Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Aldi launches free online wine course

Published: 18 October, 2019

Discount multiple retailer Aldi has unveiled a free new online wine course aimed at helping consumers find their way around the wine aisle.

UK is the world’s third largest ecommerce market for alcohol – but can you name one and two?

Published: 17 October, 2019

The UK has been identified as one of the top countries in the world for sales of alcohol online, with a surprising outcome for the first and second spot.

Veuve Clicquot to open London Champagne bar

Published: 17 October, 2019

Veuve Clicquot has partnered with award-winning US singer-songwriter Annie Clark, better known as St Vincent, to open a Champagne bar in London’s Covent Garden.

Harpers to host sparkling wine discussion at Bellavita

Published: 17 October, 2019

Harpers editor Andrew Catchpole will host a roundtable on sparkling wines at Mediterranean food and wine fair Bellavita next week.

My perfect customer: Chris Laidler, Covino

Published: 16 October, 2019

Chester's Covino is a stylish independent wine shop, wine bar and small-plate restaurant boasting over 100 artisan wines. Owner and manager Chris Laidler shares his secrets to attracting new customers and keeping his existing crowd happy.

How to build a restaurant wine list

Published: 16 October, 2019

When a new restaurant is launched everyone focusses on the food (and more often than not the person behind the food), but how do you put the wine list centre stage?

At the 11th hour, how will a no-deal Brexit affect the wine trade?

Published: 16 October, 2019

As the UK fruit and vegetable harvest gets into full swing in the looming shadow of Brexit, headlines such as The Guardian’s ‘Tonnes of crops left to rot as farms struggle to recruit EU workers’ are becoming commonplace.

Beyond the Tejo

Published: 16 October, 2019

Jo Gilbert digs deep into the vinous roots of southern Portugal to discover how three decades of investment continues to unearth indigenous gems.

Millennials vital to health of the wine sector over next five years, says new research

Published: 15 October, 2019

A new definitive report into the drinking behaviours of millennials (born between 1980 and 2000) has put to bed concerns that younger drinkers are completely abandoning wine in favour of craft beers or spirits – or even eschewing alcohol completely.

Vegan wine: the good stuff

Published: 14 October, 2019

The number of vegans in the UK has doubled in the last two years. But is the wine trade doing enough to cater to this exploding demographic, asks Lisa Riley?

Berkmann hedges against Brexit Christmas chaos

Published: 14 October, 2019

UK distributor Berkmann Wine Cellars has invested £5m in increased stocks and storage capacity at bond in the run-up to Christmas.

Bellavita London unveils expanded events roster

Published: 14 October, 2019

The annual Bellavita Expo London is set to return to Islington’s Business Design Centre next month with a wide range of masterclasses, tastings and discussion panels hosted by Bellavita’s wine academy, BeWine.

Friday read: How top end Prosecco can stay relevant in the face of ever changing consumer demands

Published: 11 October, 2019

Harpers sets out on the Prosecco trail to look at the region’s industrial expansion and to work out what a sustainable future looks like for the chronically popular Italian fizz

Waitrose creates new top tier range

Published: 11 October, 2019

Waitrose has launched a top tier own-label range that includes wine, spirits and ciders.

Armit appoints new MD

Published: 11 October, 2019

Armit Wines has appointed Brett Fleming as its new MD.

Divico pitched as the grape to drive UK red wine production

Published: 10 October, 2019

Divico could be the grape to drive UK production of “quality red wine”, according to viticultural scientists in Kent.

Strong wine and spirits performance boosts LVMH

Published: 10 October, 2019

Strong quarterly growth in LVMH’s wine and spirits division has helped push the luxury goods group’s third quarter revenues to €13.3bn.

Aldi: from zero to hero

Published: 09 October, 2019

From outcast to underdog to winner of international awards, Aldi continues to beat expectations with a new buying hub in Austria and a range of online premium exclusives. Jo Gilbert reports