The week that was

In case you missed some of the headlines this week on harpers.co.uk, here’s a review of the top online news, analysis, opinions and features.

Sustainability key to future success, predicts The Change Group

Halewood Wines & Spirits not dialling down wine despite ramping up spirits

Liverpool-based wine and spirit producer Halewood Wines & Spirits has denied it is slowing down its wine business after several moves this year to boost its international spirits profile and selling off its “loss making” Romanian wine arm.

Côtes du Rhône declares 2018 ‘outstanding’ vintage

Côtes du Rhône has declared the 2018 vintage as ‘outstanding' marking the fourth in a series of such quality for the AOC.

Maison Albert Bichot appoints Guillaume Deglise as new CEO

Maison Albert Bichot has appointed previous head of Vinexpo Guillaume Deglise as its new CEO.

Naked partners with Garçon to launch ‘customer-acquisition’ initiative

Naked Wines has joined forces with Garçon Wines to launch a customer-acquisition initiative.

Quintessential Brands invests in miniature bottles production line

Quintessential Brands has installed a miniature bottles production line to tap the growing mini market for spirits

Le Cordon Bleu to launch new wine and beverage certificate

Le Cordon Bleu will launch a new certificate in wine and beverage studies in March 2019.

New website to revamp the world of fine wine

A new fine wine website launching in February 2019 will “redefine the way consumers experience and purchase fine wine” according to its founders.

Majestic wine sales fizz over Christmas

Majestic Wine enjoyed a merry Christmas despite the “challenging market backdrop”.

BWS enjoys strong festive build up as general grocery sales slump

Shoppers visited supermarkets more often in the run up to Christmas, but sales slumped to half the level of growth returned last year, according to Nielsen.

Berkmann expands its Australian Portfolio

Berkmann Wine Cellars is now the exclusive UK agent and distributor of Victorian producers Yarra Yering and Domaine Tournon.

Liberty Wines adds Bodega Garzón to its portfolio

Liberty Wines has boosted its South American offering with the addition of Bodega Garzón from Uruguay.

Armit Wines makes another round of appointments

Armit Wines has announced three new hires to its sales and marketing teams.

The Wine Society teams up with Johnston Logistics

The Wine Society has hired Johnston Logistics to bolster its storage and distribution operations as its membership numbers continue to grow.

Spotlight on 2020: Doug Wregg, Les Cave de Pyrene

As we prepare for the new decade, Harpers looks back over 2019 and ahead to what the coming year will bring – hopefully full of revived optimism for both politics and the trade.

Harpers Wine Stars opens to array of new countries

Harpers Wine Stars is poised for further growth this year as the competition opens to an array of new countries.

Virgin Atlantic launches first onboard 'NoLo' alcohol cocktails menu

Virgin Atlantic has partnered with distilled non-alcoholic spirit brand Seedlip and Fever-Tree to launch what it claims to be the first onboard no and low cocktails menu.

Hatch Mansfield signs distribution deal for Gaja

Hatch Mansfield has signed a deal as the exclusive UK agent for the Gaja family, marking the first Italian producer to join its portfolio

Château Castera expands distribution via Exel partnership

Château Castera has expanded its UK distribution via a new partnership with independent Scottish online retailer Exel Wines.