Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Champagne: Gold blends

Published: 15 October, 2024

The art of assemblage is being mined for new opportunities by Champagne houses looking to premiumise in a tough trading environment. Jo Gilbert reports.

Catena Institute joins SWR Bottle Weight Accord

Published: 11 October, 2024

The Catena Institute of Wine has officially joined the SWR Bottle Weight Accord, reaffirming its sustainability commitment as a founding member of the Sustainable Wine Roundtable (SWR). The institute’s efforts include light-weighting bottles and tackling the misconception that heavier bottles signify higher quality.

Plumpton College Queen’s Anniversary Prize

Published: 17 November, 2023

Plumpton College has been awarded the highest National Honour in education, a Queen’s Anniversary Prize for its work in wine education and wider impact on the English and Welsh wine sector.

New Zealand supplies back in full flow at autumn tasting

Published: 15 November, 2023

New Zealand touched down via the country’s autumn tasting in London yesterday (14 November), where winemakers were celebrating a bumper harvest in 2023 and the knock-on effect, which has provided a boost to the world’s wine supply at a time when the global crush is at an all-time low.

Global wine production lowest in 62 years

Published: 08 November, 2023

Extreme weather around the world is believed to have sent global production plunging to its lowest level since 1961, while France becomes the world's biggest wine producer, new figures suggest.

New limits on Etna to control invasive investment

Published: 02 December, 2022

New moves to limit Etna DOC (PDO) wine production volumes have been designed to maintain and control average grape prices, as a way of preserving the Sicilian mountain’s wine economy, its environment and viticultural heritage, the Etna DOC wine board has said.

Global wine exports reach record high

Published: 03 May, 2022

This year 2021 saw a partial recovery of global consumption after the doldrums of 2020, the OIV said in its latest update. However, 2022’s outlook is looking increasingly uncertain due to the turbulence posed by the global supply chain crisis, the war in Ukraine and mounting energy prices.

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.

South America: Strength in adversity

Published: 29 March, 2021

Despite the difficulties of 2020, the pandemic has accelerated ideas within the South American – and indeed global – wine trade that might have otherwise taken years to get off the ground. Chris Wilson reports

Chapel Down says “very well placed” to weather the crisis but temporarily stops beer production

Published: 01 April, 2020

Chapel Down has said it believes it is “very well placed to weather the crisis and thrive in the aftermath”, but has temporarily closed its beer and cider arm, Curious Brewery.

Nyetimber and Plumpton join forces to develop winemakers of the future

Published: 09 March, 2020

Nyetimber is looking to help develop the next generation of wine industry leaders via a new placement scheme in conjunction with Plumpton College’s wine division.

Global wine production back to average after bumper 2018

Published: 01 November, 2019

Global wine production dipped 10% this year driven by key European producers France, Italy and Spain, according to the International Organisation of Vine and Wine (OIV).

Global wine output reaches near record high of 2004

Published: 12 April, 2019

World wine production reached a near record high in 2018 in a clear departure from the historically low production of the previous year, but consumption stabilised, according to the International Organisation of Vine and Wine (OIV).

Climate change: The greatest threat to humanity

Published: 06 November, 2017

Extreme weather has wreaked havoc on the winemaking world this year. Jo Gilbert traces these events back to the effects of climate change and the global impact of an increasingly CO2-laden planet