Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Neumann joins Fells

Published: 05 July, 2021

Stefan Neumann MS has joined John E Fells in the role of wine consultant, to work alongside the London and regional wine teams.

Accolade acquires Lambrini

Published: 24 June, 2021

Accolade Wines has acquired Lambrini, the nation’s leading brand of Perry, Harpers can exclusively reveal.

Graft expands sales team as it returns to London

Published: 24 June, 2021

The Graft Wine Company has appointed two new sales people, while also reopening a London office.

Long Read: Pushing quality South America

Published: 17 June, 2021

Condor Wines marked its 10th anniversary this June with its South American Discovery Sessions, looking at how far the wines had come in a decade and what the next 10 years might hold for Latin America’s collective vinous offering.

Journey’s End Foundation reaches milestone of 500,000 charitable meals

Published: 10 June, 2021

Stellenbosch based winery Journey’s End has surpassed the remarkable milestone of providing 500,000 free meals to their local community with the aim of serving up one million meals by the end of 2021.

Canada’s Cool Climate Sensibility

Published: 03 June, 2021

Harpers’ recent Canadian-flavoured webinar looked at the emerging regions and styles from this exciting country as it emerges onto the global wine scene, as Andrew Catchpole reports.

Five minutes with Kit Ellen, Exton Park

Published: 31 May, 2021

Kit Ellen, MD at Hampshire’s Exton Park, distributed in the UK by Bancroft Wines, talks to Jo Gilbert about the winery’s intriguing shift in focus to ‘reserve blends’, a new standard-bearer for the wines based on its 10-year library of reserves.

Innovation Report: Building strength in numbers

Published: 25 May, 2021

Our Collaboration as a Force for Change webinar looked at how the rapid channel innovation of the past year has broken down barriers for trade. Jo Gilbert reports from the session.

Drinks suppliers ‘pulling out all stops’ as on-trade orders surge

Published: 14 May, 2021

UK on-trade drinks suppliers are cautiously optimistic that the surge in demand at venues able to offer outdoor service will continue as indoor trading returns.

First CBD-infused wines out of South America land in UK

Published: 06 May, 2021

New CBD-infused wines from South America are to make their debut in the UK this month, adding the first Latin American flavour to this nascent category.

Castelnau elevates Carine Bailleul to chef de cave role

Published: 06 May, 2021

Champagne Castelnau has announced that Carine Bailleul has become its new chef de caves, succeeding Elisabeth Sarcelet.

Draycott to take helm at Gonzalez Byass UK

Published: 26 April, 2021

Melissa Draycott has been appointed MD of González Byass UK, effective from 1 September 2021, taking over the roll from Martin Skelton.

Pent up demand delivers bigger post-lockdown bounce than 2020

Published: 21 April, 2021

Pubs, bars and restaurants able to operate outdoor space have seen a significant wave of customers returning, according to new data from CGA.

Indie supply disruptor Propeller ramps up distribution with SA’s Ross Sleet

Published: 15 April, 2021

Indies distribution incubator Propeller has teamed up exclusively with the Ross Sleet founded South African négociant Rascallion as it grows its model-defying footprint in the UK market.

Perfect match for Jascots

Published: 06 April, 2021

When the pandemic overwhelmed long-standing merchant Jascots, Freixenet Copestick spotted an opportunity to create the ideal symbiotic relationship. Lisa Riley reports.

Shot in the arm for Germany

Published: 25 March, 2021

In a boost for German winemakers on the global stage, UNESCO has included ‘Wine Culture in Germany’ in its latest national register of intangible national heritage.

Five minutes with Jaime Wynne-Griffiths

Published: 18 March, 2021

When Jamie Wynne-Griffiths, founder and MD, Propeller and Wild Ferment, sought to pivot lost business to connect the producers he represented with the indies, Propeller was born, facilitating direct supply in partnership with EWGA bond.

Long Read: English Pinot Noir comes of age

Published: 18 February, 2021

Pinot Noir has long had a place in UK winemaking, as part of the classic Champagne varieties and, to a lesser extent, still variants often from select vineyards or small parcels. Now, with an increasingly changing climate helping to ripen and tease out those darker fruits, it could be poised to strike out on its own, as Jacopo Mazzeo surmises.

‘Nouvelle generation’ to drive Beaujolais export potential

Published: 10 December, 2020

With good recent vintages to its name and wines that sit squarely with the modern trend towards fresher, lighter styles, Beaujolais certainly appears to be well placed to capture the attention of a new generation of drinkers. Add in ‘ownership’ of Gamay, a distinctive and easy-to-like variety, and the region also offers a sense of discovery (or re-discovery for older drinkers) in a world awash with international grapes.