David Siddle on why winemakers should fall back in love with goats

Goats have long been seen as the enemies of viticulture and of woodland management as a whole in the regions of Mediterranean climate. Difficult to manage and agile enough to climb steep hillsides or leap terraces they could reach the tallest growths. Left to their own devices a flock of omnivorous goats could wreck a vineyard in no time at all. Their reputation could not have been lower.

Still time for you and your suppliers to get involved in Call Time On Duty campaign

There is still time to make sure your voice is heard in the industry's bid to get the Chancellor to finally Call Time On Duty and scrap the duty escalator on wine and spirits in the 2014 Budget. Harpers has also teamed up the Wine & Spirit Trade Association to give wine producers and drinks manufacturers the chance to take part in the Call Time On Duty campaign and make the government aware of the serious concerns they have about the alcohol duty levels in the UK. Here's how you and your supplier can get involved.

Euromonitor: Top 10 Global Consumer Trends for 2014

Get on top of the key changes in consumer needs and behaviour with exclusive access to Euromonitor's new Top 10 Global Consumer Trends for 2014 by Daphne Kasriel-Alexander.

Direct Wines on course to hit annual sales target after strong Christmas performance

Direct Wines is on course to hit its annual financial targets after a strong Christmas performance, particularly online, according to group chief executive, Simon McMurtrie.

Sam Neill's Two Paddocks acquires fourth Central Otago vineyard

Actor- turned- winemaker, Sam Neill, has acquired a fourth vineyard in Central Otago, New Zealand, adding six additional hectares of Pinot Noir to his vineyard portfolio with the purchase of a Bannockburn estate called Desert Heart.

Casa Silva produces first wine from Chile's most southern wine region

Casa Silva has produced the first wine from what it claims is Chile's southern most wine region in the region of Chilean Patagonia some 350km from Bio Bio the previous most southern area capable of growing wine in the country.  

Olivier Krug talks to Giles Falllowfield about ID codes and keeping "Krugists" happy

I know his travel schedules are hectic but four continents in the space of one week seems excessive, even for him. In London, partly to see the pop-up Krug Kreperie in Covent Garden central market run in conjunction with Pierre Koffman, Olivier Krug is on a similarly lightening trip here after recent spells in Australia, Singapore, Canada and the USA. "I prefer quick visits where I can see lots of people in a short time as this means fewer days away from Champagne," says Krug.

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Windsor 2014 attracts key players with collective buying power of over £222m

Up to two thirds of the buyers signed up for the Windsor 2014 Wine Buyers' Forum are from the independent on and off-trade sectors whilst the collective buying power of all the buyers attending is now over £222m.

Drinks industry takes its case to Westminster and urges MPs to Call Time on Duty

MPs from all parties came to talk to key figures of the wine and spirits industry last night at a special House of Commons event to publicise the Call Time On Duty campaign to try and get the Chancellor to freeze the alcohol duty escalator in the 2014 Budget.

Rolling update: Key drinks figures tell MPs about the damage duty increases have on UK businesses

Leading figures from across the UK wine and spirits industry joined the trade lobby that took the Call Time On Duty campaign to MPs at the House of Commons last night.

Boodles Gin hits the UK with multiple and premium on-trade listings

Chris Porter to visit all 91 football league grounds to raise money for The Benevolent

Chris Porter, chairman of the drinks charity, The Benevolent, is to set out on a fundraising attempt to visit all 91 football league league by using a combination of train, tram and bike.

?Let's finally Call Time On Duty: how to get involved

The Wine & Spirit Trade Association is leading a new campaign, Call Time On Duty, aimed at persuading George Osborne, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, to scrap the duty escalator on wines and spirits. Here's how you, your business and your customers can get involved.

?Harpers Awards 2014: How to enter and new awards categories

The Harpers Awards is your opportunity to be recognised and rewarded for all the hard work you do. With a host of categories across the industry and the on- and off-trade, here's how you can get involved

Major wine players must invest more in their brands to compete, warns David Dearie

It is vital the industry's major wine companies start to invest major sums in their brands if they are to compete against other drinks categories, has warned former Treasury Wine Estates chief, David Dearie.

Wine Australia to highlight its food offer with Dine Australia at London tasting

Wine Australia is looking to highlight the link between its diverse food and wine offers with a new Dine Australia initiative at this month's London annual tasting.

John Hynard of family independent wine business, Hynard Hughes, has died

John Hynard, the highly respected independent wine merchant, died over the Christmas period.

Two Good, 2 Bad for 2013, 2 Hopes and Fears for 2014: Rupert Pritchett, Taurus Wines

Rupert Pritchett of independent wine merchants, Taurus Wines, rounds up our festive series of 2 Good, 2 Bad for 2013 and 2 Hopes and Fears for 2014.

Two Good, 2 Bad for 2013, 2 Hopes and Fears for 2014: Mike Paul

Wine consultant, Mike Paul, looks back on his good and bad memories in 2013, whilst seeing in the new year by looking ahead to his hopes and fears for 2014.