Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Nick Gillett: Balancing sustainability with cost

Published: 21 September, 2026

As we transition out of the hottest summer on record and as effects of the supersized El Nino threaten to take hold in far corners of the world, it’s easy to see why we need to do more to fight climate change. The spirits trade (like any other industry) is a contributor to global warming and on the flip side is also an industry seriously threatened by it. After all, spirits and alcohol begin life as agricultural products, born of the land.

Robert Parker unveils ‘green’ search filters and emblem

Published: 01 July, 2021

Robert Parker Wine Advocate has unveiled two new search filter capabilities on its website that allow users to search for wines that are certified organic and/or certified biodynamic.

New Zealand Winegrowers commits to cutting carbon

Published: 22 April, 2020

New Zealand Winegrowers (NZW) has committed to the goal of the New Zealand wine industry being net carbon-zero before 2050.

Co-op grows green offering

Published: 18 February, 2020

Co-op has expanded its green offering with its first unfiltered and organic natural wine alongside a new trio of other sustainably-sourced wines.

Climate action group IWCA welcomes four new members

Published: 30 January, 2020

International Wineries for Climate Action (IWCA) has welcomed our new wineries in its mission to decarbonize the global wine industry.

Serving up sustainability

Published: 21 August, 2019

Sustainability encompasses myriad aspects of business and production. These range from the big-ticket environmental and carbon-emission concerns – seeking to mitigate and adapt in the face of now-rapid climate change – to the socio-economic, whereby workers and employees are offered a fairer deal, including aspects of pay, work conditions, education and advancement.

Somerset’s Stony Street House taps into sustainability

Published: 20 February, 2019

Frome in Somerset now has its first dedicated wine bar and wine shop, with a focus on sustainability and wines on tap.

Green logistics

Published: 03 September, 2018

As Kermit the Frog famously noted in song, it’s not easy being green. For the wine trade the sentiment translates into the problem of how to be environmentally friendly in a business that involves moving vast quantities of product around the globe. In the UK off-trade, where the New World has the upper hand, for example, around 60% of all the wine consumed comes from the deep-sea shipping sources of Australia, the US, Chile, South Africa, Argentina and New Zealand.