Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Bordeaux tourism infrastructure set for major expansion

Published: 24 May, 2019

Oenotourism in Bordeaux is set to expand significantly in the coming years, with a rash of new projects and developments in the pipeline.

CIVB brings pop-up bar to Bristol

Published: 14 May, 2019

The Conseil Interprofessionnel Du Vin De Bordeaux (CIVB) is to open its pop-up Bar Bordeaux in Bristol at the end of May – the first to be held outside London.

Bordeaux 2018 EP report & Gavin Quinney's Top 100

Published: 09 May, 2019

Gavin Quinney delivers his annual insights and scores (see below) on the Bordeaux 2018 vintage for a year he describes as “extraordinary”.

En primeur report: extraordinary and exceptional 2018 vintage

Published: 02 May, 2019

Gavin Quinney’s annual en primeur and vintage report for Harpers describes 2018 as “an exceptional vintage”, with the top red wines showing “extraordinary depth, opulence and intensity”.

Bordeaux producers acquitted over fungicides case

Published: 01 May, 2019

A French court has acquitted two Bordeaux wine producers in a highly sensitive case over the spraying of chemicals, which allegedly provoked sickness in a teacher and dozens of schoolchildren.

Lafite Rothschild voted wine of the 2018 Bordeaux vintage

Published: 26 April, 2019

Lafite Rothschild has been voted wine of the 2018 Bordeaux vintage in the Liv-ex 2018 En Primeur survey.

Dourthe achieves sustainability certifications

Published: 24 April, 2019

Bordeaux estate Dourthe has been awarded the Terra Vitis and High Environmental Value level 3 (HVE3) certifications in recognition of its environmental and CSR practices.

Think France unveils array of expert presenters for masterclasses

Published: 13 March, 2019

Think France has lined up a fantastic array of presenters, including Rebecca Gibb MW, Greg Sherwood MW, Chateaux Lestrille’s Estelle Roumage and Richard Hemming MW, who will be heading up a far-reaching range of masterclasses exploring aspects of this seminal wine producing country.

CA Grands Crus sells two Bordeaux estates

Published: 04 February, 2019

CA Grand Crus has put two of its Bordeaux estates up for sale - Château Blaignan (Médoc) and Château La Tour de Mons (Margaux).

BI reports 8% increase in turnover boosted by UK

Published: 17 January, 2019

Fine wine and spirits merchant BI has reported an 8% increase in annual turnover to £95 million boosted by a hike in sales to UK buyers.

Château Castera expands distribution via Exel partnership

Published: 04 January, 2019

Château Castera has expanded its UK distribution via a new partnership with independent Scottish online retailer Exel Wines.

Looking ahead: Talya Roberson, director, Roberson Wine

Published: 19 December, 2018

Once again we are catching up with the trade over the next few weeks to find out how businesses are making the most of the all-important Christmas trading period, while also looking ahead to the challenges and opportunities 2019 will bring.

Fine wine more stable than gold as Burgundy drives record high for investment market

Published: 13 December, 2018

Burgundy thrived, Bordeaux consolidated and wine investment proved more stable than gold, according to the Liv-ex annual summary of the 2018 market, described as “a record breaking year”.

All the trimmings: alternatives to pair with Christmas

Published: 29 October, 2018

As summer slides inexorably into autumn, we Brits start ringing the seasonal changes. Light cotton shirts give way to warm sweaters, then the coats come out of seasonal hibernation. Afterwards there’s the annual dither about whether or not to switch the central heating on yet. Before you know it they’ll be playing Band Aid’s Do They Know It’s Christmas on a continuous loop in every shopping mall and supermarket between Land’s End and John O’Groats and offering deals on anything from Play Station consoles to family-sized boxes of Quality Street.

Maison Sichel teams up with Davy’s for latest promotion in “bedrock” indie trade

Published: 19 October, 2018

Bordeaux stalwarts Maison Sichel has revealed its annual promotion will be heading to Davy’s Wine Merchants this year for the 2018 Sichel Independents Initiative.

Vignerons de Tutiac and the Vignerons d’Uni-Médoc join forces in strategic alliance

Published: 12 September, 2018

Vignerons de Tutiac and the Vignerons d’Uni-Médoc have joined forces to form a ‘strategic Bordeaux union’.

Seely adds Napa winery to AXA Millésimes portfolio

Published: 24 July, 2018

AXA Millésimes, which owns leading wineries in Bordeaux, Burgundy, The Douro and Tokaj, has announced the acquisition of Outpost Wines on Howell Mountain in Napa Valley.

Redevined Wines to host LGBT wine event in Bordeaux

Published: 24 July, 2018

In a first for the region, the town of Blaye in Bordeaux is to host a European Gay Wine Weekend from 18 to 21 October.

Bordeaux hailstorms disastrous for some but minor impact compared to recent frost

Published: 29 May, 2018

The widely reported hailstorms in Bordeaux during the weekend have been estimated to have hit 3% badly in terms of surface, with a further 3% likely to have been affected on a lesser scale, according to the Bordeaux governing body CIVB.