Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Experience supper with Mondavi

Published: 23 July, 2008

Robert Mondavi is teaming up with some of the UK's best-known chefs to launch a 600,000 marketing campaign.

One-third of Oz wineries predict good growth

Published: 23 July, 2008

More than one-third of Australian wineries polled in a recent survey expect to increase their profitability by 10% or more over the next five years - with only 4% of respondents predicting a decline over the period.

Sutcliffe receives Lgion d'Honneur

Published: 23 July, 2008

Serena Sutcliffe MW, head of Sotheby's International Wine Department, has become the first member of the British wine trade to become a Chevalier dans l'Ordre National de Lgion d'Honneur.

KWV defends empowerment progress after SAWIT pull-out

Published: 23 July, 2008

KWV has denied that the South African Wine Industry Trust's (SAWIT) decision to withdraw its loan of R135 million (10.25 million) to the black empowerment group Phetogo Investments will detrimentally affect KVW's overall black economic empowerment (BEE) strategy.

David Morgan-Hewitt: Managing director, The Goring, London

Published: 23 July, 2008

You started off in public relations and now you're the managing director of one of London's flagship hotels. How did that happen?

Alliance adds three more SA wineries

Published: 23 July, 2008

Alliance Wine has announced that it is to become the UK agent for three new South African wineries.

Rare collection goes for more than 250,000

Published: 23 July, 2008

A rare collection of 18th-century first growth Bordeaux and top Burgundy from the renowned cellar of the famous Hostellerie Coq Hardy, near Paris, has been sold by London-based Antique Wine Company.

Distance Selling

Published: 23 July, 2008

Distance selling is not a recent innovation in the wine trade. Years ago, the lord of the manor would have asked his butler to contact his local wine merchant and place an order. And then, some time later, a coach and horses would arrive with the wine and the deal was done. A primitive form of mail order maybe, but mail order just the same.

South West France - A Sense of Unity

Published: 23 July, 2008

At a time when France is under attack for the lack of a cohesive approach to the problems it has in many of its major wine appellations, it's good to be able to report on a region where disparate factions have come together for the common good. Especially in the wake of the EU proposals to cut wine over-production, which many producers in France see as a threat to a way of life that has shaped the French countryside.

THE INTERVIEW - Alan Burns

Published: 23 July, 2008

The Wild Bergamot Restaurant & Lounge
1 Hillhead Street
Milngavie
Glasgow G62 8AF
Scotland
Tel: 0141 956 6515
www.thewildbergamot.co.uk

After ten years as an army chef, Alan Burns worked in several five-star hotels and Michelin-starred restaurants before opening his own place in Milngavie. He recently changed the name of his restaurant from Gingerhill to The Wild Bergamot and it was named as Glasgow's Restaurant of the Year 2006 by The List magazine.

Key suppliers: Inverarity Vaults, Alexander Wines, Strathardle Fine Wines, Justerini & Brooks.

Real Wine launch

Published: 23 July, 2008

Following a 25-year career buying wine for Safeway, and selling to multiples with a variety of distributors, Mark Hughes has launched The Real Wine Company - a Web-based outlet for small and single-estate producers.

Nyetimber comes out on top for fourth year in row

Published: 23 July, 2008

Nyetimber won the top prize at the 2006 English and Welsh Wine of the Year Awards for the fourth year running and Chapel Down Estate took away five out of the total of 13 trophies, including the Wine Guild Trophy for its 2004 Tenterden Estate Pinot Noir and the McAlpine Winemaker of the Year Trophy for Owen Elias.

Vironneau confirmed at CIVB

Published: 23 July, 2008

The controversial growers leader Alain Vironneau has been named president of the CIVB after an unopposed election.

Ctes du Rhne invests in cricket ground sponsorship

Published: 23 July, 2008

Ctes du Rhne wines will be advertising at cricket grounds this summer. Signage will appear at a number of high-profile matches, which will be televised on Sky, reaching a potential estimated audience of 400,000 to 450,000 viewers.

Griswood moves to Tesco

Published: 23 July, 2008

Thresher Group buyer James Griswood has swapped the specialist sector for the grocery sector, joining Tesco as a wine product development manager.

Islay's Ardbeg launches 1965

Published: 23 July, 2008

Ardbeg - the Islay malt whisky owned by LVMH - is launching a new cask bottling from 1965, which will be priced at more than 2,000 a bottle.

Pol Roger moves into malt

Published: 23 July, 2008

Pol Roger UK has entered the Scotch sector after winning the UK distribution rights for Highland single malt Glenfarclas.

California heats up

Published: 23 July, 2008

By Larry Walker
According to a report published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, global warming could wipe out most of the premium wine grapes in California by the close of the century.

Vinopolis revenue up

Published: 23 July, 2008

Vinopolis - the City of Wine' visitor attraction on London's South Bank that opened in 1999 - has announced that it has increased its annual revenue from corporate events to 4.6 million, more than three times the amount generated after Vinopolis's first year in business.