The Week That Was: top news, Q&As and opinion on Harpers.co.uk

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

Shortlist for Harpers French Wine Awards announced

The shortlist for the 2014 Harpers French Wine Awards are released today with the likes of Waitrose, Marks & Spencer, The Sampler, Daniel Lambert, Tim Atkin MW and Gerrard Basset MW MS fighting it out for the main awards.

Northcote retains title of Sud de France Sommelier of the Year

Tamus Czinki, head sommelier of Michelin-starred restaurant, Northcote near Blackburn, Lancashire, has been named Sud de France Sommelier of the Year for 2014.

Today's SITT London tasting offers masterclasses on Italy and the Rhône

Wine importer Red Squirrel sees wholesale business grow fivefold in three months

Chiswick wine importer Red Squirrel Wine has seen its wholesale business take off after it beefed up its portfolio and revamped its logo and website.

French bulk market 'tense' in face of Languedoc shortages

The French bulk wine market is starting to look "very tense", according to one top broker, following major shortages in the Languedoc region.

Cru Bourgeois selects 267 chateaux from 2012 vintage

The Alliance des Crus Bourgeois du Médoc has chosen 267 chateaux to represent the region's best wines from the 2012 vintage - bringing numbers to their highest level in the five years since the selection was relaunched.

After two difficult harvests, Loire Valley is optimistic as 2014 vintage starts

Despite a cool August, September's warm weather could not come at a better time for producers in the Loire Valley, where there is a feeling of optimism and relief as the harvest gets underway. 

Team Cox complete Médoc Marathon and raise £16k for drinks charities

French harvest looking good, say estate owners

French winemakers are optimistic about the current harvest, especially given the current spell of good weather is making for perfect harvesting conditions.

Francoise Peretti of the UK's Champagne Bureau on the region's 2014 harvest

Peretti tells Harpers.co.uk this year's Champagne harvest is "textbook" so far, with high quality grapes that could lead to a vintage year.

Baking hot September boosts prospects for Bordeaux 2014 harvest

September's "baking hot" weather in Bordeaux has "greatly improved" the prospects for this year's harvest, with chateau owners comparing it to 2008.

Buyers should act quickly to secure Languedoc wine from 2014 harvest

Wine buyers looking to secure wine from the Languedoc this year are urged to act quickly following predictions the yield could be down as much as 40% on last year, according to the grape broking business, Ciatti Group.

Last chance to vote in Harpers French Wine Awards

There is still time to vote and nominate the outstanding people and companies in the UK wine trade you think are doing the most to represent, promote and sell French wine as part of Harpers French Wine Awards.

Les Grands Chais de France moves into Costières de Nimes

Les Grands Chais de France has acquired Château de la Tuilerie in the Costières de Nimes region for an undisclosed sum. 

Dedicated Wines and Murphy Wine to share business insights at France Summit

Richard Evans of Dedicated Wines, the UK wine agency that helped devise the Les Dauphins wine brand, and Daniel Murphy of bulk wine brokers, Murphy Wine Company, will both share their experiences of French wine at this October's Harpers France Summit.

Tim Atkin reflects on the star quality of the life of Baroness Philippine de Rothschild

As you'd expect of a former actress, Baroness Philippine de Rothschild liked an audience. When Château Mouton-Rothschild hosted the Fête de la Fleur celebration at Vinexpo in June 2003, after guests had enjoyed liberal quantities of the legendary 1982 she took to the stage to thank the room. She had, she announced, invited a good friend along to sing to us. To the sound of the opening bars of the drinking song from Verdi's La Traviata, a black curtain opened behind her to reveal none other than Placido Domingo. Most people would be upstaged by a world famous opera singer, but Philippine had star quality of her own.

Global leaders head to London for Wine Vision 2014

UK's top French wine experts lined up for October's France Summit

A line up of top speakers from across the UK wine trade, including Master Sommeliers, multiple buyers, restaurateurs and leading independents will all be taking part in the second Harpers France Summit taking place on October 21 at London's St Ermin's Hotel.

Vinexpo strengthens management team ahead of 2015 Bordeaux show

Vinexpo has strengthened its management team ahead of next year's exhibition in Bordeaux with two new directors joining the team.