News - Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Pernod Ricard launches SIP Supernova Programme

Published: 27 October, 2025

Pernod Ricard’s trade advocacy platform, SIP, has launched its 2026 SIP Supernova competition.

Nick Gillett: Do awards really help spirits brands?

Published: 27 October, 2025

Let’s get one thing out of the way: awards are not magic. They don’t instantly make your bottle fly off shelves or guarantee a global listing. But they can shift the conversation, open doors, and, if used smartly, add real commercial leverage.

Hallgarten onboards historic Gavi producer La Scolca

Published: 24 October, 2025

Wine importer Hallgarten & Novum Wine has added Piedmontese producer La Scolca to its Italian portfolio.

Les Producteurs et Vignerons de France’s Denise Lavaud passes away

Published: 24 October, 2025

Denise Lavaud, co-founder of Les Producteurs et Vignerons de France, has passed away at the age of 79, following a courageous battle with brain cancer.

Blandy’s appoints Demetri Walters MW as UK brand ambassador

Published: 24 October, 2025

Blandy’s, the Madeira wine producer, has appointed Demetri Walters MW as its UK brand ambassador.

Livestream registration open for Old Vine Conference 2025

Published: 24 October, 2025

There is a week to go until The Old Vine Conference 2025: Meeting of the Minds, a five-day event dedicated to the preservation of heritage vineyards globally.

Champagne approves Chardonnay Rose as grape variety

Published: 23 October, 2025

The Comité Champagne has announced that Chardonnay Rose has become an authorised grape variety in the famed region. The grape – a natural mutation of Chardonnay Blanc – is the eighth grape variety to be recognised in the Champagne appellation specifications (cahier de charges).

Coles Liquor and Wirra Wirra join Bottle Weight Accord

Published: 23 October, 2025

The Sustainable Wine Roundtable (SWR) has announced two new signatories to its Bottle Weight Accord (BWA). Coles Liquor, operator of the over 900 Liquorland stores in Australia, and Wirra Wirra vineyards have joined others such as Waitrose, Virgin Wines and the Endeavour Group in adding their name to the initiative.

WSTA calls for Government to rule out duty hike

Published: 23 October, 2025

The Wine and Spirit Trade Association (WSTA) is calling on the government to get rid of plans to raise alcohol duty, to avoid further price rises that will fuel inflation.

Virgin Wines: Revenue stable with earnings down slightly

Published: 22 October, 2025

Online wine retailer Virgin Wines has released its results for FY25. For the period ending 28 June 2025, the business saw revenues remain stable at £59m (FY24: £59m) with earnings slightly down.

German harvest set to be smallest since 2010

Published: 22 October, 2025

According to trade body The German Wine Institute (DWI) this year’s harvest in Germany is predicted to total at 7.3m hls. This figure would make it the smallest grape harvest in the country since 2010 (7.1m hls).

Wine GB unveils Golden 50 Wine List

Published: 22 October, 2025

Trade body Wine GB has today announced the second edition of the Golden 50 Wine List. The 2025 list, launched in partnership with the Vineyard & Winery Show, highlights British wines that have won gold medals in 2025 across a slew of domestic and international competitions.

Half of young adults now choosing no and low

Published: 21 October, 2025

A new report by Drinkaware published this week details that 49% of young adults are now choosing no and low-alcohol drinks to moderate their drinking.

London Cocktail Week founders take ownership of event brand

Published: 20 October, 2025

The founders of London Cocktail Week – Hannah Sharman-Cox and Siobhán Payne (pictured) – have acquired both the London Cocktail Week and London Wine Week brands from previous owners Speciality Drinks Ltd.

Loch Lomond Group opens multi-million pound distillery

Published: 20 October, 2025

Spirits producer Loch Lomond Group has announced the opening of Luss Distillery on the banks of Loch Lomond.

Taylor’s set to raise funds for conservation charity

Published: 20 October, 2025

Taylor’s, the historic Port house, is partnering with The Secret Bottle Shop to raise funds for the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT).

Bonhams’ Locanda Locatelli cellar auction ends with all lots sold

Published: 20 October, 2025

Bonhams’ online auction of well-known Italian restaurant Locanda Locatelli’s wine cellar is now over, having sold all lots.

Domaine Bousquet partners with Enotria

Published: 20 October, 2025

Argentine winery Domaine Bousquet has announced a new distribution partnership with Enotria.

Co-op tasting: New wines invite consumers to explore

Published: 17 October, 2025

At the Co-op’s Autumn & Winter tasting fresh additions including a number of own-label propositions highlighted there is an appetite for exploration amongst the retailer’s customer base.

Port of Leith Distillery-owner appoints two new board members

Published: 17 October, 2025

Muckle Brig Ltd, the Edinburgh-based spirits producer and distributor that operates both the Port of Leith Distillery and the Lind & Lime Distillery, has made two new appointments to its board of directors.