Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Château Saint-Maur joins Bancroft

Published: 22 September, 2023

UK importer Bancroft Wines has added one of the finest properties in Provence, Château Saint-Maur, to its portfolio.

Languedoc AOP targets UK market

Published: 11 September, 2023

A regional appellation that stretches from Collioure, near the Spanish border, to the gates of Nîmes, Languedoc AOP has established itself as one of the foremost French wine appellations in the last 15 years, particularly in the export market.

Friday read: Provence, Pernod and the rise of ‘pink gold’

Published: 25 August, 2023

Nicknamed ‘pink gold’ on the Cote d’Azur, Provence rosé continues to see a flood of investment into the category – most recently demonstrated by Pernod Ricard, which has acquired a majority share of Château Sainte Marguerite.

Five minutes with Ben Bernheim, Pink.wine

Published: 01 June, 2023

The boom in rosé sales in the UK is more complicated than it first appears, as Ben Bernheim, rosé expert and co-owner of Pink.wine, explains to Andrew Catchpole, with just some big names driving the market.

Record Champagne shipments buoyed by quality-focused younger consumers

Published: 26 May, 2023

Champagne exports hit a record-high value-wise in 2022, with €6bn worth of fizz sales being driven by shifts in consumption from “exceptional occasions to more normal occasions”, the Comité Champagne said at its UK press briefing on 25 May.

War of the Rosés

Published: 26 May, 2023

With the contrasting styles of Navarra rosados and Provence rosés setting the scene, Harpers’ second Taste Off session set about exploring the opportunities for diversifying the popular pink category in the UK.

Friday read: Snoop Dogg Q&A

Published: 25 May, 2023

With Cali Red and Rosé to his name, the Doggfather speaks to Andrew Catchpole about his partnership with Treasury Wine Estates’ 19 Crimes label and his take on the world of wine.

Majestic announces new rosé listing

Published: 19 April, 2023

The UK’s number one wine retailer, Majestic, has won the race to supply Roseblood rosé by Chateau d’Estoublon to the British off-trade.

Taste Off: Trade should push diverse rosé offering to maximise sales

Published: 17 April, 2023

Given that rosé has proved buoyant against a backdrop of otherwise largely flat wine sales, it seems short-sighted that many merchants and restaurants continue to undervalue the potential of building upon this popular category.

Languedoc's changing tide in fortunes

Published: 17 March, 2023

The Languedoc AOP continues its journey to bridge the gap between entry level and top tier, premium wines, with a raft of eminently drinkable styles now finding favour with consumers from across its stable of reds, whites – and increasingly – rosés. Jo Gilbert reports from a fascinating roundtable session.

Revised date: Join Aurélie Bertin’s Welcome to my Vineyard, live from Provence

Published: 02 November, 2022

Aurélie Bertin of historic Château Sainte Roseline will be joining Harpers editor Andrew Catchpole for a live Welcome to My Vineyard interview at 2.30pm on 15 November 2022, discussing the expression of the essence and range of Provençal wines as revealed through her family estates.

Five minutes with rosé expert, Elizabeth Gabay MW

Published: 11 October, 2022

As her latest book, Rosés of Southern France, hits the shelves, Elizabeth Gabay explains to Andrew Catchpole why we should all take the pink category more seriously.

Rosé set to steal summer show

Published: 17 May, 2022

It is a wine category often overlooked by keen officiants as being too delicate and perfume-y, lacking the panache and complexity of its rivals. However, multiples prefer profit margins over pretentiousness and have helped make rosé the fastest-growing wine category for over a decade.

Vins de Provence rosés: sales rise by 9% in 2021

Published: 28 March, 2022

After a 6% drop in 2020, winery sales bounced back by 9% last year, according to data released by the Provence Wine Council (CIVP). The recovery is mainly due to good export figures, fuelled by booming European markets, and increased sales in channels such as wine merchants and hospitality outlets.

Friday read: Prosecco DOC Rosé's future prospects

Published: 26 November, 2021

After years of intense lobbying by producers, the Prosecco Consortium finally allowed blended sparkling wine styles to be bottled under the 'Prosecco DOC Rosé' designation in 2020. Exports began in November last year, although there have been reports of a Pinot Noir shortage in 2021. Nevertheless, the category has got off to a flying start, with buoyant sales and an enthusiastic consumer reception. But how sustainable is this growth, and will it affect sales of 'ordinary' Prosecco?

Rosé's global success ‘partly based on luck’, says UK buyer

Published: 25 November, 2021

The triumphant march of the rosé category cannot solely be attributed to the marketing genius of its key stakeholders, according to Jeroboams wine director Peter Mitchell MW.

English sparkling triumphs at Vivino Community Awards

Published: 17 November, 2021

Vivino’s 2021 Community Awards has revealed some fascinating insights into the preferences of consumers worldwide, including the enormous popularity of English fizz in the UK.

Nyetimber unveiled as wine producer of the year

Published: 11 October, 2021

Nyetimber was unveiled as Wine Producer of the Year in the first-ever Tim Atkin MW England Special Wine Report.

France performs against the odds

Published: 30 September, 2021

France has emerged from the pandemic in rude health with the “staggering” performance of rosé and impressive bounce-back from Champagne only representing the tip of what this wine powerhouse has to offer, as Jo Gilbert reports.