Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Flint adds Aubert Wines

Published: 15 June, 2020

Flint Wines has been appointed as the first official UK agent for California’s Aubert Wines.

CapeWine 2021 postponed

Published: 15 June, 2020

Wines of South Africa (WoSA) has announced that CapeWine has been moved from its planned slot in September 2021 to October 2022.

In spitting distance of Covid-19

Published: 15 June, 2020

At the onset of the ongoing global pandemic, traditional on-trade channels saw sales fall to zero overnight. But what about the wider drinks trade and the interactions within it? Jo Gilbert asks if it's time to reassess tried – and maybe tired – formulas?

Hard Graft for charity during English Wine Week

Published: 15 June, 2020

Graft Wine Company co-founder Nik Darlington is set to run 100km between English vineyards during English Wine Week (20 to 28 June), launching an initiative to raise money for the Drinks Trust.

WSTA hits out at government for failing to count true cost of VI-1 certification

Published: 15 June, 2020

The WSTA has hit out at government for misleading the public over claims that EU wine importation costs would, according to Defra, be “nil or negligible”.

M&S encourages consumers to trade up with ‘Classics’ range

Published: 11 June, 2020

Marks & Spencer (M&S) has launched a new ‘Classics’ wine range comprising key wine styles from around the world.

Friday Read: George Sandbach of the Oxford wine dynasty talks shop during shutdown

Published: 11 June, 2020

George Sandbach of Sandy’s Piano Bar talks to Andrew Catchpole about adapting to lockdown, selling quality booze out the back door, the thorny problem of rent and launching an accessible podcast series.

European neighbours offer UK trade signs of post-lockdown optimism

Published: 11 June, 2020

Wine consumption in some of the UK’s nearest neighbouring markets looks to be steady, with consumers maintaining overall wine consumption as lockdowns ease.

Grupo Rioja calls for more support as ‘Basque Wine’ shored up

Published: 10 June, 2020

Rioja wine producers have lashed out at the ‘insufficient measures’ adopted by the Spanish government yesterday to alleviate the impact of Covid-19 on Spain’s wine sector.

Oregon commits to ‘anti-racism and equity’

Published: 10 June, 2020

As the fallout from the death of African-American George Floyd continues to reverberate around the western world, Oregon Wine Board has responded with a commitment to embed “more fully” an inclusive and racially equal approach across the state’s wine industry.

Johnston Logistics reports eight-fold hike in alcohol throughput

Published: 09 June, 2020

Bonded warehousing and logistic experts Johnston Logistics has reported an eight-fold increase in its average throughput of wine and other alcohol during the Covid-19 lockdown.

Soapbox: Stephen Finch on the 2 metre barrier to trade

Published: 08 June, 2020

Asking for rational trade-offs, Vagabond’s Stephen Finch voices the on-trade’s concern over the economic impact of shut-down and the 2 metre distancing rule.

Harpers Design Awards 2020 open for entries

Published: 08 June, 2020

Entries are now open for the Harpers Design Awards 2020.

Alcohol sales knocked by lockdown

Published: 08 June, 2020

Despite the marked shift from on-trade to home drinking, lockdown could still leave a sobering £7bn hole in total UK alcohol sales, as Andrew Catchpole reports.

"Impressive" online drinks uplift here to stay

Published: 08 June, 2020

The influx of new online shoppers looks set to be sustainable, with alcoholic drinks to the fore of this growth in ecommerce.

Concha y Toro extends Diablo brand

Published: 08 June, 2020

Concha y Toro UK has extended its Diablo brand with a Cabernet Sauvignon.

Ascot Racecourse launches online wine shop

Published: 05 June, 2020

Hallgarten and Ascot Racecourse have today announced the launch of an online 'Ascot' wine shop.

Food & accommodation sectors have largest proportion furloughed

Published: 05 June, 2020

The extent to which lockdown has impacted on the UK hospitality sector has been thrown into sharp relief by the latest ONS (Office for National Statistics) figures.