Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Off-Piste expands Argentinian portfolio

Published: 11 March, 2021

Off-Piste Wines has expanded its Argentinian portfolio with Bodegas Salentein and Bodegas Callia.

Covid fuels Portuguese thirst for premium wine

Published: 11 March, 2021

The Covid-19 pandemic has added fuel to a trend among regular Portuguese wine drinkers for more expensive wines, according to the latest Portugal Wine Landscapes 2021 report from Wine Intelligence.

Covid and Phylloxera – lessons for the wine trade

Published: 11 March, 2021

Sam Hellyer, head of wine and spirits at Chiswick Auctions, counts 10 years at Oddbins as part of a varied résumé where he headed up the Fine Wine branch in Oxford.

Online BWS sales hold strong

Published: 10 March, 2021

Online beer, wines and spirits (BWS) sales held strong in February, rising by 64.7% year-on-year, according to IMRG Capgemini Online Retail Index.

Guy Woodward: Challenging the wine nerd herd

Published: 10 March, 2021

It’s when the first question about clone types crops up that I begin to despair; or a query as to the length of time the juice spent macerating on its own skins. Or – kill me now – the wine’s exact pH level.

Jascots adds Campania producer Mastroberardino

Published: 10 March, 2021

Jascots Wine Merchants has added Campania producer Mastroberardino to its Italian portfolio.

Steven Spurrier passes away

Published: 09 March, 2021

Steven Spurrier, one of the most widely respected and liked people in the wine trade, has passed away.

Basset foundation releases first Golden Vines Hall of Fame nominees

Published: 09 March, 2021

Liquid Icons, the fine wine research and content production company founded by Gerard Basset OBE MW MS and his friend Lewis Chester, has announced the nominees for The Golden Vines Hall of Fame Award and The Golden Vines Innovation Award.

Gin Masterclass for Independent Retailers

Published: 08 March, 2021

Does quality gin float your boat? And what difference does it make to the distilling process when the Master Distiller is also a Master of Wine (MW)? To find out more, read on and register for our exciting Gin Masterclass for Independent Retailers…

Fine Wines Direct UK doubles bonded warehouse capacity

Published: 08 March, 2021

Fine Wines Direct UK has invested in a number of initiatives in preparation for the on-trade reopening, including purchasing more warehouse space next to its current site in Cardiff, Wales

Jancis Robinson turns spotlight on International Women's Day

Published: 08 March, 2021

Jancis Robinson has turned the spotlight on International Women’s Day with a trio of initiatives including two articles and a ‘Wine, women and Covid-19’ webinar.

Prosecco announces sustained production and sales

Published: 08 March, 2021

Consorzio of Conegliano Valdobbiadene DOCG has announced sustained production and sales in 2020 in spite of the challenges brought on by Covid-19.

Wine: a discombobulating ride?

Published: 04 March, 2021

Will we ever understand wine drinkers?

Basset legacy scholarships to tackle “shameful lack” of MW and MS diversity

Published: 03 March, 2021

Leading lights from the world of fine wine have announced plans to find the future BAME and BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and people of colour) hospitality leaders, by launching two new MS and MW scholarships which will be funded via a new glittering awards ceremony at London hotspot Annabel’s.

Budget: Chancellor freezes all alcohol duty

Published: 03 March, 2021

Duty on wines, spirits and beers is to be frozen, Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced in today’s Budget.

Tech & Innovation: Lightbulb moments from the US

Published: 03 March, 2021

As famous for its wines as it is for entrepreneurial spirit and world-beating technology, it’s no surprise that innovation continues to come thick and fast from across the pond. From everyman investment platforms to robotic wine management systems and AI wine matching services, Jo Gilbert rounds up what’s new out of the US.

Justerini & Brooks signs Napa’s Frog’s Leap

Published: 02 March, 2021

Justerini & Brooks has added Rutherford Frog’s Leap winery to its California portfolio.

Liberty strengthens senior management team

Published: 02 March, 2021

Liberty Wines has created three new roles to strengthen its senior management team, after a successful year despite the global pandemic.

Kingsland announces six-figure bag-in-box investment

Published: 01 March, 2021

Kingsland Drinks is gearing up to boost its bag-in-box wine capabilities this year with a six-figure investment in additional production line machinery.

Cork’s march to ascendancy

Published: 25 February, 2021

Having removed much of the taint of TCA to cork’s reputation, the classic stopper continues to establish itself as a benchmark of quality, as James Lawrence reports.