Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Inaugural International Sauvignon Blanc Celebration launches in Marlborough

Published: 11 January, 2016

Marlborough in New Zealand is to host the world's first International Sauvignon Blanc Celebration.

FMV signs exclusive agency deal with South Africa's Mullineux

Published: 11 January, 2016

Fields, Morris & Verdin has added Mullineux & Leeu Family Wines to its portfolio of South African wines.

Silva challenges Chilean wineries to focus on premiumisation

Published: 11 January, 2016

To thrive in the export market, Chile's winemakers must focus on premium wines, Wines of Chile's president, Mario Pablo Silva, has said.

Rosemount Estate founder Robert Oatley dies at 87

Published: 11 January, 2016

Australian winemaker and entrepreneur Robert Oatley has died aged 87.

Drinks businesses flex their sharp social media skills

Published: 11 January, 2016

Social media has become a crucial tool in any brand manager's box of tricks and it will become increasingly important in 2016. Erin Smith reports

Q&A: Paul Schaafsma, chief executive, Accolade Wines

Published: 11 January, 2016

The recently appointed head of Accolade Wines talks about life in the top job, Chilean wine brand Anakena launching in the UK and how he plans to make Accolade a global one-stop shop for New World wines

Insights: Is UK bottling the way forward for bulk wine?

Published: 11 January, 2016

As more and more top-selling wine brands in the UK move their bottling over here, Angela Mount looks at the benefits: does it make more sense to ship in bulk?

Christopher Cooper: Bartenders versus sommeliers - who brings the 'cool' to the drinks industry?

Published: 08 January, 2016

Perception is everything in the battle of the elite drinks purveyors, so it's about time we factored "cool" into wine's appeal, says Christopher Cooper

Fine-wine market posts best annual performance in five years

Published: 08 January, 2016

The fine wine market steadied in 2015 and is now cautiously optimistic for 2016, according to the latest report released by Liv-Ex this week.

New Zealand to celebrate Sauvignon Blanc at 35th annual London tasting

Published: 08 January, 2016

The 35th New Zealand Annual Trade Tasting, to be held in London on January 18, will be a celebration of Sauvignon Blanc, the country's signature varietal.

Andrew Catchpole: A promising year for the wine trade

Published: 08 January, 2016

Consumer confidence - and spend - is on the up, a stronger pound is easing the path for UK buyers, and time has seemingly been called by the multiples on an era of heavy discounting, with range cuts also playing into the hands of adventurous independents selling on the contrasting breadth of their portfolio.

London welcomes seventh annual Japanese Koshu wine tasting

Published: 08 January, 2016

The seventh annual Koshu of Japan tasting will take place in London next month.

Guy Woodward: The many reasons to be thankful for our wine press

Published: 08 January, 2016

When my name first started appearing at the top of this page each month, I promised myself there was one topic that I would strenuously avoid. Eighteen months in, I'm about to break that promise...

Tim Atkin MW: Debating the merits of terroir

Published: 08 January, 2016

"Soil is dirt." I'm sure the Californian producer Bill Jekel was being deliberately provocative when he entered into a well-publicised debate about terroir with Bruno Prats of Château Cos d'Estournel at the end of the 1980s, but he was also articulating a position that was widely held in the New World at the time.

Justerini & Brooks signs exclusive deal with Château Unang

Published: 07 January, 2016

Fine wine merchant Justerini & Brooks has been appointed the new, sole agents for boutique Rhône winery Château Unang.

New World wines thrive in challenging Chinese market

Published: 07 January, 2016

The market for wine is rebounding strongly for New World wines, according to reports in the Chinese news media.

Buckingham Schenk to push key new Chilean brands at SITT

Published: 07 January, 2016

UK wine importer Buckingham Schenk is to unveil a range of wines from Chile's Garcés Silva Family Vineyards at the Specialist Importers Trade Tasting (SITT) in February.

French Wine Discoveries set for annual London tasting

Published: 06 January, 2016

The French Wine Discoveries tasting returns to London for its 14th year later this month.

English and Welsh wine sales bring Xmas cheer at Waitrose

Published: 06 January, 2016

Sales of English and Welsh wines at Waitrose were up 8.5% year on year in the six weeks to January 2, the upscale multiple retailer has reported.

Berry Bros predicts millennial flight to Old World quality

Published: 06 January, 2016

The millennial generation's quest for authenticity and the experience of discovery will lead it back to the classic wine regions this year, Berry Bros & Rudd has claimed in its New Year predictions.