Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Australian Grape & Wine unveils Mark Harvey-Sutton as new CEO

Published: 02 November, 2026

Trade body Australian Grape & Wine (AGW) has revealed that Mark Harvey-Sutton has been appointed as its new CEO.

Global bulk wine exports decline 11.8% year on year

Published: 17 September, 2026

Data from the World Bulk Wine Exhibition (WBWE) can reveal that the bulk wine category has faced continued declines in exports over the past year – falling 11.8% in value for the 12 months following April 2025.

Joined-up thinking: The regions working together

Published: 10 September, 2026

Regional collaborations have long been a strategy in the world of wine trade events and promotions – and the logic is sound too. If the right balance is struck there are benefits and efficiencies to be reaped for trade customers, exhibiting wineries, importers and the generic bodies themselves.

US write-down hits Treasury Wine Estates hard as it reports AU$1 billion loss

Published: 13 August, 2026

Treasury Wine Estates (TWE) has released its fiscal report for FY26, describing a loss of around AU$1 billion (£523 million) on its net profit after tax (NPAT) this year.

Yalumba announces launch of 2026 Rare & Fine Collection

Published: 05 August, 2026

Barossa-based winery Yalumba has announced the global launch of its 2026 Rare & Fine Collection, led by The Signature Cabernet Sauvignon Shiraz 2023, which will be available exclusively through The Wine Society in the UK from 19 August.

Barossa boost: MMD adds Barr-Eden Estate to portfolio

Published: 30 July, 2026

Louis Roederer-owned distributor Maisons Marques et Domaines UK (MMD) has announced the addition of South Australia’s Barr-Eden Estate to its portfolio.

Australia’s Endeavour to slash wine production amid asset sell-off

Published: 29 May, 2026

Australian drinks retailing giant Endeavour Group has announced that it is set to reduce its grape production by 80%. It will also close four of its seven wineries as well as a packaging facility, while selling the vineyards and assets of three key premium brands.

South Africa set for zero-tariff wine exports to China

Published: 30 April, 2026

South African wine exported to China is set to benefit from zero-tariff access to the Chinese market. The agreement commences on 1 May 2026 and will last for an initial period of two years.

Jeroboams grows Aussie portfolio with Yarra Yering addition

Published: 21 April, 2026

Wine and spirits merchant Jeroboams has announced the addition of Australian estate Yarra Yering to its portfolio.

Australia-EU trade deal sees wine and spirits tariffs drop to zero

Published: 25 March, 2026

The new Australia-EU trade deal will see the introduction of zero-for-zero tariffs on wine and spirits exports. The agreement also sees new arrangements regarding EU and Australian ‘geographical indications’ (GIs).

How bright is the future of AI for the trade?

Published: 13 March, 2026

For the media – both trade and mainstream – the hype related to artificial intelligence’s disruptive potential has filled column inches. Despite huge claims from Silicon Valley’s tech leaders often not materialising, there are early signs the technology may be having an appreciable impact on productivity. An assessment of whether AI-induced progress has been made (or not) within the drinks trade is sorely needed. Harpers charts the lie of the land and speaks to a leading wine business about how AI’s integration – from vineyard to boardroom – has advanced.

IMW unveils details for Adelaide Symposium

Published: 23 February, 2026

The Institute of Masters of Wine (IMW) has confirmed further details for its 11th International Symposium, which is to take place in Adelaide in April 2027.

Treasury Wine Estates hit with $649m AUD loss in H1

Published: 16 February, 2026

Australian industry giant Treasury Wine Estates (TWE) has posted significant losses for the first half of its financial year – $649m (all money figures detailed in AUD). This comes after settling its dispute with US distributor RNDC earlier this month and most significantly the writing down of the value of its US business in November of last year.

Is it time for Australia to shift its focus?

Published: 26 January, 2026

David Kermode takes the temperature of the Australian wine market to determine whether its mass-market appeal still holds true or if it’s time to prioritise premiumisation.

Australian wine supply outstripping demand

Published: 01 December, 2025

Wine Australia has unveiled its Production, Sales and Inventory Report 2025 which detailed a worsening imbalance between supply and demand over the past year.

Dawn Davies showcases The Whisky Exchange’s agave spirits offer

Published: 08 October, 2025

At The Whisky Exchange’s impressive cellar on Great Portland Street, Dawn Davies MW, buying director at The Whisky Exchange Trade, guided Harpers through the company’s fresh agave spirits offer and explained the heady potential of the category.

Emergent trends from SWA 2025

Published: 01 October, 2025

The Sommelier Wine Awards (SWA) is more than just a blind wine tasting with medals. The very nature of the competition – on-trade-exclusive wines, judged solely by people who buy wine for hospitality venues – means that it’s also a great chance to get a somms’-eye view of what is happening in the on-trade supply chain.

Aussie sparkling House of Arras set for La Place debut

Published: 26 September, 2025

Australia’s most well-known sparkling wine, House of Arras, is set to debut on La Place de Bordeaux. Both the Tasmanian producer’s 2008 Arras E.J. Carr Late Disgorged and 2015 Arras Grand Vintage are due to join the historic institution.

Australia: Wine exports to China stabilise with other markets down

Published: 29 July, 2025

A new export report from Wine Australia shows that after an initial surge in sales after Chinese tariffs on Australian wine ended last year, Aussie wine sales to China have begun to stabilise.