Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Polish polish

Published: 13 November, 2018

Poland is setting its sights to become an internationally recognised producer of quality wine, with the number of vineyards doubling over the past four years.

Global wine markets: China shines as Brexit Britain picks up wooden spoon

Published: 13 November, 2018

The second annual ProWein Business Report looking at the attractiveness of international export markets for wine has placed China in pole position for the first time.

Don't miss Harpers Wine Stars Spain, Australia and South America

Published: 13 November, 2018

Harpers Wine Stars, the competition judged by buyers for buyers, is returning fresh for 2019 – and there’s only just over a week left to sign up.

WoodWinters adds old Barossa Soul to portfolio

Published: 13 November, 2018

Indie merchant WoodWinters has strengthened its growing wholesale portfolio with the addition of the UK agency for Soul Growers from Barossa.

Simpsons releases its first sparkler

Published: 13 November, 2018

Kent estate Simpsons has released its first sparkling wine, six years after its founders branched out from the Languedoc in France to launch their first UK venture.

Breaking the mould

Published: 12 November, 2018

Chris Wilson looks at the age-old conundrum – how can fortified wine break away from its seasonal reputation?

Napa Valley reports strong vintage with ideal weather conditions

Published: 12 November, 2018

Napa Valley has announced a “Goldilocks” 2018 vintage.

Lidl sweeps the board at Wotwine supermarket awards

Published: 08 November, 2018

Lidl swept the board at the Wotwine 2019 Supermarket Wine Retailer Awards taking home three out of four gongs.

Matthew Clark strengthens wine buying team with new trio

Published: 07 November, 2018

Matthew Clark has expanded its wine buying team with a director and two new buyers.

Japan prepares to take on the world at second Wines of Japan tasting

Published: 07 November, 2018

As Japan continues to make waves in whisky, pushing outwards with its own distinctive style and winning awards left, right and centre, wine is poised to follow suit. Harpers joined Sarah Abbott MW at a recent Wines of Japan tasting – the follow-up to the inaugural UK event in February this year. We discovered a country ready to build on the newly signed free trade deal with Europe and take on the wine world.

IMW officially welcomes 14 new MWs to the fold

Published: 07 November, 2018

The Institute of Masters of Wine (IMW) officially welcomed 14 new MW to its fold at its annual awards ceremony last night.

Billecart-Salmon appoints Mathieu Roland-Billecart CEO

Published: 07 November, 2018

Champagne Billecart-Salmon has appointed Mathieu Roland-Billecart to the position of chief executive officer.

Looking Stateside

Published: 06 November, 2018

US wines have been generating an unprecedented buzz in the UK. Andrew Catchpole discovers why

Judean winemakers front up drive for quality recognition

Published: 06 November, 2018

Four winemakers styling themselves as The Judean Hills Quartet returned to London on Monday to mark the anniversary of their collaboration to promote quality Israeli wines.

Jascots expands Port portfolio with Vieira de Sousa

Published: 06 November, 2018

Jascots has expanded its Port portfolio with the addition of family Port House Vieira de Sousa.

Insights: Focus on fizz

Published: 06 November, 2018

Drawing on sparkling wine research carried out with Wines Direct, Harpers assesses the state of play

Guy Woodward: Who’s gonna make wine woke?

Published: 06 November, 2018

Columnists are meant to have opinions. They’re meant to have answers. But there is one aspect of wine that I am at a loss to fathom. And that is the location of wine’s cool. Where is it? Who’s got it? Because no matter how you try to spin it, wine is simply not hip. It is not sick. And it is most certainly not, my homies, woke.

Ban on post duty point dilution could hammer British made and low abv wine

Published: 05 November, 2018

A change to legislation in the 2018 Budget policy document could have a significant impact on products made from concentrate in the UK, including British made wine, low abv wines, RTDs, sherry-style drinks and flavoured ciders – anything which is diluted after fermentation.

Accolade sparkling head and wine icon Ed Carr on launching Tasmanian fizz onto the world stage

Published: 01 November, 2018

Fresh from his win at the Lifetime Achievement Awards at last week’s Champagne and Sparkling Wine World Championships in London, Ed Carr, group head sparkling winemaker at Accolade Wines talked to Harpers about putting Tasmania on the map.

Hanging Ditch founder sets out to challenge ‘normal wine merchant model’ with new venture

Published: 01 November, 2018

Hanging Ditch founder Ben Stephenson has revealed the plans for his latest venture - a wine retail, entertainment and social space that works from morning to night.