Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Australian wine exports up 10%

Published: 22 January, 2019

Exports of Australian wine increased 10% last year to $2.82 billion, according to Wine Australia.

Bruce Jack UK launch

Published: 22 November, 2018

Prominent South African winemaker Bruce Jack officially launched his new eponymous wine range yesterday at High Timber restaurant in London.

Record sales at the Hospices de Beaune

Published: 19 November, 2018

The 158th Hospices de Beaune wine auction enjoyed a record sale of €14,18 million (£12.6 million), according to auction organiser Christie’s.

Polish polish

Published: 13 November, 2018

Poland is setting its sights to become an internationally recognised producer of quality wine, with the number of vineyards doubling over the past four years.

Global wine markets: China shines as Brexit Britain picks up wooden spoon

Published: 13 November, 2018

The second annual ProWein Business Report looking at the attractiveness of international export markets for wine has placed China in pole position for the first time.

Bourgogne export volumes grow by 4%

Published: 01 October, 2018

Bourgogne wines saw exports grow by 4% in volume for the first seven months of 2018, compared to the same period in 2017, according to the Bureau Interprofessionnel des Vins de Bourgogne (BIVB).

Brown-Forman appoints Mangrove as UK distributor for its Scotch Whisky portfolio

Published: 23 August, 2018

Brown-Forman has appointed Mangrove Global as the exclusive UK distributor for its premium Scotch Whisky portfolio.

Gonzalez Byass UK to distribute Domäne Wachau

Published: 24 July, 2018

Gonzalez Byass UK has become the distributor for premium Austrian producer Domäne Wachau, taking over from Alliance Wine.

Kiwi winegrowers predict ‘modest’ export growth in spite of good harvest

Published: 25 June, 2018

New Zealand winegrowers are predicting only modest export growth for the coming year in spite of a 6% surge in grape production.

Italian innovation

Published: 25 June, 2018

Harpers approached leading producers and consorzios to discover where investment is taking place and what new varieties, styles and initiatives are being driven forward

Onwards and upwards

Published: 16 May, 2018

Brexit and political tussling over the UK’s place in the world is taking place alongside the growing global conversation around quality UK wines and spirits. Here we map the points where the two meet

“Bump in the road” predicted for imports of Oz wine

Published: 12 December, 2017

Retailers in the UK are being warned to take care when it comes to securing supply of Australian wine as increased competition from China and the US places pressure on exports.

Uruguay’s winemakers target UK 'global shop window'

Published: 14 November, 2017

As an Atlantic-cooled nation of just 3.4 million people, Uruguay and its winemakers are keenly aware of the need to differentiate its wine offer from that of the country's major South American rivals, viewing the UK as an unrivalled platform to achieve that aim.

Brexit-focused WSTA Conference delivers greater clarity - on extent of uncertainty

Published: 13 September, 2017

The WSTA’s Miles Beale called on the government for “more active partnership, more communication and to get more done” at its annual conference in London on Tuesday, which delivered insights into the complexity of Brexit, along with the gulf of uncertainty that still exists for the UK drinks trade.

World’s largest gathering of Aussie Women in Wine to descend on London

Published: 29 August, 2017

Wine Australia’s Women in Wine event on 26 September will see some 57 female winemakers and winery owners on hand at Australia House in London for an event that aims to help drive perception of premium Aussie wines and bring new wines to market.

Australia’s alternative varieties buck trend in UK market

Published: 14 August, 2017

Montepulciano, Nebbiolo, Verdelho and Fiano are among a host of alternative and less established varieties from Australia that are on the rise, helping drive premium sales from Down Under in the UK.

‘Stable’ global wine inventories likely to tighten in 2017 against backdrop of worldwide value growth

Published: 26 July, 2017

Rabobank’s Q3 Wine Report has revealed that global wine inventories are in the main “balanced to slightly tight”, while bulk wine prices for most varietals are “stable or rising”, with 2017 hail and frost damage in European vineyards likely to further impact on these continuing trends when set against a coming shortfall in this year’s northern vintage.

Spanish group ARAEX adds Priorat and Jerez to portfolio

Published: 22 June, 2017

ARAEX Grands Spanish Fine Wines is in the process of adding producers from two further DOs to its country-wide collection of estates, bringing Priorat and Jerez into the fold.

New Zealand vintage down 9%

Published: 12 June, 2017

A smaller than expected New Zealand vintage has been forecasted thanks to troublesome weather conditions.

Value and volume of Scotch exports up for first time since 2011

Published: 28 April, 2017

Amid the uncertainty surrounding trade routes and tariffs thrown up by Brexit, exports of Scotch rose in both value and volume last year, rising by 4% to more than £4 billion and 4.8% to 1.2bn bottles respectively.