Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Soapbox: Natural wine – a murderous funk?

Published: 16 March, 2023

Amphora Cambridge owner Cong Cong Bo takes a low intervention swipe at the faddish addiction to the word ‘natural’ in wine.

Budget misery for UK drinks trade

Published: 15 March, 2023

The trade is facing what has been dubbed a ‘double-pronged tax hike’ following the UK’s Spring Budget earlier this week (15 March), with the freeze on alcohol duty increases to end on 1 August 2023.

Guidalberto steps out of Sassicaia shadow as ‘standalone wine’

Published: 15 March, 2023

Tenuta San Guido is looking to reposition its Guildaberto label as a significant Tuscan icon in its own right, according to the estate’s Priscilla Incisa della Rocchetta.

Henny’s Wine Bar

Published: 15 March, 2023

195C Balham High Rd, London SW12 9BE

Grandes Pagos de España launches global Terroir Workshop

Published: 14 March, 2023

Leading Spanish producer association, Grandes Pagos de España (GPE), has launched a global education program which puts the country’s ‘grand crus’ front and centre.

‘Super stealth tax’ looms via Spring Budget

Published: 14 March, 2023

Industry heads are warning that wine drinkers could face rocketing prices if the chancellor goes ahead with a double-pronged tax hike, likely to be announced at tomorrow’s Spring Budget.

Cambridge gears up for 30th anniversary celebrations

Published: 13 March, 2023

Cambridge Wine Merchants is celebrating reaching three decades in the trade in 2023, with a roster of events lined up to mark the major milestone.

Empire Empire

Published: 13 March, 2023

16 All Saints Road, London W11 1HH

Guy Woodward: On growing into wine

Published: 09 March, 2023

Our trade is not prone to hysteria, but there has been a pronounced bout of bedwetting recently. The cause? Studies showing how the younger generation is turning away from wine, with commentators quick to respond via apocryphal prophecies of doom if the industry doesn’t better engage with millennials.

Majestic seeks new Diversity in Wine scholarship applicants

Published: 06 March, 2023

Leading retailer Majestic is inviting 12 new candidates to join its industry-leading Diversity in Wine scholarship programme.

55 minutes with Rathfinny Estate’s winemaking team

Published: 06 March, 2023

A double dose of decision-making is this month’s focus as Andrew Catchpole join’s Rathfinny for 2019 Blanc de Blancs and Blanc de Noir dosage trials

Jerry Lockspeiser: What can wine learn from Southgate and Stokes?

Published: 24 February, 2023

Some Harpers’ readers may not be avid sports fans, while others may live in countries where football is called soccer or where the game of cricket is as mystifying as nuclear physics. So before discussing why England football manager Gareth Southgate and cricket captain Ben Stokes have something to teach us about business, a little scene setting may be in order.

Kai Mayfair sommelier takes home the 2023 UK Ruinart gong

Published: 22 February, 2023

Mateusz Kowlczyk of Kai Mayfair has been announced as the winner of the 2023 UK Ruinart Sommelier Challenge, taking home the title in the seventh year of the competition.

Danbury Ridge shows eastern promise

Published: 21 February, 2023

Essex clays are poised to lead the charge of quality English still wine. Andrew Catchpole reports from Crouch Valley’s Danbury Ridge.

Arrogant Frog puts up vineyard resistance

Published: 17 February, 2023

Leading Languedoc producer Jean-Claude Mas is set to bring his first fungus resistant varietal wine to market, with the unveiling of a Souvignier Gris ‘Résistant’ at Wine Paris.

Bar 1790

Published: 15 February, 2023

19-23 St Swithins Lane, London EC4N 8AD

Profile: Turning the dial on Greek wine, Maltby & Greek

Published: 14 February, 2023

After growing from market stallholders in London’s Bermondsey, Maltby & Greek founders Yannos Hadjiioannou and Stefanos Kokotos are establishing themselves as London’s go-to Greek food and wine specialists. Jo Gilbert catches up with a duo entering their prime

Jacuzzi

Published: 13 February, 2023

94 Kensington High St, London W8 4SJ

Viajante 87

Published: 09 February, 2023

Basement 87, Notting Hill Gate, London W11 3JZ

Tim Atkin MW: ‘Fine wine’ is outdated

Published: 09 February, 2023

It was a noble, if ultimately inconclusive exercise. Maybe that’s true of anything that involves an indigestible dose of subjectivity. But you can’t fault Areni Global for attempting to define and “rethink” the fine wine market, no less. In a recent white paper, accompanied by an entertaining panel debate and tasting at Sotheby’s in London, the impressive think tank set out to analyse what its chair, Nicole Rolet, calls the “fine wine ecosystem”. Ambitious, as I said.