Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

No sign of slowdown in sparkling wine growth

Published: 07 July, 2014

Sparkling wine sales are showing no signs of slowing down - volumes rocketed 20% in the second quarter of 2014.

Whisky maker William Grant & Sons donates to campaigns against Scottish independence

Published: 07 July, 2014

Spirits firm William Grant & Sons has donated money to several groups who are campaigning for a "no" vote in the upcoming Scottish independence referendum.

New Zealand scholarship up for grabs for UK wine professionals

Published: 07 July, 2014

UK wine professionals with a hankering for the New Zealand way of life could see their dreams come true by winning a scholarship to Marlborough.

David Cartwright remembers Mario Kempes, Gordon Banks and Bryan Robson

Published: 07 July, 2014

And then there were four...yes the Brazil World Cup is getting down to the serious stuff with only the semi-finals and final to go. But there is still time for members of the trade to share their World Cup Memories. David Cartwright of Seckford Agencies is the latest to take up the challenge.

Lebanese producers move to protect vital supplies from Syria

Published: 07 July, 2014

Lebanese wine producers are having to take continued steps to ensure the quality of aniseed sourced from Syria to help make the traditonal drink, arak, is not compromised by the continued conflict over the border.

Adrian Atkinson leaves his role as Pernod Ricard's wine development manager

Published: 04 July, 2014

Adrian Atkinson has left Pernod Ricard this week as part of a mini restructure of its commercial and marketing teams.

Wine merchants celebrate national Independents' Day with sales boosts of up to 30%

Published: 04 July, 2014

Independent wine merchants are going from strength to strength in the UK, with a straw poll showing sales up by between 20% and 30%.

The week that was: top news, Q&As and opinion on Harpers.co.uk

Published: 04 July, 2014

In case you missed some of the headlines this week on harpers.co.uk, we have done a review of the top online news, Q&As, and opinion stories.

Leading independents hit out at major wine suppliers for their "lazy" service

Published: 04 July, 2014

Leading independent wine merchants have stepped up to the plate today to strongly criticise the quality of service that they are receiving from many of the major UK national wine suppliers and distributors.

Naked Wines has 50% increase in number of Angels and 40% sales growth in 2013

Published: 04 July, 2014

Naked Wines released it financial performance results today for 2013 which includes a 40% increase in sales reaching £53 million driven by a 50% increase in the number of Angel investors.

Harpers Design Awards relaunches as global competition

Published: 04 July, 2014

The Harpers Design Awards are being relaunched for 2014 as a global competition, inviting entries for wines, spirits, beers, ciders and soft drinks from anywhere in the world - providing they are already on sale in the market.

France Summit to focus on how the country is adapting to UK consumer needs

Published: 04 July, 2014

Harpers will once again be turning the spotlight well and truly on the ins and outs, ups and downs of the French wine category as the French Summit returns for its second year on October 21 at London's St Ermin's Hotel.

Guy Woodward lambasts old school wine world for being stuck in its ivory tower

Published: 04 July, 2014

Former Decanter editor, Guy Woodward, uses his first regular Harpers column today to lambast the old school wine world for being out of touch with how consumers now want to talk about wine.

Independent wine merchants report sales hikes of up to 30%

Published: 04 July, 2014

Independent wine merchants are going from strength to strength in the UK, with a straw poll showing sales up by between 20 and 30%.

World Cup memories from Nik Darlington, Robin Copestick and Rachel Davey

Published: 04 July, 2014

England may have nothing but disappointment to bring home from Brazil, but here we turn to some friends in the trade to remind us of past glories and happy memories from World Cups gone by. If you would like to share your World Cup memories then send to richard.siddle@wrbm.com.

'Team Cox' to run Médoc Marathon in memory of Michael Cox

Published: 03 July, 2014

Leading members of the wine trade are to come together as "Team Cox" to run the Médoc Marathon in memory of Michael Cox, the former UK head of Wines of Chile, who died earlier this year.

Guy Woodward remembers Maradona, Gazza and 1990 in his World Cup memories

Published: 03 July, 2014

Two days without World Cup football on TV? Well here is our latest World Cup Memory to keep you going whilst we wait for the quater-finals to kick off tomorrow afternoon. Step forward Aston Villa fan and former editor of Decanter, Guy Woodward, for his trip down World Cup memory lane. Guy has also agreed to sign for Harpers as one of our regular columnists here on Harpers.co.uk and in the magazine, so look out for his latest column on the site tomorrow.

Wine Vision to focus on how industry must adapt to millennials' needs

Published: 03 July, 2014

Wine Vision's return to London in November will examine key issues affecting growth in the industry as relationships between wine brands and consumers change and competition from spirits and beer intensifies.

Australian wineries face selling wines at a loss in 2014

Published: 03 July, 2014

Australian wineries face selling their wines at a loss this year if prices fall below current levels, given high costs of grapes and production in 2014, warns top wine broker.

Clapham wine bar to open in public toilet

Published: 03 July, 2014

A 100-year-old public toilet in Clapham in south London is getting ready to open its doors after being radically revamped into WC, Wine & Charcuterie bar.