Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Cognac sales reach value and volume highs in 2016

Published: 17 January, 2017

Sales of Cognac reached their highest level in terms of volume and value in 2016, the body which oversees the Cognac industry has reported.

The teetotal trend: Beyond Dry January

Published: 16 January, 2017

As we've mentioned elsewhere in Harpers this month, we could be on the verge of the driest January on record. And no, we're not talking about the weather.

Guy Woodward: Why are we so down on English fizz?

Published: 16 January, 2017

There was a degree of sniping when environment secretary Andrea Leadsom claimed recently that England was taking its place "among the world's most renowned wine producers".

New chairman announced for The Benevolent

Published: 16 January, 2017

The Benevolent, the charity for the UK drinks industry, has a new chairman.

Multi-million dollar R&D project aims to bring "international recognition" to Australian Shiraz

Published: 16 January, 2017

5.3 million AUD is being invested to better understand - and promote - Australian terroir to international markets.

Liberty Wines to distribute Sogrape in the UK

Published: 16 January, 2017

Sogrape and Liberty Wines have announced they will be partnering with the hopes of expanding the Portuguese company's presence in the UK, specifically the premium on-trade.

White revolution at the forefront of Heart of Spain 2017

Published: 13 January, 2017

Winemakers from Spain will continue to further the white revolution and promote varieties from new and unexpected corners of the country when the Heart of Spain 2017 tasting comes to London.

The week that was: top news, Q&As and opinion on Harpers.co.uk

Published: 13 January, 2017

In case you missed some of the headlines this week on harpers.co.uk, we have put together a review of the top online news, Q&As, and opinion stories.

Sparkling wine sales jump 24% at Jascots

Published: 12 January, 2017

Specialist wine supplier to the on-trade, Jascots, has reported record sales in 2016 with soparklign wine sales jumping by almost a quarter.

Borsa Vini Italiani returns to London in 2017

Published: 12 January, 2017

Owners and winemakers from 70 Italian wineries will descend on Italian tasting Borsa Vini Italiani when it returns to London next week.

Buckingham Schenk adds Kreglinger Wine Estates to its portfolio

Published: 12 January, 2017

Wine importer Buckingham Schenk is expanding its Antipodean portfolio by adding Kreglinger Wine Estates and its brands Pipers Brook and Norfolk Rise.

Burgundy en primeur: Spotlight on whites

Published: 11 January, 2017

While there has been a consensus that Burgundy's 2015 reds have much to offer buyers in this year's en primeur market, there is less agreement about the quality of the region's whites.

UKVA and EWP urge government to crack down on "large quantities of wine" being smuggled into the UK

Published: 11 January, 2017

The UK wine industry has urged the government to crack down on excise duty tax evasion carried out via the smuggling onto the UK commercial drinks market of duty-free wine.

New Zealand Annual Tasting coming to London following 2016 winning streak

Published: 11 January, 2017

Following on from a successful 2016 when New Zealand topped the UK growth charts, the country is now keen to develop its presence in the UK market at its the annual trade tasting in London next week.

Tim Atkin MW: Burgundy 2015 - a year for the little guys?

Published: 11 January, 2017

Burgundy and Bordeaux may share a common language, but they are very different places.

Major tourism centre given green-light by Burgundy's wine board

Published: 11 January, 2017

Burgundy's wine board, the BIVB, has approved its ambitious Cité des Vins de Bourgogne, a new wine tourism, culture and education centre that will be built on three sites in Beaune, Chablis and in the Mâcon.

Bordeaux: Not so sweet for sweet wine

Published: 10 January, 2017

No one doubts that the future for historic winery Chateau d'Yquem and for sweet Bordeaux's renowned 11 premier cru producers - and even the second crus in Sauternes and Barsac - looks good.

Hallgarten makes five keys appointments

Published: 10 January, 2017

Specialist wine importer Hallgarten Druitt & Novum Wines has started the new year with five new appointments to its sales team.

Majestic Retail has "biggest ever Christmas" during bumper trading period

Published: 10 January, 2017

Sales of sparkling and gin helped to put a skip back into Majestic's step over the Christmas period with total group sales up 15.3% compared to the previous year.