Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Lidl sweeps the board at Wotwine supermarket awards

Published: 08 November, 2018

Lidl swept the board at the Wotwine 2019 Supermarket Wine Retailer Awards taking home three out of four gongs.

Matthew Clark strengthens wine buying team with new trio

Published: 07 November, 2018

Matthew Clark has expanded its wine buying team with a director and two new buyers.

Japan prepares to take on the world at second Wines of Japan tasting

Published: 07 November, 2018

As Japan continues to make waves in whisky, pushing outwards with its own distinctive style and winning awards left, right and centre, wine is poised to follow suit. Harpers joined Sarah Abbott MW at a recent Wines of Japan tasting – the follow-up to the inaugural UK event in February this year. We discovered a country ready to build on the newly signed free trade deal with Europe and take on the wine world.

IMW officially welcomes 14 new MWs to the fold

Published: 07 November, 2018

The Institute of Masters of Wine (IMW) officially welcomed 14 new MW to its fold at its annual awards ceremony last night.

Billecart-Salmon appoints Mathieu Roland-Billecart CEO

Published: 07 November, 2018

Champagne Billecart-Salmon has appointed Mathieu Roland-Billecart to the position of chief executive officer.

Looking Stateside

Published: 06 November, 2018

US wines have been generating an unprecedented buzz in the UK. Andrew Catchpole discovers why

Judean winemakers front up drive for quality recognition

Published: 06 November, 2018

Four winemakers styling themselves as The Judean Hills Quartet returned to London on Monday to mark the anniversary of their collaboration to promote quality Israeli wines.

Jascots expands Port portfolio with Vieira de Sousa

Published: 06 November, 2018

Jascots has expanded its Port portfolio with the addition of family Port House Vieira de Sousa.

Insights: Focus on fizz

Published: 06 November, 2018

Drawing on sparkling wine research carried out with Wines Direct, Harpers assesses the state of play

Guy Woodward: Who’s gonna make wine woke?

Published: 06 November, 2018

Columnists are meant to have opinions. They’re meant to have answers. But there is one aspect of wine that I am at a loss to fathom. And that is the location of wine’s cool. Where is it? Who’s got it? Because no matter how you try to spin it, wine is simply not hip. It is not sick. And it is most certainly not, my homies, woke.

Ban on post duty point dilution could hammer British made and low abv wine

Published: 05 November, 2018

A change to legislation in the 2018 Budget policy document could have a significant impact on products made from concentrate in the UK, including British made wine, low abv wines, RTDs, sherry-style drinks and flavoured ciders – anything which is diluted after fermentation.

Accolade sparkling head and wine icon Ed Carr on launching Tasmanian fizz onto the world stage

Published: 01 November, 2018

Fresh from his win at the Lifetime Achievement Awards at last week’s Champagne and Sparkling Wine World Championships in London, Ed Carr, group head sparkling winemaker at Accolade Wines talked to Harpers about putting Tasmania on the map.

Hanging Ditch founder sets out to challenge ‘normal wine merchant model’ with new venture

Published: 01 November, 2018

Hanging Ditch founder Ben Stephenson has revealed the plans for his latest venture - a wine retail, entertainment and social space that works from morning to night.

Rejuvenating Beaujolais

Published: 31 October, 2018

As the French region looks to revitalise its reputation, Lisa Riley meets the growers introducing greener methods and pursuing organic certification

UK the fourth most expensive EU country to buy alcohol and tobacco in

Published: 31 October, 2018

The UK has been pinpointed as the fourth most costly country in the EU when it comes to buying alcohol and tobacco.

WSET reveals Outstanding Alumni Award nominees

Published: 31 October, 2018

The Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) has revealed the nominees for its outstanding Alumni Award.

Viña Pomal unveils classic Rioja with a modern twist

Published: 30 October, 2018

Viña Pomal has unveiled a new wine positioned as a classic Rioja with a modern style.

CWI announces ‘dream’ harvest

Published: 30 October, 2018

The Californian Wine Institute (CWI) has announced the 2018 harvest had ‘played out like a dream’ for winegrowers in regions across the state.

Missed opportunity: What a rise with inflation means for the UK wine trade

Published: 30 October, 2018

Pub landlords and spirits importers will be breathing a sigh of relief this morning, but not the nation’s wine trade – which is looking at an extra £90 million bill in duty next year.