News - Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Iconic Oddbins artwork to go under the hammer

Published: 23 September, 2026

A personal collection of Ralph Steadman artwork, retained by a former Oddbins executive, will be auctioned this month.

Tamlyn Currin named OVC host for 2026

Published: 22 September, 2026

The Old Vine Conference (OVC) has named Tamlyn Currin, the senior editor of JancisRobinson.com, as its host for the 2026 event, which will be held at Piedmont’s Fontanafredda this December.

Napa Valley Vintners: New campaign aims to respond to shifting consumption

Published: 21 September, 2026

Californian trade body Napa Valley Vintners (NVV) has announced its plans to launch a new three-year marketing campaign. The initiative seeks to respond to shifting wine consumption habits.

Cramele Recaș: Top Romanian winery describes ‘bizarre’ month-early harvest

Published: 21 September, 2026

Leading Romanian wine producer Cramele Recaș has finished its earliest-ever harvest, with picking this year beginning a full month early.

Thorman Hunt welcomes inaugural South African producer Hasher Family Wines

Published: 21 September, 2026

Specialist wine importer Thorman Hunt has introduced Hasher Family Wines to its portfolio. The addition represents the first South African producer in the distributor’s wine offer.

Nick Gillett: Balancing sustainability with cost

Published: 21 September, 2026

As we transition out of the hottest summer on record and as effects of the supersized El Nino threaten to take hold in far corners of the world, it’s easy to see why we need to do more to fight climate change. The spirits trade (like any other industry) is a contributor to global warming and on the flip side is also an industry seriously threatened by it. After all, spirits and alcohol begin life as agricultural products, born of the land.

Research: Domesticated grapevines introduced to Iberia over 2,000 years ago

Published: 18 September, 2026

A recent study has found that the oldest-known cultivated grape seeds in the Iberian peninsula – found in southern Spain – date to roughly 1000 BCE, and carry the genetic signatures of Easten Mediterranean cultivars.

New heights: Wiston Estate to be Emirates’ first ever English sparkling

Published: 18 September, 2026

West Sussex producer Wiston Estate is set to be served to Emirates customers in the airline’s premium economy section on its UK routes.

Diageo to face almost three weeks of strikes at Cameronbridge Distillery

Published: 17 September, 2026

Workers at Diageo’s Cameronbridge distillery are set to strike after a dispute over the drinks giant’s plans to slash jobs across its operations.

Bruichladdich’s first female distiller joins production team

Published: 17 September, 2026

Whisky and brewing specialist Lisa Matthews has been appointed assistant blender at Islay's Bruichladdich, also becoming its first woman distiller, marking what the Scotch producer called “the latest chapter” in its commitment to developing the next generation of whisky makers.

Global bulk wine exports decline 11.8% year on year

Published: 17 September, 2026

Data from the World Bulk Wine Exhibition (WBWE) can reveal that the bulk wine category has faced continued declines in exports over the past year – falling 11.8% in value for the 12 months following April 2025.

Liberty Off-Trade Report: 40% of independents have experienced sales growth

Published: 16 September, 2026

According to the second edition of Liberty Wines’ Independent Off-Trade Wine Report, 40% of independent merchants increased their sales between March 2024 and March 2026, with a quarter of indies growing sales by over 10%.

First harvest begins to arrive at Vagabond’s Canada Water winery

Published: 16 September, 2026

Vagabond has begun the inaugural harvest at its Canada Water Urban Winery, taking in the first 16 tonnes of grapes from vineyards across the south of England.

Welsh government announces 30% rates cut for hospitality

Published: 15 September, 2026

The Welsh government has announced a 30% rates cut for high-street businesses including pubs, bars, restaurants, hotels, live music venues and licensed clubs in a move intended to “breathe new life into town centres”.

Delaunay Vine & Domaines achieves B Corp certification

Published: 15 September, 2026

Burgundy- and Languedoc-based wine production group Delaunay Vins & Domaines has achieved B Corp certification, making the company one of only 24 such businesses in the French wine industry.

Coravin aims to support sommeliers with new symposium

Published: 14 September, 2026

Coravin has announced the launch of its Symposium for Sommeliers, an event aimed at taking a “deep dive” into the business behind restaurant wine lists.

Tom Platt: Liberty’s performance has been resilient

Published: 14 September, 2026

Ahead of importer Liberty Wines’ Autumn Portfolio Tasting tomorrow (Tuesday 15 September), Harpers caught up with CEO Tom Platt to discuss a strong past year of trading for the distributor, with “double-digit” sales growth; the importance of adapting operations to customer feedback; and Liberty’s landmark 30th anniversary next year.

Coterie Holdings unveils new cross-group buying team

Published: 14 September, 2026

Coterie Holdings has revealed a new buying structure across the group which brings together its regional and category specialists under group buying director Andrew Shaw.

English Whisky gains Geographical Indication status

Published: 14 September, 2026

English Whisky has been granted Geographical Indication (GI) status by the Department for Environmental, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), after more than six years of work by trade body the English Whisky Guild.