Burgundy's School of Wine & Spirits Business enrolment rises 30%

Burgundy School of Business's recently launched School of Wine & Spirits Business (SWBS) saw the number of students rise by 30% to nearly 140 students for the 2014-2015 academic year.

Chief of the Week: Anne Burchett, managing director, Sopexa UK

As we have put such a focus on French wines this week with the France Summit it is only fitting that our Chief of the Week is none other than Anne Burchett, managing director of Sopexa UK, who won the Harpers Special Achievement Award at our French Wine Awards.

Leading lights of UK wine trade gather for today's Harpers France Summit

Leading figures from all channels of the wine trade will be today taking part in the second Harpers France Summit to look at ways in which retailers, restaurants, distributors and importers can make the most of French wine in the UK.

Bordeaux to launch first global marketing campaign to address falling sales

The Conseil Interprofessionel du Vin de Bordeaux (CIVB) is launching its first global marketing campaign to help counter falls in sales by both volume and value. Its seven priority markets - China, USA, UK, Japan, Germany,  Belgium and France - will soon be flooded with new atmospheric images drawn up by leading British advertising agency, Isobel.

Xavier Gramona: why he is committed to Cava and putting quality first

Established in 1921 at the heart of Cava's homeland in Sant Sadurni D'Anoia, Gramona has long held the status of the region's finest sparkling winemaker. Driven by the belief that top class Cava - both in price and quality - can compete with world class Champagne, Gramona practices extended lees ageing for its wines, in contrast to the industry norms. The house also now closely observes the Champagneois culture of late disgorgement, having released a Bollinger-esq R.D 14 year old Cava at €125 a bottle this year.

Analysis: how effective has the Crus Bourgeois classification been?

Last week the Alliance des Crus Bourgeois arrived in London for the fifth annual review of the wines deemed worthy to use the Cru Bourgeois seal of approval. Five years into the new incarnation of the classification Heather Dougherty reviews its successes and challenges - and looks at its prospects for the future.

Pablo Alvarez, Vega Sicilia, on the global opportunity for Ribera del Duero wines

Vega Sicilia was established in 1859, although its modern history began with the property's purchase by the Alvarez family in 1982, who acquired the estate as joint shareholders. Patriarch David Alvarez subsequently appointed his son Pablo as managing director of the property. Since the mid-1980s, Pablo Alvarez has ensured that Vega Sicilia remains Ribera Del Duero's most renowned and prestigious wine, for sale in over 25 markets. With Alvarez's careful direction, the property has managed to overcome both the Spanish economic crisis and endure a family feud over the future of the estate, in addition to investing in the regions of Rioja and Toro. James Lawrence reports:

Ribera del Duero should shun powerful wines for more classic style says Pingus founder

The biggest threat to the future of wines from the Ribera Del Duero is consumers turning their back on the signature ripe and powerful style of the region, according to Pingus founder Peter Sisseck.

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.

British Bottle Company offers expert export service for UK drinks

The British Bottle Company is a new specialist export business dedicated to helping British drinks, including English wine, craft beers and artisanal spirits, gain distribution in key export markets around the world.

Bolivian wine trade to head to ProWein 2015

Bolivia, newcomer to the wine trade, is making its presence felt internationally by taking a stand at next year's ProWein show in Dusseldorf.

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. 

Accolade Wines switches its European division from the UK to Poland

Accolade Wines is to run its European affairs from a new dedicated office in Warsaw, Poland rather than manage the operation from its UK headquarters.

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.

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.

Ferrari's Camilla Lunelli on finding a home for Trentodoc Italian sparkling wine in the UK

It was Giulio Ferrari in Trento, the Alpine north of Italy, who pioneered traditional method sparkling wines, or 'Metodo Classico', in Italy in 1902. With barely 900 hectares dedicated to sparkling wine production, mostly in mountainous vineyards, the wineries of Trentodoc, as the association is known, have carved out prime position at home.

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.

Cornish winery Knightor introduces German-inspired low-alcohol wine

Cornish winery, Knightor, is releasing a new lower alcohol wine to its portfolio which is inspired by Italy's Moscato D'Asti or Germany's Kabinett and Spätlese styles in the Mosel.

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