Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Vinexpo - visitor numbers up on 2009

Published: 23 June, 2011

Early indication of final visitor numbers to Vinexpo 2011 show a rise of 3% on 2009, suggesting that around 48,000 wine and spirits professionals attended the exhibition.

Producers can only compete below £5 with low-alcohol wines, says Origin Wine's Bernard Fontannaz

Published: 23 June, 2011

Low-alcohol wines will be the only way producers will be able to compete in the sub £5 category in the UK in the future, according to Bernard Fontannaz, chief executive of Origin Wine.

Origin Wine launches premium Fairtade wine as part of new launches at Vinexpo

Published: 23 June, 2011

Origin Wines is set to introduce three new ranges in to the UK and international wine markets covering low alcohol, organic, Fairtrade and premium wines.

Vinexpo - US finds UK market a 'tough nut to crack'

Published: 22 June, 2011

US producers are finding the UK market a 'tough nut to crack' due to production costs, and a more rigorous UK pricing structure, according to US producers and exporters at Vinexpo.

Lurton looks to new opportunities in France

Published: 22 June, 2011

Francois Lurton has his eye on vineyard acquisitions in the Languedoc-Roussillon in a bid to develop his white Grenache offering.

UK is no longer number one wine market, says Mentzendorff's Andrew Hawes

Published: 22 June, 2011

The UK wine trade needs to come to terms with the fact it is no longer the number one market for many international wine producers, according to Andrew Hawes, managing director for Mentzendorff.

Vinexpo blog: Bordeaux and en primeur rock

Published: 22 June, 2011

Harpers news editor Gemma McKenna blogs on the lively scenes in Bordeaux from Vinexpo

Best Value Vin de France competition looks to double in 2012

Published: 21 June, 2011

The Best Value Vin de France selection of wines hopes to increase its range of award winning wines from the 46 chosen in the 2011 competition to at least 100 for the 2012 awards.

Vinexpo blog - what does it take to be crowned Best Sommelier of the World?

Published: 21 June, 2011

Harpers features editor Laura Clark blogs from Vinexpo 2011.

Spanish producer Vicente Gandia signs deal with Bottle Green

Published: 20 June, 2011

Spanish wine producer, Vicente Gandia, said it has signed a deal with UK wine agency Bottle Green to help drive its wines in the UK off-trade.

Yvon Mau vents frustrations over en primeur campaign

Published: 20 June, 2011

French negociant Yvon Mau has spoken out about its frustrations over how this year's en primeur campaign has been handled by the main Bordeaux houses.

Opus One: 2010 vintage symptomatic of climate change

Published: 20 June, 2011

The winemaker at icon California winery Opus One says the 2010 vintage is symptomatic of climate change happening in Napa Valley.

French minister slams plans to liberalise grape planting rules

Published: 20 June, 2011

European Union plans to liberalise grape planting regulations were slammed by the French Agriculture Minister.

Collaboration and partnership is way forward for global wine industry, says Vinexpo's Robert Beynat

Published: 19 June, 2011

A key consequence of the 2009/2010 global financial crisis has been the willingness of international wine players to work far more collaboratively and for the world wine industry to act far more as one, according to Robert Beynat, chief executive of Vinexpo.

We must do more to fight "Ayotallahs" in health sector, warns Vinexpo's Robert Beynat

Published: 19 June, 2011

The global wine industry needs to ensure it does everything it can to take the "fight to the Ayotollahs" in the health sector that are threatening to restrict the responsible way in which it sells and promotes its wines, according to Robert Beynat, chief executive of Vinexpo.

Vinexpo to retun to the United States but not as an exhibition

Published: 19 June, 2011

Vinexpo is set to return to the United States with an as yet to be confirmed event, but it would not be a full blown exhibition similar to the ones in Bordeaux and Hong Kong, revealed chief executive Robert Beynat at Vinexpo 2011 today.