Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Insights: Cork’s sustainable revival

Published: 12 August, 2024

James Bayley explains how cork has recovered from its tainted reputation to prevail as a sustainable contender in the closures world.

Exclusive: Broadland reinstalls corking line after 15 years

Published: 09 February, 2024

Norfolk bottler Broadland Drinks is re-installing its corking line after a 15-year absence in a move which marks a significant re-emergence of cork back into the UK drinks scene, Harpers can reveal.

Tim Atkin MW: The value of honesty in wine

Published: 14 October, 2022

A good friend turned 80 recently. To celebrate, he invited a few of us round for dinner and opened a bottle of 1942 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Grands Échézeaux. I don’t often get the chance to try bottles like that. Thoughts of the German occupation goose-stepped through my head as we pulled the surprisingly small cork. The wine was glorious: fragile, sweet, gamey and appropriately autumnal.

Cork claims high ground on premium price and climate

Published: 03 November, 2021

Sealing wine with natural cork rather than screwcap can drive higher returns, according to data from Nieslen in a report commissioned by The Portuguese Cork Association.

Majestic unveils national cork recycling scheme

Published: 07 September, 2021

Majestic has unveiled details of a nationwide cork recycling scheme in over 200 of its stores.

Cork’s march to ascendancy

Published: 25 February, 2021

Having removed much of the taint of TCA to cork’s reputation, the classic stopper continues to establish itself as a benchmark of quality, as James Lawrence reports.

Advertorial: Premium cork producer at cutting edge of technological achievements

Published: 09 February, 2021

Over the past 49 years Masilva has established itself as a premium cork producer and an industry technology leader in cork-cleaning processes, especially focused on eliminating TCA. With several awards obtained, Masilva is recognised on a global scale, with its proprietary technologies offering a successful state-of-the-art approach.

Making sense of it all

Published: 25 February, 2020

James Lawrence delves into the new and sustainable innovations in wine closures

Amorim buys 50% stake in Vinolok

Published: 26 July, 2019

Amorim has acquired a 50% stake in high-end glass and crystal closures producer Vinolok for an undisclosed sum.

Opening minds on closures

Published: 08 February, 2019

Innovations in wine closures are coming thick and fast, driven by sustainability, convenience and quality control. Lisa Riley investigates their impact

Tim Atkin MW: Closing off the cork-vs-cap conundrum

Published: 31 January, 2019

TIM ATKIN MW

Co-op claims UK supermarket first with introduction of Helix corks

Published: 04 October, 2018

The Co-op has claimed a UK supermarket first with the introduction of Helix wine corks - Portugal’s answer to the metal screw cap.

Berry Bros & Rudd introduces Helix closure to UK retail

Published: 14 May, 2018

Berry Bros & Rudd has claimed a UK retail first with the introduction of the Helix closure.

Bolney turns to screwcap

Published: 28 February, 2018

Bolney Wine Estate has announced going forward it's replacing its cork closures across its still wine portfolio with screwcaps.

Vinventions grows global market share as volumes rise

Published: 12 February, 2018

Wine closures specialist Vinventions has reported ‘considerable’ volume growth, delivering 2.7 billion closures in 2017 compared to 2.5 billion the previous year.

The battle for closure

Published: 09 October, 2017

The industry has been split on the issue of cork versus screwcap for years, but now consumers are calling the shots, as Lisa Riley reports

Data shows widening gap between average bottle price for cork and alternative closures

Published: 09 October, 2017

New data suggests there is a widening gap between the average bottle price of cork-closed wine and wine that is sealed with alternative closures.

Cork Fights Back

Published: 15 August, 2017

Once the only choice when it came to stoppers for wine bottles, cork has suffered at the hands of synthetic rivals for years. But now there are signs of a comeback, says Lisa Riley