Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Bottle weight update to Hallgarten Eco Standard

Published: 06 June, 2025

Hallgarten & Novum Wines has updated its sustainability guide to include analysis of bottle weight and use of recycled materials in wine bottles.

EWGA slashes emissions with HVO fuel switch

Published: 05 June, 2025

Lancashire wine importer and wholesaler EWGA Wines has announced it is switching its entire fleet of vans from diesel to hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) fuel.

UK launch of new Georgian wine collection

Published: 04 June, 2025

Georgian winery Tbilvino has launched its new premium wine collection in the UK through Berkmann Wine Cellars.

Hallgarten expands Champagne portfolio

Published: 30 May, 2025

Champagne Abelé 1757, the fifth-oldest Champagne house, has signed an exclusive import agreement with Hallgarten & Novum Wines.

Profile: Thorman Hunt’s Simon Thorpe MW

Published: 13 May, 2025

Being selfish, please don’t tell the world how good TH are!” As pleas of the ‘don’t spoil the party for those in the know’ go, this comment, from a London-based wine consultant, stands as pretty flattering, whichever way you slice it. And it certainly seems to fit with the image of Thorman Hunt out in the wider trade; namely that this team of self-described ‘wine shippers’ quietly gets on with doing what it does well – shifting great wines without fanfare or fuss. And, as anyone who has attended its tastings will doubtless attest, the French-dominated, generally smaller domaine-led portfolio lands some beautiful organoleptic punches, with subtle and elegant styles being to the fore.

Bodegas Baigorri partners with Top Selection for UK brand relaunch

Published: 02 May, 2025

Spanish wine producer Bodegas Baigorri has entered into a distribution partnership with UK-based importer Top Selection as it looks to grow its presence in the UK.

Mangrove expands Japanese whisky offering with Togouchi

Published: 24 April, 2025

UK spirits distributor Mangrove Global has announced the addition of whisky producer Togouchi to its portfolio. The onboarding will see Mangrove’s Japanese whisky ranks swell from two – Akashi and Yamazakura being the existing brands – to three.

North South Wines appoints new hires amid growth push

Published: 16 April, 2025

Bicester-based importer North South Wines has announced the appointment of two new team members. Holly Ninnes (pictured, left) joins in the newly created role of commercial buyer, with Mark Juggins (right) stepping in as the company’s latest head of off-trade. The new additions are part of a wider five-year growth strategy which seeks to expand the business’s commercial footprint.

Hallgarten adds Turkish winery to expanding portfolio

Published: 01 April, 2025

Specialist wine importer Hallgarten & Novum Wines, has announced the addition of the Turkish Kuzubağ Estate Winery’s full range to its portfolio. The estate was founded in 2007 by father and daughter team, Salih Kuzu and Aslı Kuzu, in Denizli which is situated in the Aegean wine region of the country.

Hatch Mansfield awarded B Corp

Published: 27 March, 2025

The premium wine importer Hatch Mansfield has been awarded the B Corp certification by B Lab, the not-for-profit behind the B Corp movement.

Milestone Wines adds sommelier Marcello Colletti to London team

Published: 21 March, 2025

Lancashire–based importer Milestone Wines has added sommelier Marcello Colletti to its London on-trade team. The role will see Colletti head up restaurant sales within the M25.

Friday Read: Charting Armit’s InVivo-backed ambitions

Published: 21 March, 2025

The annual Armit Wines portfolio tasting (pictured) aways brings a spot of vinous glamour to the busy London tasting calendar, following on from launch events for new vintages of the likes of 2023 Guidalberto and 2022 Sassicaia at various buzzing London restaurants for the lucky few. And, in addition to such highlights from its top Italian-leaning portfolio, this year the importer launched a new initiative in the form of what was modestly described as a ‘press lunch’, where various senior editors, writers and critics gathered to for a lively debate on how best to engage a younger generation with fine wines.

Bancroft bolsters Rioja offering with Alavesa winery addition

Published: 12 March, 2025

Bodegas Javier San Pedro has been added to Bancroft Wine’s portfolio. The addition of the Rioja Alavesa producer sees Bancroft expand their Rioja range.

Cachet reinforces Georgia offer with further shipments of Solomnishvili wines

Published: 07 March, 2025

Cachet Wine has received its latest shipment of wine from Georgian winemaker Giorgi Solomnishvili (pictured). The well-respected winemaker’s cellars are situated in Telavi in the Kahketi region, Eastern Georgia’s premier wine producing region.

Jeroboams expands portfolio with wines from Chinon and Alentejo

Published: 26 February, 2025

Fine wine merchant, Jeroboams, has added two producers to its portfolio with Domaine de la Chapelle from Chinon, Loire Valley and Mouchão vineyard from the Alentejo, Portugal.

Bibendum announces slate of new appointments

Published: 25 February, 2025

The premium wine specialist, Bibendum Wine, has announced a series of new appointments in its sales and commercial teams. Leading the changes on the sales side is the appointment of Andrew Ingham as sales director, while Ntola Obazee (pictured) takes on the role of e-commerce director within Bibendum’s commercial team.

Bancroft adds first Czech winery to portfolio

Published: 17 February, 2025

Thaya, based in Moravia, Czech Republic, is the first Czech winery to be added to importer Bancroft’s portfolio.

Fells commercial team restructures in growth push

Published: 11 February, 2025

Among a suite of changes at Fells, Richard Brockett (pictured, left) has been promoted from national off-trade director to sales director for the company. The changes come in a renewed growth push at Fells for 2025 and the years ahead, as the importer seeks to a pursue new a brand development strategy, and also coincide with a reshuffle at the top of majority owner Symington Family Estates.

Hallgarten announces exclusive Bordeaux initiative

Published: 04 February, 2025

Hallgarten & Novum Wines has announced The Cellar Series which will offer the importer’s customers in the hospitality and retail trades a range of fine and aged wines from the Bordeaux region.

Hallgarten adds Idris Elba-founded Porte Noire to portfolio

Published: 27 January, 2025

Hallgarten & Novum Wine has entered a partnership with luxury wine and Champagne brand, Porte Noire, which will see increased distribution of the brand’s wines across Hallgarten’s on and off-trade channels.