Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Hattingley Valley releases first still wines

Published: 05 March, 2020

Hattingley Valley is officially broadening its stable of wines beyond sparkling with two new still wines soon to be released as part of a stand-alone range.

NZ targets indie retailers with Pinot promotion

Published: 02 March, 2020

New Zealand Winegrowers is to run a promotion for the UK and Ireland’s independent retailers offering three winners the chance to win a trip to Pinot Noir 2021.

NZ tasting: alternative styles playing expanding role in export growth

Published: 16 January, 2020

Rosé, Pinot Gris and Pinot Noir are among a slew of ‘alternative’ varieties and styles notching up a greater share of New Zealand’s collective wine exports, as “international appetite grows to expand the range”.

Tim Atkin MW: Taking wine to the limit

Published: 10 January, 2020

The life jacket seemed like a good idea, given the size of the launch and the strength of the wind barreling down the jetty. Nervously, I climbed on board and prepared for the final leg of a journey that had started more than 1,000km away in Santiago with a flight to Puerto Montt. From there, I’d taken a ferry to the Isla Grande de Chiloé and driven to Quicavi on its eastern coast. Now it was time to visit the tiny island of Añihué, home to one of the most remote and unusual vineyards in the world.

Black Chalk expands into vineyards

Published: 06 January, 2020

Hampshire winery Black Chalk has leased four vineyard sites from Fullerton Estate in the Test Valley.

Aldi picks Lyme Bay for first own-brand English fizz

Published: 09 December, 2019

Aldi has chosen the Dorset-based Lyme Bay Winery to produce an English sparkling wine for its premium ‘Exquisite Collection’.

Matthew Clark partners with Sixteen Ridges to launch By Golly Nouveau

Published: 12 November, 2019

Matthew Clark has partnered with Herefordshire winery Sixteen Ridges to launch By Golly Nouveau - an early release Pinot Noir - to celebrate the French November tradition for young, fruity wines.

New West Sonoma Coast AVA to highlight ‘best Pinot Noir’ in USA

Published: 07 November, 2019

With the official rubber-stamping of a new West Sonoma Coast AVA just weeks away, its vintners have been in London promoting what they describe as “California’s Cote d’Or”.

Jeroboams brings taste of Malkovich to UK

Published: 09 September, 2019

Jeroboams has become the latest merchant to tap into star potential with the UK launch of a range from actor John Malkovich’s southern French estate, Les Quelles de la Coste.

Tim Atkin MW: Canary in the global coalmine

Published: 05 August, 2019

“Phew. What A Scorcher!” I’m old enough to remember June 1976, when we had 15 consecutive days above 32°C. The Sun’s headline captured some of the excitement I felt as a teenager. In those days British summers were frequently cool, overcast affairs and all of a sudden Kent felt like the Costa Brava. What was scorching then seems almost temperate now. Last week Cambridge sweated through the second hottest day ever at 38.1°C, just behind Faversham’s UK record of 38.5°C in August 2003.

Friday Read: Merlot

Published: 26 July, 2019

Can one film realistically change consumer attitudes to two grape varieties?

Bibendum launches ‘industry first’ training course

Published: 26 June, 2019

Bibendum has launched what it claims to be an 'industry first' training course - ‘Getting to grips with German Wine’.

Domaine de la Métairie d'Alon expansion

Published: 15 May, 2019

Domaine de la Métairie d'Alon, part of the Badet Clement portfolio, has unveiled plans for a major expansion programme.

Simpsons Wine Estate to showcase bumper 2018 harvest at LWF

Published: 11 April, 2019

Kent producer Simpsons Wine Estate is gearing up to unveil a number of new releases at next month's London Wine Fair (LWF).

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.

UK tops value increase for German wine exports

Published: 12 March, 2019

Quality Riesling appears to be on a roll, with the average price paid for exported German wine breaking records in 2018, while UK consumer thirst drove the biggest value increase of any export territory, according to German Wine Institute (DWI) figures.

NZ 200th anniversary focus turns to regionality after bumper UK year

Published: 17 January, 2019

The annual New Zealand trade tasting pushed a new focus on regionality at this year’s London event on 16 January, with the aim of furthering understanding of the country’s diversity of wine styles with restaurants and independent merchants.

New Zealand's evolving vinous landscape

Published: 10 January, 2019

New Zealand’s wine scene has come a long way since its inception in the 1970s. Jamie Goode meets the personalities driving change in leading region Marlborough

New Zealand reports hike in UK sales

Published: 03 December, 2018

New Zealand Winegrowers has reported a hike in value and volume sales in the UK off-trade.

Wines of Japan: Harpers takes a closer look at what the country has to offer

Published: 08 November, 2018

Japan has had a boost in winemaking productivity over the past decade, particularly among smaller, artisanal producers who are now leading the charge for quality and innovation. We took a closer look at a country which is focusing outwards on growing its reputation and inwards on winemaking expertise.