Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Talking Tempranillo

Published: 22 May, 2023

Going under a host of names, Spain’s champion variety arguably deserves a more global reputation. Andrew Catchpole reports.

CVNE folds Rías Baixas winery into portfolio

Published: 16 March, 2023

Rioja group CVNE has acquired Bodegas La Val in Rías Baixas, taking the number of wineries in its portfolio to eight.

Indigenous grapes to fly the flag for Wines from Spain tasting

Published: 23 February, 2023

Over 900 wines from over 280 Spanish bodegas will be available to taste at the Wines from Spain Annual Tasting in London on 28 February. Alongside Spain’s best-known indigenous grapes, like Tempranillo or Verdejo, a plethora of lesser-known varietals will also come to the fore, bringing together classic and newer DOs alike.

Tim Atkin MW releases new Rioja report

Published: 08 February, 2023

Renowned critic and Harpers columnist Tim Atkin MW has launched the 2023 edition of his Rioja Report.

Rioja's white exports grow, but overall market dips

Published: 23 November, 2022

The growth of Rioja’s white wines is paying dividends for the region in the export market, finally making good on a promise that the DO is able to diversify its portfolio abroad. However, things are looking a little less rosy globally in 2022, with uncertainty in various key markets leading exports to take a tumble.

Ramón Bilbao: Reviving old favourites

Published: 07 November, 2022

In 2024, Ramón Bilbao will celebrate its centenary, 100 years of fine winemaking that has firmly established it as one of the leading producers in Spain and one of the world’s most admired wine brands. However, since the start of the current millennium Ramón Bilbao has become famous for more than just great winemaking. Under head winemaker Rodolfo Bastida, who assumed the reins in 1999, and the ownership of the Zamora Group, the Haro-based producer has been at the forefront of innovation in Rioja Alta and beyond. While pursuing excellence, it has cast aside many of the conventions that led many people to brand Rioja as boring and predictable.

Tim Atkin MW: Singling out Rioja's merits

Published: 02 November, 2022

Modern and traditional are surprisingly slippery terms in Rioja and should be handled with caution. Techniques, ideas and debates that are considered contemporary turn out to have strong historical precedents. Reading Ludger Mees’ new book The History of Rioja Wine (Routledge), I was struck by how often the present echoes the past. As early as 1771 – long before Rioja became a famous wine region – people were grumbling about excessive yields and low prices, the very subjects that still exercise commentators, growers and producers today.

Registrations open for Discover Rioja’s 100km of Diversity trade tasting in London

Published: 27 October, 2022

100km of Diversity offers the chance to connect with over forty producers, winemakers and importers, many of whom will be travelling to London from Rioja to share the unique stories behind their wines. Visitors will be able to try the latest Viñedo Singulares, the finest Espumoso de Rioja, barrel-aged whites, elegant rosados, classic Gran Reservas and everything in between. There will also be the chance to discover wines not yet available in the UK.

Bibendum boosts Spanish portfolio

Published: 21 October, 2022

Bibendum Wine has folded Riojan estate Remírez De Ganuza and El Escocés Volante from Aragon into its portfolio.

Green light for Vineyards of Alava appellation in Rioja Alavesa

Published: 19 October, 2022

The Basque government has authorised the Vineyards of Alava appellation (PDO) for wine producers in Rioja Alavesa, the Rioja sub-region which forms part of the Basque Country in Northern Spain.

October is the month of Rioja

Published: 10 October, 2022

Following the success of its inaugural 2021 launch, Rioja wine month is back with a 41% uplift in participants compared to last year.

Spain's new wave of fresher styles

Published: 20 June, 2022

As with any industry, wine is no stranger to buzzwords – particularly when producers and importers are struggling to boost sales in an increasingly competitive marketplace. It’s nigh on impossible to escape the word “minerality” and pretty hard to avoid the phrase “new wave” to describe a movement/group of producers making qualitative changes in regions renowned for being quite predictable.

Rioja rates its 2021 harvest as “very good” and commits to strategic sustainability initiatives

Published: 29 April, 2022

During an annual plenary session, held on 25 April, the Consejo Regulador DOCa Rioja rated the 2021 harvest as “very good”. As usual, the evaluation was ratified following an analytical process during which all wines produced under the Designation last year were sampled.

Beronia becomes first winery to be awarded sustainable benchmark

Published: 27 April, 2022

Beronia winery has become the first winery in the world to achieve a sustainable construction certification which recognises buildings which are sustainably constructed and have a low environmental impact.

Bordeaux and Rioja intertwined as ever at BEIWE event in Haro

Published: 25 March, 2022

The Barrio de la Estación International Wine Encounter (BEIWE) combined two great wine regions, Rioja and Bordeaux, as five hundred wine professionals visited the historic Haro Station District for a tasting to remember.

All change at Bodegas Cosme Palacio

Published: 23 March, 2022

Leading Rioja winery Cosme Palacio has announced a series of important changes at the firm, including new personnel, the launch of a white wine, and a label shakeup.

Atkin unveils latest Rioja Report

Published: 10 February, 2022

Harpers columnist Tim Atkin MW has launched the 2022 edition of his Rioja Report – the seventh in-depth study, published via Atkin's website.

CVNE to release second vintage of resurrected white Rioja

Published: 25 November, 2021

Leading Rioja winery CVNE will release a small volume of its 'new' white Rioja, Monopole Clasico Gran Reserva 2015, in 2022.

Time of change for Rioja

Published: 04 November, 2021

Ambitious producers are relying on forgotten grape varieties and modern techniques to add new dimensions to Spain’s best-known wine region, as Justin Keay reports.

Ramón Bilbao brings ‘forgotten grapes’ to life

Published: 02 September, 2021

Rioja’s Ramón Bilbao has launched Limite Norte and Limite Sur – a red and white duo from viticultural extremes of the region designed to show the richness and diversity of the DO by bringing Rioja’s “forgotten grapes” to life.