Champagne and Sparkling - Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Henkell buys majority stake in Freixenet

Published: 19 March, 2018

German sparkling wine company Henkell has acquired a 50.7% stake in Spanish cava giant Freixenet.

Maison Mumm launches ‘revolutionising’ cuvée

Published: 01 March, 2018

Maison Mumm has launched a cuvée aimed at redefining traditional perspectives on ageing Champagne.

Majestic releases first ‘NDA’ English wine

Published: 26 February, 2018

Majestic has released a batch of sparkling wine for which it is asking buyers to comply with a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) to protect the details of the tipple.

Champagne exports catch up with French domestic consumption as value grows

Published: 22 February, 2018

Shipments of Champagne abroad caught up with domestic sales last year, new figures from the Champagne Bureau UK show.

Sparkling sales continue to fizz in the UK

Published: 14 February, 2018

Sales of sparkling grew by 6% in volume and 9% in value in the off-trade last year, showing the popularity of the category continues to rise.

Rathfinny reveals Sussex sparkling launch details

Published: 13 February, 2018

Rathfinny Estate has announced the highly anticipated launch of its first Sussex sparkling wines will take place at Somerset House in London on April 24th.

Louis Roederer shows its modern face at MMD tasting

Published: 29 January, 2018

Things sometimes move at a glacial pace in the world of fine wine, but even Grande Marque producer Louis Roederer showed it is up for moving with the times at its most recent tasting, showcasing zero dosage and experimentation with organic and biodynamic wines.

Hampshire producers prepare for annual tasting

Published: 23 January, 2018

A group of seven leading Hampshire producers are on their to way to London once again in February for their annual tasting.

UK to be overtaken by the US as the world’s bigger importer of sparkling

Published: 19 January, 2018

The UK’s status as the biggest importer of sparkling wines will be challenged over the next three years, with the US due to take the top spot by 2021.

Aldi reports bumper Christmas boosted by booze

Published: 04 January, 2018

Aldi has reported record sales over the Christmas period pushing its annual UK sales to break the £10bn barrier for the first time.

Brexit and bad harvests could dampen supply of fizz

Published: 02 January, 2018

2018 could be the year that Brits’ love of sparkling catches up with them as experts predict a fizz shortage could be about to descend on the UK.

Champagne Armand de Brignac appoints new UK importer

Published: 19 December, 2017

Champagne Armand de Brignac has appointed New Generation McKinley (NGM) as its new exclusive UK importer for the brand, commencing 1 January 2018.

San Leonardo to make first foray into fizz

Published: 07 December, 2017

Historic Trentino estate San Leonardo has revealed it is moving into sparkling wine production in line with a trend for producers in the region replacing red grapes with varieties used for bubbles.

Finding the place of Cava de Paraje

Published: 05 December, 2017

Without the quality ladders of tiered local classifications, Cava de Paraje amounts to little more than a series of “remote Grand Cru islands”, argues Miquel Hudin.

Window of opportunity for white, sparkling and low ABV wines

Published: 29 November, 2017

Wine is set to continue this year’s winning streak thanks to a boost from sparkling, white and low/no alcohol wines.

Dragon backs new sugar-free wine range

Published: 27 November, 2017

Investors have backed the healthy drinking trend by ploughing funds into a range of new Italian wines which are tipped to be completely sugar and carb free.

Extremadura Cava producers challenge Catalonia in fight for further planting rights

Published: 22 November, 2017

Cava producers in Extremadura, South West Spain, are fighting a move from the Spanish government to ban further plantings of Cava grapes until beyond 2020.

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.

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.

Investment firm acquires share in top cava producer ahead of UK push

Published: 14 November, 2017

Scranton Enterprises plans to boost premium Cava exports to the UK following its acquisition of shares in leading Cava producer Juvé & Camps, the capital investment company’s CEO has told Harpers. “We believe the UK is a high potential market for Juvé & Camps, as premium Cava offers the same quality experience of champagne at a slightly lower price point,” said Luca Tassan, CEO of Scranton Enterprises. Speaking exclusively to Harpers, Tassan said: “We have made an investment in Juvé & Camps to support some of the family members on their plans to continue to grow the Premium Cava sector and expand internationally,” he said. “The strategy for the cava estate will be to build on the organic attributes of the Reserva (minimum 30 months ageing) and grow in the US, UK and northern European countries,” he said.