Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Stock Spirits hails turnaround and appoints permanent CEO

Published: 11 August, 2016

European spirits distiller Stocks Spirits has posted positive half-yearly results and appointed a new CEO after a "difficult" 2015.

Diageo dropping the "Guinness" from name of its US beer business

Published: 09 August, 2016

Diageo is changing the name of its beer business in the US from Diageo-Guinness USA to Diageo Beer Co. USA to broaden its appeal.

Miles Beale: The wine and spirits industry has its heart in the right place - the UK

Published: 08 August, 2016

Miles Beale, the chief executive of the Wine and Spirits Trade Association, reminds us while opportunities and challenges lay ahead following the Brexit vote "this is not a time for knee-jerk reactions", but "it is also not a time to be left standing still either."

New HMRC spirit production guidelines drafted to help improve business licensing

Published: 08 August, 2016

New guidelines are being drafted by the HMRC to help distillers looking to apply to become a licensed spirit producers in the UK easier.

Proposal seeks to replace "outdated" Rioja classifications

Published: 05 August, 2016

A Spanish winery is lobbying to change guidelines to make it easier for premium and super premium wineries to differentiate themselves from others in the "Rioja brand".

Insights: The rise of direct-to-consumer retailing

Published: 05 August, 2016

With products facing ever-increasing competition for shelf space, Angela Mount looks at how brands are cutting out the middlemen

Q&A: Chester Osborn, head of D'Arenberg Wines

Published: 04 August, 2016

Chester Osborn, a man famous for his loud shirts and the flamboyant head of D'Arenberg Wines, talks to Angela Mount about his winemaking ethos and his quirkily-named wines.

Graham Norton expands his wine range

Published: 04 August, 2016

Following the tremendous success of his own-label sauvignon blanc, Graham Norton will be expanding production the GN Sauvignon Blanc and will be adding an Australian Shiraz to the range this Autumn.

The Balvenie's David Stewart MBE talks 50 years in Scotch

Published: 04 August, 2016

Recent MBE recipient and The Balvenie master blender David Stewart has witnessed the full evolution of the modern Scotch industry throughout his 53 year career - and pioneered a few revolutionary production methods along the way.

New multi-million pound brewery for Chapel Down's Curious Drinks

Published: 02 August, 2016

Chapel Down has completed the exchange of contracts on a 1.6-acre site to further develop its beer and cider business.

Oddbins first to stock wine from Kingsland Drinks' carbonation line

Published: 01 August, 2016

Kingsland Drinks' has found the first listing of its new carbonated wines, having launched a carbonated version of the Shorn range to make the most of the rising demand for sparkling wine.

Record climb for aromatics at Cono Sur

Published: 01 August, 2016

Chilean wine brand Cono Sur has reported rapid growth in popularity of aromatic-style wine, especially with sales of its Viognier, which has seen 148% growth in sales compared to the same period last year.

New chairman at Viña Santa Rita

Published: 29 July, 2016

Baltazar Sánchez Guzmán has been appointed to lead the board at Chilean winery Viña Santa Rita.

Loire: a new opportunity?

Published: 29 July, 2016

While the Loire was among the highest climbers of France's wine regions in terms of UK exports in 2015, frost this year has forced several independent Loire producers to redistribute and raise their prices of existing allocations.

Diageo GB net sales grow 4%

Published: 28 July, 2016

Diageo Great Britain has posted its third year of continuous growth with net sales up 4%.

LVMH posts 7% revenue growth for wines and spirits in H1

Published: 27 July, 2016

Luxury wines and spirits producer LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton has reported strong performance from wines and spirits in all regions, compared to flat profits in its fashion sector.

Family Affair Part 4: Miguel Torres Maczassek, general manager, Bodegas Torres

Published: 26 July, 2016

Family-owned wineries still thrive in an increasingly consolidated world. Andrew Catchpole speaks to Miguel Torres Maczassek, the general manager of Bodegas Torres, about the benefits of being independently run. This is the final article in a four part series.

Halewood Wines & Spirits buys greater stake in Irish whiskey brand

Published: 26 July, 2016

Halewood Wines & Spirits has purchased a significant stake in West Cork Distillers to develop the Irish whiskey portfolio and expand its global reach.

Family Affair Part 3: Mitchell Taylor, managing director, Wakefield Wines, Clare Valley

Published: 25 July, 2016

Family-owned wineries still thrive in an increasingly consolidated world. Andrew Catchpole speaks to Mitchell Taylor, the managing director of Wakefield Wines located in the Clare Valley, about the benefits of being independently run. This is the third article in a four part series.

French wine production expected to drop 8% for 2016 due to poor spring weather

Published: 25 July, 2016

French wine production is expected to decline 8% for the 2016 harvest following the damaging hailstorms and spring frost which hit several different areas across the country according to the French Minister of Agriculture Stéphane Le Foll.