natural disaster.