Jason Wilson joins the white wine appreciation society

It's easy enough for wine geeks to roll their eyes or poke fun at the Summer of Riesling, the popular annual campaign/movement here in the US that's just ended - and will finally be retired - after a seven-summer run.

Ports, sherries and fortifieds get ready for Christmas

The tapas craze helped boost sherry sales temporarily but the category is now in decline, and Port is still struggling to shake its fusty and festive image. Gemma McKenna and Erin Smith look at how fortified wines can carve a niche

Tim Atkin on why modern winemaking is a breath of fresh air

"To thine own self be true." Polonius' advice to his son Laertes in Hamlet is arguably easier to give than to follow. Most of us make regular compromises in our personal and professional lives. We don't lie to ourselves exactly, but we fall short of the absolute standards to which we aspire.

Lidl part 2: Best value at all costs

When it comes to driving best value at a lower cost there is a lot to learn from the Lidl buying philosophy, says Angela Mount

Lidl: what makes it so successful?

The new "Lidl Surprises" tagline is the latest UK brand-positioning success story from the hard discounter. Gemma McKenna looks at how its buying strategies are now expanding its wine offer

France study tour: Les Grands Chais de France

French wine is the lifeblood of a good independent business. But as the five top merchants who joined Harpers on a recent tour with Les Grands Chais de France discovered, there is still much to learn, even for the most experienced retailer. Richard Siddle reports

How Berlin Tastings Series put Chilean wine on the map

Eduardo Chadwick's pioneering Berlin Series Tastings have helped change global perception of Chilean wine in their 10-year run. Andrew Catchpole, who was at the seminal first event, assesses their impact

How Oddbins has defied its critics to bounce back to winning ways

In three years Oddbins has risen from death's door to win IWC High Street Retailer of the Year. Gemma McKenna meets Ayo Akintola, its Renaissance Man

Distell's Richard Rushton earns his stripes

In his first major UK interview, Distell's Richard Rushton reveals his big plans for the company's wine division, as Erin Smith reports

How Chile can use its mainstream appeal to grow share of premium wines

Gemma McKenna reports on why Chilean winemakers are shifting focus to a more premium offering

Argentina bucks economic difficulties to compete on international stage

Despite the domestic economic challenges Argentinian producers are facing, UK consumers still can't get enough of their wines. Ahead of the Wines of the Beautiful South tasting Erin Smith analyses the category

Big interview: Pierre Levron on why Costco takes wines and spirits so seriously

Costco likes to pile it high, so if you secure a listing there you can expect to see sales take off overnight. Pierre Levron explains to Andrew Don why the wholesaler takes beers, wines and spirits so seriously

For future growth Carlsberg must succeed in wine as well as beer, says James Lousada

As Carlsberg's specialist wine and spirits division, now called Crown Cellars, celebrates over 20 years, the brewer's UK chief executive, James Lousada, explains to Richard Siddle why wines and spirits are now so important to the group

Halewood International is always on the look out for the next "Crabbie's" says Richard Clark

Richard Clark, director of innovation at Halewood International, says the company is always on the lookout for the next Crabbie's, as it looks to drive innovation across all the drinks categories in its portfolio.

The art of craft gin distilling with Tom Warner and Sion Edwards

After meeting at agricultural college, Tom Warner and Sion Edwards started on separate paths in the fresh-food industry. But they soon came back together to set up their own boutique gin distillery in the Northamptonshire village of Harrington, which provides the sub-brand name of their flagship Warner Edwards gin. This is craft distilling in action, as Warner and Edwards distil, fill, number, label and wax seal every bottle by hand. Nigel Huddleston asks the questions

Susana Balbo: Argentina's queen of winemaking

Susana Balbo is one of the best-known winemakers in Argentina, as well as its first female oenologist. She is also the only woman to have held the position of president of Wines of Argentina - she has just been appointed for a third time. Her family winery - Dominio del Plata in Agrelo, Mendoza - exports worldwide, and includes the Gaucho chain of restaurants as one of its key UK customers. Helen Arnold meets her

Andrew Bewes on Hallgarten Druitt's insights and sales driven strategy

Hallgarten Druitt is one of the biggest and most important wine suppliers in the country. Yet, as managing director Andrew Bewes admits, there is much about the company that the trade is yet to discover. Richard Siddle digs deeper to find out

How to choose the right logistics partner to suit your business

Simon Jack looks at the critical steps businesses should take when choosing the right logistics partner

Tesco's Laura Jewell MW on what she wants from wine suppliers

In the first of a series of buyer-to-buyer interviews, Angela Mount talks to Laura Jewell MW about her role as Tesco's wine category product development manager and what she is looking for from her suppliers

Waste-management regulations: Is your business the right side of the law?

Failing to adhere to the UK's strict regulations on waste management has cost many companies dearly. Dan Wellington asks how businesses can stay ahead of the game