Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Plumpton College boosts wine team with new experts

Published: 18 October, 2017

Plumpton College, in East Sussex, has strengthened its wine business and production teaching team with the appointment of two international wine experts.

Rías Baixas hit by wildfires

Published: 17 October, 2017

Galicia’s Rías Baixas wine board is assessing the extent of damage to vineyards caused by wildfires, which have raged in Portugal and Spain since the weekend, killing more than 30 people.

Update: Wildfires in California

Published: 17 October, 2017

Less than ten of the approximately 1,200 wineries in the most impacted regions – Napa, Sonoma and Mendocino, have been destroyed or heavily damaged by the wildfires in northern California, according to the latest update.

Codorníu reveals plans to move HQ from Catalonia to Rioja

Published: 17 October, 2017

Spanish wine and cava giant Codorníu has announced it is moving its holding company’s headquarters from Catalonia to Rioja over the "uncertainty" surrounding the political conflict between Spain and Catalonia.

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.