Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

The week that was: top news, Q&As and opinion on Harpers.co.uk

Published: 28 March, 2014

In case you missed some of the headlines this week on harpers.co.uk, we have done a review of the top online news, Q&As, and opinion stories.

Jancis Robinson and Justin Howard-Sneyd part of speaker line-up at UK's first cool climate event

Published: 28 March, 2014

Leading UK wine trade figures, Jancis Robinson MW and Justin Howard-Sneyd, are two of the speakers that have been announced for the International Cool Climate Wine Symposium which takes place in the UK for the first time between May 26 and May 28, 2016.

Wine sales down 2% in on and off-trade, says WSTA report

Published: 27 March, 2014

Wine is still struggling in both the on and off-trade, with sales down 2% over the last year, says the latest WSTA market report.

Call My Wine Bluff hopes to top £1m in money raised at May 8 event

Published: 27 March, 2014

Call My Wine Bluff, founded by UK wine trade consultant Jerry Lockspeiser, hopes to again raise much needed money for AcionAid when it takes place on May 8 in London's Gibson Hall.

Wine Australia prepares for on-trade push

Published: 27 March, 2014

Wine Australia is getting ready to up the ante in the on-trade with "extraordinary" dinners in London as part of Tourism Australia's latest campaign.

Pomerol's La Conseillante buys new plot

Published: 27 March, 2014

Pomerol's Château La Conseillante, owned for the past 140 years by the Nicolas family, has acquired an additional 3,000m² plot in the area.

Les Grands Chais de France to launch wine based and sparkling wine over ice brands to the UK

Published: 26 March, 2014

French wine giant, Les Grands Chais de France, is looking to release a number of wine-based drinks, including a Merlot mixed with cola, as it looks to capitalise on the growing interest in fruit based and innovative sparkling wine products both in France and overseas.

I Heart Wine close to hitting 1 million case sales around the world

Published: 26 March, 2014

Copestick Murray's I Heart brand is closing to hitting 1 million 9 litre case sales around the world.

Pontet-Canet's early high price could make it 'un-saleable'

Published: 26 March, 2014

In an unprecedented move Bordeaux wine producer Château Pontet-Canet broke ranks on Wednesday by releasing its trade price, of €60 per bottle for the 2013 vintage, ahead of next week's official tastings.

NZ wineries import Sauvignon Blanc to cope with demand

Published: 26 March, 2014

Shortages of New Zealand's signature grape have led to imports of Sauvignon Blanc from Chile and South Africa to satisfy demand.

'Sinful' wine and beer RTD launches

Published: 26 March, 2014

Mosel-based German wine producer ZGM has come up with the unthinkable: an RTD mixing beer and wine, being sold as an 'aromatised wine-cocktail' in a small, crown-capped beer bottle.

Q&A with James Marvin, winner of BBC's Michel Roux's Service programme, three years on

Published: 26 March, 2014

The BBC programme Michel Roux's Service focused on recruiting young people to consider the hospitality industry and in particular front-of-house as a career. It first screened in 2011, and has just been repeated on BBC Two.

ProWein visitors up 7% to 48,000

Published: 26 March, 2014

Visitors to Dusseldorf's international wine fair ProWein have jumped 7% on last year to 48,000, with twice as many Chinese and Hong Kong visitors compared to last year.

Prosecco cocktails could be next big UK drinking trend, says Robin Copestick

Published: 25 March, 2014

Prosecco cocktails which have become popular across Italy and Germany could be the next big drinking trend in the UK, according to Robin Copestick of wine agency, Copestick Murray.

Global wine industry gambles on North America and China

Published: 25 March, 2014

The USA, Canada and China are to remain top investment targets for importers for the next 20 years according to a report by Wine Intelligence.

South African brands must invest more to bolster premium wines, says WOSA chief

Published: 25 March, 2014

In order to boost growth of South Africa's more premium wines, producers and brands need to be prepared to invest, says WoSA chief.

Australian harvest smaller than 2013, with quality "mixed bag"

Published: 25 March, 2014

The Australian harvest looks to be smaller than 2013, with quality a "mixed bag", say experts.

Spanish wine storms into second place at Laithwaite's

Published: 25 March, 2014

Spain has become its second-biggest category for Laithwaite's wine in the UK market, after sales rocketed by 10% since July 2013.

?Kingsland appoints Guy Young as commercial director

Published: 25 March, 2014

Kingsland Wine & Spirits has appointed Guy Young as commercial director following Rob Page's move to Bavaria UK as managing director.

?Stevens Garnier appointed UK distributor of Mouton Cadet

Published: 24 March, 2014

Steven Garnier signed a deal today, which has been in the works for months, to be the UK's exclusive off-trade distributor of Baron Philippe de Rothschild, S.A. Mouton Cadet range.