Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Buckingham Schenk goes veggie for portfolio update

Published: 28 March, 2019

Buckingham Schenk has bumped up its number of vegetarian-friendly wines, which now account for 70% of its wine list.

Shift from shop to showroom is vital for the future of retail, says Majestic CEO

Published: 27 March, 2019

The chief executive of the newly rebranded Naked Wines has defended the decision to trim down its 200-store estate while shifting investment focus to the online side of the business.

Gerard Basset memorial plans announced

Published: 27 March, 2019

The Basset family is to hold a Service of Thanksgiving for the life of Gerard Basset OBE, MS, MW, MSc (OIV).

Chaîne des Rôtisseurs unveils top young somm, chef and winner of Gerard Basset Tasting Trophy

Published: 26 March, 2019

The Chaîne des Rôtisseurs has unveiled the winners of its Young Sommelier and Young Chef awards 2019, alongside the winner of the first Gerard Basset Tasting Trophy.

The Consorzio Barbera d’Asti e Vini del Monferrato reports volume drop

Published: 25 March, 2019

The Consorzio Barbera d’Asti e Vini del Monferrato has reported a decrease in overall volume of bottling compared to 2017, but said 2018 was “a very positive year” for Monferrato wine.

Food and drink exports growth slows to crawl but gin and whisky fly the flag

Published: 25 March, 2019

Overall UK food and drinks exports slowed to a crawl in 2018, but gin and whisky continued to fly the flag – each growing in both value and volume.

Relevance of Chilean wine in Japan starting to slow, survey suggests

Published: 25 March, 2019

The relevance of Chilean wine in Japan, the country’s top imported wine, has started to slow down, according to the latest Landscapes report from Wine Intelligence.

Majestic to close stores as part of major rebrand that will see it ditch the Majestic name

Published: 25 March, 2019

Majestic Wine is planning an overhaul of the business that will see the Majestic name disappear as part of plans to focus on its online and international reach via its Naked arm.

Turning Heads

Published: 25 March, 2019

With an ageing consumer base, France’s big gun regions have been targeting younger audiences. James Lawrence assesses their success

Santa Rita half way to launch first wave of wines following WiSe project

Published: 22 March, 2019

Santa Rita Estates (SRE) is launching the first wave of wines from the ‘new’ vines it planted five years ago as part of its quality driven WiSe project.

The modern world changes fast. In the past decade, we have gone from a situation of blithely choking on carbon monoxide from second-hand smoke every time we enter a pub or restaurant to a virtual ghettoisation of cigarettes. Before the ban most people would have thought this inconceivable. But it happened.

Prowein: Yellow Tail turns focus on rosé as red and white boom

Published: 21 March, 2019

Casella Family Brands (CFB) Europe is turning its focus on growing its rosé wine in the UK market as it records burgeoning sales across its red and white ranges.

Lizzy Rudd confirmed to stay on at helm of BBR

Published: 21 March, 2019

Berry Bros & Rudd (BBR) has confirmed that Lizzy Rudd will maintain her role as executive chairman at the family-owned St James wine merchant.

GinKing kicks off wave of NPD

Published: 21 March, 2019

GinKing will add a range of new variants to its portfolio this spring, starting with the launch of GinKing Original Rosé.

Georgia expands UK promo campaign

Published: 21 March, 2019

The National Wine Agency of Georgia has announced an expanded promotional campaign for the UK market in 2019.

Prowein: Sogevinus steps lightly into Douro table wine market

Published: 20 March, 2019

Grupo Sogevinus, best known for its collection of Portuguese-style Port houses and range of old colheitas, officially launched its growing range of Douro table wine at Prowein.

Prowein: Record numbers flock to Prowein 2019

Published: 20 March, 2019

Over 61,500 visitors from 142 countries visited Prowein in 2019, a record number for the event.

Prowein: CyT unveils ambitious plans to push through £10 Chile price ceiling

Published: 20 March, 2019

Chilean producer Concha y Toro (CyT) has put in place a new premium-focused strategy designed to double the company’s operating margins by 2020, coupled with the aim of boosting sales of its brands at £10 and above.

Cream of the crop

Published: 20 March, 2019

Champagne’s lesser-known cousin has its work cut out to stand out in the UK, where it is but a drop in an ocean of sparkling wine. It’s up for the challenge though, finds Jo Gilbert

Blossom Hill aims to inject growth into wine category with sparkling gin

Published: 19 March, 2019

Treasury Wine Estates (TWE) has revealed the UK launch of Blossom Hill Gin Fizz in a “ground-breaking move set to inject crucial innovation and growth into the wine category”.