Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Cult Wines targets big growth with Hong Kong office launch

Published: 05 January, 2016

Fine wine investment company Cult Wines is to open a new office in Hong Kong as part of an ambitious growth strategy.

HMRC clampdown on duty evasion begins

Published: 05 January, 2016

The HMRC's Alcohol Wholesaler Registratation Scheme is now operational.

Gin tourism comes to Manchester

Published: 05 January, 2016

Manchester gin lovers will soon be able to enjoy a tour of some the city's best bars fuelled by their favourite tipple, thanks to a new drinking experience launching in the spring.

Kingscote winery goes up for sale following death of owner

Published: 05 January, 2016

The Kingscote Estate in East Grinstead, Sussex, has been put up for sale following the unexpected death of owner and founder Christian Monge last year.

SWA survey finds huge public support for cut in UK whisky tax

Published: 04 January, 2016

British consumers are overwhelmingly in favour of a cut in the tax on a bottle of Scotch, according to a new survey sponsored by the Scottish Whisky Association.

Flint looks to Brooklyn's Red Hook for latest US winery listing

Published: 04 January, 2016

On-trade supplier Flint Wines has signed an exclusive deal to add Brooklyn's Red Hook Winery to its US portfolio.

Winemakers deliberately mislead on alcohol content, study claims

Published: 04 January, 2016

Winemakers systematically misrepresent the alcohol content of their wines, according a new study from the University of California in Davis.

2015 year in review and hopes and fears for 2016: Clare Griffiths, Concho y Toro

Published: 04 January, 2016

Our final look back at 2015 is from Clare Griffiths, commercial director for Concho y Toro UK which saw an impressive performance for 2015- which may be tough to beat. But looking ahead Griffiths is most excited about continuing the work her team has been doing in 2016 by focusing on building strong brands that deliver value in the UK market.

2015 year in review and hopes and fears for 2016: John McLaren, Wines Institute of California

Published: 04 January, 2016

As we all ease our way into 2016 and we have a few of our final thoughts as the year begins from John McLaren, UK director of Wines Institute of California. Californian wines have done incredibly well in 2051, but McLaren sees consumers which buy from supermarkets as a challenge ahead in 2016.

2015 year in review and hopes and fears for 2016: Ted Sandbach, Oxford Wine Company

Published: 31 December, 2015

Ted Sandbach, managing director and owner of the Oxford Wine Company, looks back at an exciting 2015 with opening of another Wine Cafe and figures are up with his wholesale business. He is looking forward to enjoying the Great Escape over the Christmas break, but looking to 2016 Sandbach sees more consolidation ahead for the industry.

2015 year in review and hopes and fears for 2016: Anita Jackson, Wines of Chile

Published: 31 December, 2015

Anita Jackson, UK director of Wines of Chile, looks back at a successful 2015, with volume and value figures up over the previous year. She was particularly pleased with the success of the innovative Mercado Andino tasting in 2015. But over the Christmas period she looking forward to putting her feet up and enjoy a little down time before 2016, where she sees the biggest challenge ahead is getting consumers to trade up in their wine purchases.

2015 year in review and hopes and fears for 2016: Bernard Fontannaz, Origin Wine

Published: 30 December, 2015

Bernard Fontannaz, founder of Origin Wine, looks back at an overall positive 2015 and is excited about the sustainable future he is building for his company. He had a year full of expansion and is looking forward to more innovation in 2016.

2015 year in review and hopes and fears for 2016: Nik Darlington, Red Squirrel Wine

Published: 29 December, 2015

For founder of Red Squirrel Wine, Nik Darlington, 2015 was a year of tremendous growth. Next year Darlington is looking forward to getting his wines even further around the UK. He sees that in 2016 the way forward, although challenging, will be through building a loyal and sustainable customer base.

2015 year in review and hopes and fears for 2016: Dan Townsend, Treasury Wine Estates

Published: 29 December, 2015

Dan Townsend, general manager of Europe for Treasury Wine Estates, saw 2015 as very strong year at TWE and thinks that the reverse takeover of Matthew Clark by Conviviality "has the potential to be a real game changer in terms of the UK trading landscape." Townsend is most excited about the opportunities that lay ahead in 2016, but sees Duty as one of the toughest challenges that trade faces next year.

2015 year in review and hopes and fears for 2016: Sarah Abbott MW, Turkish Wine Alliance and Swirl

Published: 28 December, 2015

Sarah Abbott MW has her fingers in many pies, including running her own events company Swirl and helping clients like the Turkish Wine Alliance promote their wines in the UK. While 2015 was a brilliant year for her, she is looking forward to 2016 and helping wine producers in countries that face huge political and economic pressures promote their wines in the UK as wine in these countries is a symbol of defiant hope. But 2016 will also have challenges and she worries about the uncertainty of the UK remaining as part of the EU.

2015 year in review and hopes and fears for 2016: Miles Beale, WSTA

Published: 28 December, 2015

Miles Beale chief executive officer of the Wine and Spirits Trade Association, celebrated the 'best budget outcome for almost 20 years' in 2015. Looking ahead, Beale is gearing up to to make the case for a 2% duty cut and fairer treatment for wine in 2016.

Time, please, ladies and gentlemen!

Published: 24 December, 2015

The Harpers team would like to wish all in the drinks trade a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year as we pirouette into the seasonal festivities and look ahead to a successful 2016.

2015 year in review and hopes and fears for 2016: Andrew Maidment, Wines of Argentina

Published: 24 December, 2015

Andrew Maidment, the head of Wines of Argentina in the UK said 2015 was another great year with growth of 26% compared to 2014. Looking ahead though Maidment sees 2016 as year to continue to focus on the end drinker, but will be following the discount retailers next year.

2015 year in review and hopes and fears for 2016: Robin Copestick, Copestick Murray

Published: 24 December, 2015

Robin Copestick of Copestick Murray looks back at Stoke City football and how healthy the UK wine trade was in 2015. Although 2015 was good- "2016 will be better still."

English wine producer Hambledon Vineyard announces expansion plans

Published: 23 December, 2015

Hambledon Vineyard has announced plans to to increase the estates's production facilities in response to growing demand of its award-winning English sparkling wine.