Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

English wine continues expansion with new Kent winery

Published: 26 February, 2024

Wine firm Wildshark Vineyard has submitted plans for a new winery, visitor centre and hotel in Maidstone, Kent.

Gusbourne reports double digit growth for 2023

Published: 31 January, 2024

Gusbourne has revealed the results of what turned out to be a major year of change and upheaval for the estate, with sales growth both in the UK and abroad in the double digits.

Gusbourne reshuffle continues with new head winemaker

Published: 29 January, 2024

Gusbourne has announced it has a new face leading its winemaking team, with Mary Bridges now officially taking on the mantle of head winemaker following the departure of CEO Charlie Holland.

MDCV appoints Henry Boyes and Ali Tweedie-Wood

Published: 29 January, 2024

Leading English wine producer, MDCV UK, has announced the appointment of two on-trade sales directors – Henry Boyes and Ali Tweedie-Wood.

All change for Gusbourne as it announces CEO

Published: 17 January, 2024

Leading sparkling and fine wine producer Gusbourne has today announced it has a new CEO, with former marketing director Jonathan White stepping up following a ‘rigorous internal and external search process’.

Friday read: Hampshire wines making their mark

Published: 24 March, 2023

Ahead of next week’s Vineyards of Hampshire trade tasting, Justin Keay dives into how the wider English wine industry has changed, with regions outside Kent and Sussex growing all the while.

Finding the ‘perfect’ English sparkling wine glass

Published: 30 January, 2023

Designing the best glass with which to serve a particular style of wine has long been the mission for the Riedel family, which has built a glass-blowing empire out of pinpointing the precise dimensions for higher end drinks receptacles. And having a bespoke vessel to deliver the best expression of your wine arguably suggests you have ‘arrived’, confirming a seat at the top table. A position English sparkling wine took a step closer to last week.

DTC sales give Gusbourne post-pandemic boost

Published: 08 June, 2022

The latest financial results from English wine producer Gusbourne have reinforced the strong position of the category within the UK market.

Balfour Winery to develop boutique wine hotel in Kent

Published: 28 March, 2022

Maidstone Borough Council has accepted Balfour Winery entrepreneur Richard Balfour-Lynn’s proposal to develop plans to create a boutique wine hotel in the Archbishop’s Palace, Maidstone, Kent.

Kent picked as one of 10 top ‘Grape Escape Destinations'

Published: 17 March, 2021

International Wine Tourism Conference (IWINETC) has pinpointed Kent as one of its ’10 Grape Escape Destinations' for 2021.

Dom Perignon winemaker moves to Kent

Published: 08 December, 2020

Nick Lane, who was part of the winemaking team at Dom Perignon, has moved to the UK to join contract-only winery, Defined Wine.

Simpsons looks to launch “super-premium” English Chardonnay

Published: 13 October, 2020

Simpsons English Wine Estate is looking to raise the stakes for still English wines with a limited edition Chardonnay called Q Class.

Black Chalk enters Japanese market

Published: 06 August, 2020

English wine producer Black Chalk has secured distribution in Japan in a move driven by Black Chalk director and investor, Kenya Matsumoto.

Wine GB unveils 2020 award winners

Published: 04 August, 2020

Wine GB has unveiled the winners of the Wine GB Awards 2020 for which there were a record 281 entries, with 34 gold medals, 98 silver medals and 113 bronze medals given.

Nyetimber expands across Kent with 205,000 new vines

Published: 18 May, 2020

Nyetimber has gone ahead with plans to rapidly expand its area under vine, with a major planting of 42ha at a new site in Kent.

Essex and East Anglia primed for viticultural expansion say climate change researchers

Published: 28 January, 2020

Climate change researchers have pegged Essex and Norfolk as the next major areas to plant as warmer summers extend the area where grapes can be grown productively in the UK.

Gusbourne expands global reach

Published: 19 December, 2019

Gusbourne has announced it is extending its global reach with new distribution partners in seven countries from the start of 2020.

Macknade opens shop championing Kentish wine

Published: 22 October, 2019

Kent-based foodhall Macknade has taken on a wine retail outlet offering 400+ wines,

Chapel Down adds gin-making experience to its London venue

Published: 24 September, 2019

English fizz producer Chapel Down continues to expand its footprint in the gin category with a new range of gin-based experiences at its new London venue.