Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

TWE turns spotlight on Wolf Blass

Published: 16 October, 2017

Treasury Wine Estates (TWE) has launched a £500,000 push for Wolf Blass, including TV spots celebrating its award-winning history.

Number of Napa wineries damaged by wildfires rises

Published: 16 October, 2017

The number of Napa wineries damaged by the wildfires ravaging northern California continued to rise this weekend, with the fires yet to be defeated.

WSTA warns of further hefty price hikes if duty is not frozen

Published: 16 October, 2017

The Wine & Spirit Trade Association (WSTA) has warned of further wine and spirit price hikes if the Chancellor fails to freeze duty in the November Budget.

UK trade reaches out as Cali fire claims homes, lives and historic vineyards

Published: 12 October, 2017

The UK trade has begun to rally around its friends and colleagues in California where fire continues to wreak havoc on residents and businesses.

Hallgarten adds more sparkle to its Champagne portfolio

Published: 11 October, 2017

Hallgarten has signed a deal as the exclusive UK distributor of Champagne Collet and certified organic producer, Champagne Lelarge-Pugeot, to the on-trade and independents.

Guy Woodward: Substance versus style

Published: 11 October, 2017

Former editor of Decanter @guyawoodward

Former Dunelm CFO joins Majestic board

Published: 10 October, 2017

Majestic Wine has appointed former Dunelm head of finance, David Stead, to its board as an independent non-executive director.

Matthew Clark bolsters wine menu with 83 tipples

Published: 10 October, 2017

Matthew Clark has bolstered its menu with an additional 83 wines, taking it to a total of more than 1,400, as part of its autumn wine release.

Wildfire devastates California wine country

Published: 10 October, 2017

Deadly wildfires which have already claimed ten lives have devastated areas of northern California which authorities are calling the worst the state has ever seen.

Data shows widening gap between average bottle price for cork and alternative closures

Published: 09 October, 2017

New data suggests there is a widening gap between the average bottle price of cork-closed wine and wine that is sealed with alternative closures.

Simpsons estate announces name of first fizz with help of British public

Published: 09 October, 2017

Charles and Ruth Simpson have revealed the name of their first British fizz after enlisting the help of crowdfunding investors in naming the inaugral release from their winery in, Barham, Kent.

Flint Wines secures Cantina del Pino distribution deal

Published: 09 October, 2017

Flint Wines has signed a deal as the exclusive distributor of Piedmont winery Cantina del Pino in the UK.

Andalucia latest focal point of Spain's new wave wines scene

Published: 06 October, 2017

Andalucia is best known for its sherries, but the region has now become the latest focal point of Spain’s burgeoning new wave wines scene.

Tim Atkin: Semillon - The Naked Grape

Published: 06 October, 2017

When I was younger, fitter and considerably trimmer than I am now, I took part (twice) in a wine trade version of The Full Monty for charity. The name of our group of buffed-up writers, sommeliers and importers was The Semillons (geddit?). So, when I received an invitation to an event called The Semillon Sessions recently, part of me hoped that a new group of amateur strippers would be strutting their moves on a stage somewhere.

Höpler introduces first limited Kirchberg release in nine years

Published: 06 October, 2017

Family-owned Austrian winery Höpler has introduced the latest vintage of its Kirchberg single vineyard range.

Penfolds reveals 2017 collection

Published: 05 October, 2017

One of Australia’s most famous producers is gearing up to release its 2017 collection, including the 2013 Grange - the 63rd consecutive vintage from the label.

Chapel Down appoints ex BrewDog head as ‘beer MD’

Published: 04 October, 2017

Chapel Down has appointed Gareth Bath, previous managing director for craft brewer BrewDog, to the newly created position of ‘managing director of beer’.

Majestic to base wine range on consumer feedback

Published: 04 October, 2017

Majestic has relaunched its website with a feature that gives consumers the option to rate the wines they buy, in turn helping to shape the retailer’s wine portfolio.

Lassègue reveals distribution deal with négociants in Bordeaux

Published: 04 October, 2017

Lassègue, owned jointly by the Jackson and Seillan families, has announced it is to be distributed by six of the négociants in Bordeaux: Ballande & Méneret, CVBG, Duclot, Joanne, Mähler-Besse et Mestrezat” said Barbara Banke and Pierre Seillan.

Catalan grape variety Sumoll gains traction in the UK

Published: 03 October, 2017

They’re making noise in New York and now wines made from the recovered Catalan grape variety Sumoll, known as the Pinot Noir of the Mediterranean, are starting to make a splash in Britain.