2 Good, 2 Bad for 2013, 2 Hopes and Fears for 2014: Robin Copestick, Copestick Murray

As we begin the Christmas week Harpers.co.uk has asked key figures in the trade to look back on 2013 and give their best and worst memories of the year as well as look ahead to their hopes and fears for 2014. You will be able to read a selection of 2 Good, 2 Bad for 2013 and 2 Hopes and 2 Fears for 2014 throughout this week and in to the New Year so please check your Harpers.co.uk to see who is appearing each day. First up is Robin Copesick co-founder of wine agency, Copestick Murray.

Brits are Scrooge-like when buying wine for themselves, but generous to others says Cobevco

Specialist Cheshire-based bottler Cobevco, has revealed that Brits will spend an average of just £5.83 this Christmas on a bottle of wine for themselves, but are trebly generous when it comes to buying for others.

Vinexpo to launch new event in Japan in 2014

Vinexpo, the international wine trade show, is to launch a new event in Japan in November 2014.

Price is key to buying wine in an independent says Corks Out survey

Nearly 40% of customers in an average independent wine merchant are guided by price when picking out a bottle of wine, according to new research from north west independent, Corks Out.

Fine wine market declines for third year says Liv-ex

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Gusbourne Estate raises £2m funding to help expand vineyards and winery

Gusbourne Estate, the Kent-based English sparkling wine producer, has acquired a £2m loan from Barclays bank to help develop the winery and overall business.

PLB takes on Bosman Family Vineyards to help drive its fine wine business

UK drinks importer PLB, has become distributor of South African premium Fairtrade producer Bosman Family Vineyards, as it continues to drive to reposition itself in the fine wine arena.

D&D London to list Baron Phillipe de Rothschild wines in new partnership

Restaurant group, D&D London, is to list a number of wines from the Baron Phillippe de Rothschild stable as part of a new partnership with its UK distributor,  Waddesdon Wine.

Liberty Wines reports record sales as consumer confidence and spending grows

Liberty Wines, the national wine distributor, has reported record sales and is taking on more staff to cope with demand.

Concha y Toro looks to new recruits to help drive its growth strategy

Concha y Toro UK is going on a recruitment drive to bring key new people in to the company following a strategic review of the business.

Drinkers urged to write to their MP to get the Chancellor to Call Time on Duty

As part of the Wine & Spirit Trade Association's Call Time on Duty campaign, being launched today to try and force the government to scrap the duty escalator and raise £230m and 6,000 jobs in the process, it is calling on the public to show their support and email a letter to their local MP to put pressure on the Chancellor.

Scrapping duty escalator will raise £230m and 6,000 jobs says WSTA's new Call Time on Duty campaign

The Wine & Spirit Trade Association is today ramping up the pressure on the governement to scrap the alcohol duty esclator by claiming it would generate £230 million and create 6,000 jobs if it was dropped before the 2014 budget.

British consumers are drinking less and more responsibly says latest ONS figures

Increasing numbers of people in the UK are drinking less and more responsibly, according to a survey of the latest drinking trends released by the Office for National Statistics.

Brent Marris to add 600ha to keep up with demand for Ned and other Marisco Vineyards wines

Marlborough-based Marisco Vineyards is to develop 600ha of Leefield Station in Waihopai Valley on the back of rising market demand for its New Zealand wines, particularly the Ned and King's Series brands.

Major buyers from all channels sign up to first Wine Buyers' Forum

Buyers that have signed up to the inaugural Wine Buyers' Forum to be held in Windsor next March have on average over £2 million worth of buying power each.

Taylor's to release 50 year old Port

The Fladgate Partnership is set to release a collection of 50 year old single harvest Ports under the Taylor's brand

Taylors to release 50 year old Port

The Fladgate Partnership is set to release a collection of 50 year old single harvest Ports under the Taylor's brand.

Champagne Occasions: Engaging the consumers

The second Harpers Champagne Occasions roadshow asked how on-trade buyers and operators can engage consumers and trade them up by linking Champagne with food.

Discovering the wonders of Lebanon: An insider's view

Lebanon really should to be the sexiest wine-producing country in the world. No I'm not having one of those moments of misty-eyed sentimentality to which we Lebanese are often prone.