News - Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Final call to support Blackbook Winery crowdfunder

Published: 03 December, 2025

London urban winery Blackbook has made a final call for help with its crowdfunding campaign, which opened last month.

Rioja: Region’s second largest co-op set to become LLC

Published: 03 December, 2025

Bodegas Sonsierra, the 500ha producer from the Rioja Alta’s San Vicente de la Sonsierra, is set to transition its ownership model from cooperative to limited liability company (LLC).

InterLoire releases 2025 harvest report

Published: 02 December, 2025

InterLoire, an interprofessional association for the Loire Valley, has released its 2025 harvest report.

Bibendum releases new Vinonomics graph following Budget

Published: 02 December, 2025

The premium wine distributor Bibendum has released a new ‘Vinonomics’ graph (pictured) which breaks down the different costs that make up the price of a bottle of wine, following the Autumn Budget.

Welsh Government begins process to appoint DMO

Published: 01 December, 2025

In a statement from Huw Irranca-Davies MS, the Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs, the Welsh Government has announced that it has begun the process of finding a Deposit Management Organisation (DMO) to run its Deposit Return Scheme (DRS).

WineCap sketches shifting fortunes of Bordeaux and Burgundy

Published: 01 December, 2025

Ahead of its End of Year Report, wine investment platform WineCap has published a fascinating insight into the shifting alignment of fine wine investment rivals Bordeaux and Burgundy.

Australian wine supply outstripping demand

Published: 01 December, 2025

Wine Australia has unveiled its Production, Sales and Inventory Report 2025 which detailed a worsening imbalance between supply and demand over the past year.

Packamama awarded $1 million AUD to decarbonise wine packaging

Published: 01 December, 2025

Packamama, a climate technology company that makes low-carbon wine packaging, has been awarded a $1 million AUD (~£500,000) grant under the Business Research and Innovation Initiative (BRII).

Obituary: William Laurence “Bill” Page

Published: 01 December, 2025

Christopher Carson, co-founder & director at Carson & Carnevale Wines, pens a personal tribute to a much respected and tirelessly energetic stalwart of the UK drinks trade.

Licensed Trade Charity acquires site for new school

Published: 28 November, 2025

The Licensed Trade Charity (LTC), a leading hospitality charity, has announced the acquisition of a site (pictured) in Waterlooville, Hampshire, for a new specialist autism school.

Cité du Vin auction raises €220,000

Published: 28 November, 2025

Sotheby’s and the Cité du Vin have raised over €220,000 in support of the Foundation for wine culture and civilisations, in an online auction from 7 to 27 October.

WSTA highlights cost of Budget to drinks trade

Published: 27 November, 2025

In the wake of the Budget, the Wine & Spirit Trade Association (WSTA) has released a table (below) revealing just how much the duty increases will impact prices for the consumer, further dampening demand for wines and spirits.

WSET appoints new chair of Board of Trustees

Published: 27 November, 2025

Tamara Roberts (pictured), CEO of Ridgeview, the English sparkling wine producer, has been appointed chair of the Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) Board of Trustees.

Kingsland Drinks and Boland Cellar enter on-trade partnership with Booker

Published: 27 November, 2025

The South African wine producer Boland Cellar will supply three of its wines into the national wholesaler Booker, under a deal arranged by Kingsland Drinks.

UK drinks industry despondent after Budget duty hike

Published: 26 November, 2025

In an entirely predictable move, Chancellor Rachel Reeves has confirmed that alcohol duty will rise with the Retail Prices Index (RPI) in 2026, provoking near-universal concern across the drinks trade.

North South Wines secures ISO 14001 Accreditation

Published: 26 November, 2025

North South Wines (NSW) has achieved ISO 14001:2015 certification – a significant milestone in the company's ongoing sustainability journey.

Graft Wine welcomes up-and-coming Portuguese winery into its family

Published: 26 November, 2025

London-based importer Graft Wine has announced the addition of Freire Lobo, an organically farmed, high-altitude estate, to its diverse portfolio.

Sustainable Wine Roundtable unveils inaugural sparkling wine report

Published: 26 November, 2025

The Sustainable Wine Roundtable (SWR) has marked the second anniversary of its bottle weight accord (BWA) by publishing the world's first comprehensive study into sparkling wine bottle lightweighting, in addition to welcoming two new major supporters.

VCL and Canned Wine Group add support for Drinks Trust

Published: 25 November, 2025

This week two very different drinks companies have announced support for The Drinks Trust, with both VCL Vintners and Canned Wine Group supporting the trade charity.

Gin Guild appoints two new directors

Published: 25 November, 2025

The not-for-profit membership body for the gin industry, The Gin Guild, has appointed two new directors – Sophie Best and Andrew Parsons (both pictured) – to its board.