Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

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.

The Wine Society creates new sustainability post

Published: 21 January, 2022

Leading online retailer The Wine Society has appointed Dom de Ville as its inaugural 'director of sustainability and social impact', adding a new strand to the organisation's executive team.

Packaging’s conflicting objectives

Published: 14 January, 2022

After 18 months of escalating online demand and consumers being immersed in “online shopping training”, the packaging industry is being tasked with satisfying supercharged convenience, sustainability and luxury trends, which , finds Jo Gilbert, is quite the challenge.

Bordeaux Symposium: Time to put people at head of sustainability agenda

Published: 10 December, 2021

Bordeaux is expanding and re-drawing its definition of sustainability via a new strategy which aims to put people – and ecosystems in which people want to work – at the heart of its environmental agenda for 2022.

Indies: Sustainable steps

Published: 10 December, 2021

With sustainability roaring back to the top of the agenda, Harpers surveyed the indie sector to discover what demonstrable initiatives, innovations and actions leading merchants have implemented on their green journey.

Kingsland’s Thirsty Earth aims for a “better drinks industry”

Published: 09 December, 2021

In a bid to create a “better society and drinks industry”, Kingsland Drinks has announced its Thirsty Earth sustainability initiative – a new, in-depth programme which includes a long-term project linked to the UN’s sustainable development goals.

Chilean multinational furthers sustainability drive

Published: 25 November, 2021

One of South America's largest wine producers has introduced a new set of sustainability requirements, including stringent rules pertaining to bottling and packaging.

Sustaining Spain

Published: 09 November, 2021

As world leaders in sustainable and organic practices, Spanish winemakers are also discovering the benefits in the bottle, as Andrew Catchpole reports.

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.

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.

UKHospitality invites industry to showcase sustainability at COP 26

Published: 19 October, 2021

Trade association UKHospitality (UKH) is inviting operators and industry representatives to attend an industry event at COP26 next month.

Long Read: Will vogue for organic grow beyond pandemic?

Published: 07 October, 2021

The organic market, along with its wine and beer subdivision, swelled during the past year, but whether this was a spur-of-the-moment spike driven merely by the pandemic remains to be seen. Callum Saunders, planning director at Zeal Creative, dives into the UK trend to explore whether organic wine and beer is set to be a staple in the drinks sector.

Feudi di San Gregorio obtains Equalitas Corporate certification

Published: 05 October, 2021

Feudi di San Gregorio, one of southern Italy’s major wine companies, has obtained Equalitas Corporate certification for the year 2021.

Prosecco Superiore reports ‘excellent quality’ harvest

Published: 05 October, 2021

Producers in the Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCG in Veneto are reporting an excellent quality 2021 harvest.

Laithwaites commits to net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2035

Published: 20 September, 2021

Laithwaites has committed to net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2035, with the shorter-term goal of halving its carbon footprint by 2030.

Scotch Whisky Association receives UN recognition for sustainability commitments

Published: 20 September, 2021

The Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) has become the UK’s first food and drink trade association to be recognised as a Race to Zero partner.

Masi wraps organic range in sustainable style

Published: 09 September, 2021

Italian wine producer Masi Estates has launched a new range of organic wines in 100% sustainable packaging to meet growing consumer concern over sustainability.

Robert Parker unveils ‘green’ search filters and emblem

Published: 01 July, 2021

Robert Parker Wine Advocate has unveiled two new search filter capabilities on its website that allow users to search for wines that are certified organic and/or certified biodynamic.

TWE trials robotic help to optimise yield prediction

Published: 14 June, 2021

Treasury Wine Estates (TWE) is embracing robotic help in a bid to optimise yield prediction in wine grapes, and to improve autonomous crop spraying with the use of robots, as part of a three-way trial.

Enjoying the great outdoors

Published: 26 May, 2021

With some restrictions easing but others still in place, drinks companies are capitalising on practical solutions to outdoor drinking, as Lisa Riley reports.