News - Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Benevolent invites bidders to register for Thanksgiving Day fundraiser auction

Published: 21 November, 2017

Drinks charity The Benevolent is launching a ‘Thanks for Giving’ silent auction on 23 November to raise funds.

Cava de Paraje ambitions announced with lofty London launch

Published: 21 November, 2017

The apex of The City’s Gherkin building provided a suitably swish setting for the UK launch of the new Cava de Paraje Calificado on Monday, signalling the quality-focused ambition of Penedes leading sparkling winemakers.

Chancellor Philip Hammond labelled “scrooge”

Published: 21 November, 2017

Philip Hammond is being labelled a “scrooge” after it was revealed he will be one of the worst Chancellors to tax the wine and spirit sector if he pursues the planned increase in the Budget tomorrow (Wednesday, 22 November).

Adelaide Hills' Nepenthe talks climate and varietal evolution ahead of UK re-launch

Published: 21 November, 2017

Adelaide Hills is one of the most prominent of South Australia’s high-altitude regions, with elevation of up to 450m and winds from the Gulf st Vincent coast helping to temper the Aussie sunshine and produce some seriously cool, cool climate wines.

Marrenon returns to the UK after 7 year hiatus

Published: 20 November, 2017

Marrenon, the southeast France producer, is re-launching its portfolio in the UK with ambitions to become the leading Luberon and Ventoux winery.

Spanish give English Albariño wine the thumbs up

Published: 20 November, 2017

Chapel Down Winery in Kent is the only UK vineyard to make a wine from 100% Albariño – a grape associated with Galicia in northwest Spain.

Prosecco DOC gears up for approval of new ‘Brutnature’ description

Published: 17 November, 2017

The Prosecco DOC Consortium has revealed it is hoping to get approval for the use of a new Prosecco description - Brutnature, on labels in 2018.

Xavier Rousset gets personal with new members club

Published: 17 November, 2017

London restaurateur and sommelier extraordinaire Xavier Rousset is branching out with his first wine club.

“Underrated and under-priced” Beaujolais gets a kick out from under Georges Duboeuf’s shadow

Published: 17 November, 2017

Beaujolais Nouveau Day is long past its heyday in the late 1980s when merchants made a mad dash to southern France to pick up the first release of the year. In 2017, however, London’s restaurants, bars and independents are using the day as a way to celebrate the region’s unsung heroes.

Savage Vines expands subscription service with new duo format

Published: 17 November, 2017

Savage Vines has added a duo pack to its online wine subscription service to keep the sales momentum of its exclusively sourced wines going.

Corney & Barrow drives growth through Merchant Business

Published: 17 November, 2017

Best known for its high end ‘By Royal Appointment’ fine wine, broker and private customer business, Corney & Barrow is striving to raise the profile of its trade business, which accounts for an increasing part of its 60m turnover year.

The week that was

Published: 17 November, 2017

In case you missed some of the headlines this week on harpers.co.uk, we have put together a review of the top online news, Q&As, and opinion stories.

New openings boost Be At One performance

Published: 16 November, 2017

Cocktail bar Be At One has posted a 24% jump in turnover - up £7.1m, to £36.9m for the year ending 2 April, 2017.

The vintage before the storm: Rhône 2016 primeur tasting

Published: 16 November, 2017

Yesterday’s Thorman Hunt & Co Ltd Rhône 2016 en primeur vintage tasting made overtures of incomparable quality, promising the likes of which tasters have not seen before.

Vindependents sets date for spirits launch

Published: 16 November, 2017

Vindependents has confirmed it will start importing spirits to the UK for the first time from January 2018.

Small Cognac producers raise the spirit to a new audience

Published: 16 November, 2017

A new generation of Cognac producers has raised the double-distilled spirit to a new audience in the UK, providing the on-trade and independent wine merchants with a fresh alternative to the handful of big brands that dominate the buoyant global cognac market.

BNIC unveils new identity for Cognac

Published: 15 November, 2017

Cognac has unveiled a new brand identity for the region designed to highlight its authenticity and heritage.

New LWF exhibitor area to focus on “cutting edge” drinks technology

Published: 15 November, 2017

More changes have been added to the London Wine Fair as organisers say they have been “challenged to drive innovation” within the drinks category.

Supreme Court clears path for 50p-per-unit minimum pricing in Scotland

Published: 15 November, 2017

Scotland is set to become the first country to introduce minimum unit pricing (MUP) on alcohol after the UK Supreme Court rejected a challenge by the Scotch Whisky Association (SWA).