News - Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Philip Gregan, CEO of New Zealand Winegrowers, set to retire next year

Published: 17 September, 2025

The CEO of New Zealand Winegrowers, Philip Gregan, has announced plans to retire in June 2026.

Almost 1m adults have experienced spiking in past year

Published: 17 September, 2025

New research from Drinkaware and Anglia Ruskin University can reveal that approximately 2% of UK adults have been a victim of drink spiking in the past year.

Roxane Dupuy named winner of the inaugural UK Sommelier Challenge

Published: 16 September, 2025

Roxane Dupuy, executive sommelier at Row on 5, has been announced as the winner of the first ever Taylor’s Port Vintage Years UK Sommelier Challenge.

Hatch Mansfield tasting: Iberian intrigue meets Evremond excitement

Published: 16 September, 2025

At Hatch Mansfield’s portfolio tasting at the glitzy Institute of Directors, established producers and upstart projects were the order of the day.

UKHospitality announces job losses set to reach 111,000 by Budget

Published: 16 September, 2025

UKHospitality has projected that a total of 111,000 hospitality jobs will have been lost by the Budget on 26 November.

Liberty portfolio expands with Tenerife and Ribeira Sacra additions

Published: 15 September, 2025

Liberty Wines has announced new distribution agreements with two Spanish producers. The importer is adding Ribeira Sacra’s Adega Algueira and Tenerife’s Ocampo to its offering.

UKBG announce the winner of the National Cocktail Competition 2025

Published: 15 September, 2025

The UK Bartenders Guild (UKBG) has announced that Sam Chatterji (pictured), from Bittersweet in Edinburgh, has won The National Cocktail Competition 2025: The Moutai Expedition.

Research revealing the social value of pubs released

Published: 15 September, 2025

New research from Pub is The Hub has put a figure on how much social value pubs provide.

France reigns in Liv-ex classification 2025

Published: 15 September, 2025

Liv-ex has released its first classification since 2023. The initiative sees the fine wine trading platform “use price alone to determine a hierarchy of the leading labels in the secondary market”.

Austria bounces back with stronger 2025 harvest

Published: 12 September, 2025

This year’s Austrian harvest is anticipated to see an increase compared to 2024’s small grape gathering. Austrian Wine expects a harvest of 2.5m hls which is a strong uplift compared to 2024’s 1.87m hl take.

Friday read: Top drop in Totterdown

Published: 12 September, 2025

As the name Carouse suggests, Faye Buckle’s soon to open Bristol indie merchant aims to keep wine social and fun. Oliver Catchpole taps in.

Alliance wine expands Iberian portfolio

Published: 12 September, 2025

Independent supplier Alliance Wine is now the exclusive UK distributor for Bodegas Dominio de Cair, a leading Ribera del Duero winery.

Italy: Strong harvest anticipated though oversupply fears remain

Published: 11 September, 2025

Italy’s wine sector is expected to produce 47.4m hls of wine this year. The figure, compiled by Assoenologi, ISMEA and the Unione Italiana Vini (UIV), represents an +8% rise compared to 2024’s harvest.

UKHospitality joins scotch whisky industry’s call for a duty freeze

Published: 11 September, 2025

UKHospitality, the trade body for hospitality which represents over 750 companies in the UK, has backed the Scotch Whisky Association’s (SWA) call for the UK Government to freeze alcohol duty in the Autumn Budget.

IWC Champion Sparkling Wine goes to England

Published: 10 September, 2025

For the first time ever, the International Wine Challenge (IWC) have given an English wine the Champion Sparkling Wine (Daniel Thibault Trophy) award.

Jessica Julmy takes the helm at Vega Sicilia

Published: 10 September, 2025

Jessica Julmy has been appointed the MD of Tempos Vega Sicilia, the family of wineries owned by the Álvarez Mezquíriz family.

SWA Trophy winners to feature at SITT

Published: 10 September, 2025

The Sommelier Wine Awards (SWA) 2025 Trophy winners will be available for tasting at both SITT London and SITT Manchester next week, on 15 and 17 September respectively.

Fells partners with Maison Louis Latour

Published: 10 September, 2025

John E. Fells has announced that it is folding Burgundy producer Maison Louis Latour into its portfolio with effect from 15 September.

Blick Rothenberg calls for rent holiday over tube strikes

Published: 09 September, 2025

Audit, tax and business advisory firm Blick Rothenberg have called on the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, to give hospitality businesses on Transport for London (TFL) properties a rent and rate holiday during this week’s tube strikes.