I’m being asked about pisco a lot at the moment, and the question is almost always some version of: “what’s going on?” Demand is up, producers from Peru and Chile are putting real money behind UK pushes, and suddenly a spirit that’s quietly sat on cocktail menus for decades is being talked about like the latest hot, new tipple.
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Importer Fells has announced the addition of two leading Italian wineries to its portfolio – Bolgheri’s Grattamacco and Brunello di Montalcino producer Poggio di Sotto.
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The leading tasting event for independent drinks suppliers, SITT – which is due to return this Spring – has revealed the topics for two of its masterclasses.
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The Spring iteration of the Specialist Importers Trade Tasting (SITT) 2026 is set to take place on Monday 23 February at etc.venues, Manchester and Wednesday 25 February at Lindley Hall, London.
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Harpers invited some of the bigger producers and importers of Spanish wine to comment on what they are focused on in terms of both sales and marketing and where they see any openings or challenges for Spanish wine in the UK. Many said that Spain is a region with a strong position and a lot of potential, which presents both opportunities and difficulties for those in Spanish wine – one of the most-emphasised points was the necessity of consumer education, as a lack of knowledge may be holding Spain back.
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Despite the British penchant for a celebratory glass of bubbly, Champagne has not escaped difficulties wrought by an array of industry headwinds. The revered style has seen total yearly shipments fall 9.4% in 2024, compared to 2023, according to CIVC, a continuation of a downward trend seen since the Covid highs of 2021.
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Importers face a fine balancing act heading into 2025, continuing to present a diverse, well-priced portfolio offer while being beset by the cost shocks of duty rises, EPR and National Insurance rises, to name just a few. For specialist importers of South American wine navigating this puzzle can feel notably headache-inducing, particularly because naturally high-abv wines such as Argentinian Malbecs will be harder hit by duty changes. This is a challenge as these wines’ very taste and style can rely upon this higher alcohol content.
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It’s a bleak early February morning and Tim Atkin’s annual Best of Rioja trade tasting is packed. Visitors are keen to see what’s new in Spain’s best-known and maybe most-changed wine region, with different styles and white wines showing alongside the traditional oak-aged ones that made this region famous. With the DO celebrating its centenary, Rioja Wine UK has unveiled plans for a big consumer event this summer.
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Canned Wine Group chief commercial officer Ben Franks says the trade should be leveraging its buying power to bring about a sustainable future
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At this year’s SITT London, there was a great sense of importers continuing to push the envelope, showing that despite the headwinds thrown at it, the trade can adapt, and confidently. The same impression was derived from Boutinot’s independents portfolio tasting, where collaboration showed itself to be as important as ever.
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Austria’s flagship grape variety is a sommelier favourite, and rightly so, with plenty to offer restaurant wine lists in terms of its broad range of styles and notable food friendliness. While it might not be quite the heyday for Grüner Veltliner in the UK on-trade that it once was, it’s a grape well worth exploring, particularly as it continues to evolve stylistically.
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Liberty Wines has announced new additions to its Spanish portfolio by becoming the exclusive UK distributor for Casa Castillo from Jumilla and Celler del Roure from Valencia.
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With only a few months remaining before the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) scheme begins, UK businesses are calling on the government to delay its rollout, citing confusion, unpreparedness and unclear costs. In a joint letter to Defra, over 80 companies have urged postponing the scheme until there is more clarity on its operation and expenses.
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Jo Gilbert quizzes UK importers on the burning questions surrounding Chile and Argentina.
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A group of 12 female-led wine importers have come together to form a collaborative group dedicated to ‘excellence and inclusivity and innovation’ in the wine industry.
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What is VinoVirtual and how does it differ from ‘run-of-the-mill’ trade shows?
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Scotland-based distributor Wine Importers, part of the Murray Capital Group, has announced key changes to its top team, anticipating “growing demand as the economy fully reopens”.
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The Specialist Importers Trade Tasting (SITT) returns to London and Manchester in physical form on 20 and 22 September respectively, in what promises to be the finest edition to date.
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Characterful and alluringly individual, Italy’s southern wines are on the rise, gaining more recognition for the blend of quality and value they can deliver. With all of this plugging into current consumer drinking trends, Andrew Catchpole surveyed a handful of Italophile importers and retailers to discover if the south’s time has arrived.
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Independent buyers across the on- and off-trade have got just one day left to wait for the Specialist Importers Trade Tastings (SITT) virtual event.
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