Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

What wine do women want?

Published: 23 July, 2008

An Australian wine show has announced a controversial new trophy - The Wine Women Want - following a run of what may be deemed sexist wine competitions.

Laurent-Perrier celebrates Glamour Woman of the Year

Published: 23 July, 2008

Laurent-Perrier Ultra Brut Champagne was the favourite tipple among film stars and supermodels alike at the prestigious Glamour Woman of the Year Awards this month.

Call for the government to support Fairtrade

Published: 23 July, 2008

Harriet Lamb, executive director of the UK's Fairtrade Foundation, has called on the Government to support Fairtrade.

Russian leader

Published: 23 July, 2008

Russian Standard is a range of three new wheat-based vodkas hoping to do as well in the UK as its homeland.

Smoking ban blamed for fall in alcohol sales in Scotland

Published: 23 July, 2008

Beer sales hit the hardest but wine volume up 3% year-on-year.

Brocard leaves Chablis

Published: 23 July, 2008

Stphane Brocard, son of Jean-Marc Brocard, has left his family's awarded domaine in Chablis to start up his own ngociant business dealing with red Burgundy.

Burn Stewart distribution back in-house

Published: 23 July, 2008

Burn Stewart Distillers, maker of Scottish Leader, Black Bottle and Bunnahabhain whiskies, has ditched its London-based distributor Paragon Vintners and brought its sales back home to Scotland.

Foreign visitors descend on Vinexpo

Published: 23 July, 2008

The world's biggest wine and spirit fair sees a record number of foreign visitors.

Scottish whisky comes to England

Published: 23 July, 2008

One of Scotland's most lauded master distillers has crossed the border to establish England's first whisky distillery.

New whisky law announced

Published: 23 July, 2008

New EU spirit drinks law says whisky cannot be flavoured or sweetened.

Napa cult wines attract high bids

Published: 23 July, 2008

The 27th Auction Napa Valley, the annual fundraiser and showcase for Napa Valley wines, raised a near-record $9.8 million (4.9 million) last Saturday, thanks to heated bidding for cult wines such as Screaming Eagle, Hundred Acre and Harlan Estate.

Public consultation on Wine Standards

Published: 23 July, 2008

The Wine Standards branch of the Food Standards Agency (FSA) has launched a 12-week public consultation on its enforcement policy.

EU ruling on organic production

Published: 23 July, 2008

The European Union has reached an agreement on organic production and labelling which will form the basis of new rules for organic wine and yeasts used in fermentation.

Viniportugal vice-president to open new winery

Published: 23 July, 2008

Paulo Amorim, the vice-president of generic body Viniportugal, is to open a new winery in the Alentejo.

Moldovan Wine Back in Russia?

Published: 23 July, 2008

Agreement between presidents Vladimir Putin and Vladimir Voronin at their June summit has paved the way for the return of Moldovan wines to Russia.

No show for South African wine at Vinexpo

Published: 23 July, 2008

French customs impound the country's wines for two days forcing scores of wine producers to miss the world's largest wine fair.

Intersud announces 10-year marketing plan

Published: 23 July, 2008

Intersud, which represents the four wine-producing areas of Languedoc-Roussillon, has announced details of a major marketing strategy which sets out production and sales targets in six key markets.

Castel MD denies Oddbins phase-out

Published: 23 July, 2008

Anne Burchett, MD of Castel UK, has hit back at criticism of multiple retailer Oddbins, and denied that its branches will all be rebranded as Nicolas stores.