Champagne and Sparkling - Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

English Sparkling: Boom or bust?

Published: 24 May, 2024

With rumblings of oversupply in the market and the UK’s biggest-ever crush in 2023, Jo Gilbert asks, could the bubble be about to burst for English wine?

Taste Canada 2024: Beyond Icewine

Published: 17 May, 2024

Canada continued to make its case for a growing number of styles this week, including an assortment of sparkling and still wine from British Columbia, Ontario and Nova Scotia, proving that it is far more than its most famous export.

One Champagne house left standing in Royal Warrant refresh

Published: 13 May, 2024

A number of Champagne brands could have fallen out of favour in King Charles III’s first Royal Warrant list after the passing of Queen Elizabeth II.

Champagne faces off against sparkling Riesling

Published: 07 May, 2024

Champagne’s supremacy was put through its paces last week when it went head to head with a ‘lost and forgotten world-class category’ of sparkling wines in a blind tasting.

‘Rare gems’ on show at Keeling Andrew tasting

Published: 17 April, 2024

Keeling Andrew’s trendy portfolio attracted a suitably young and vibrant crowd at its tasting in Holborn yesterday (16 April), where the business took the opportunity to highlight some of its under-the-radar producers while honing in on specialisms in Burgundy and Champagne.

Friday read: Perrier-Jouët embraces regenerative viticulture

Published: 05 April, 2024

Maison Perrier-Jouët welcomed a group of European journalists to its new tasting room to introduce the vins clairs of the most recent harvest, revealing the vibrance and resilience of its flagship grape Chardonnay.

The 0% vintage fizz selling for over £100

Published: 20 March, 2024

A new premium blanc de blancs vintage wine retailing in excess of £100 is about to hit the shelves, with a one-month exclusivity agreement with Harrods now in place. So what’s different about this particular premium fizz, with its luxe marketing strategy and hefty price tag? It’s completely alcohol-free.

Berkmann expands premium portfolio with EPC Champagne

Published: 13 March, 2024

Berkmann Wine Cellars has reached an agreement with EPC Champagne to distribute the brand in the UK market.

Mentzendorff adds two new shareholder producers under new MD

Published: 04 March, 2024

Mentzendorff has swelled the ranks of its shareholder brands since new MD Justin Liddle took the top job in November, with two new additions which include the Fladgate Partnership’s first foray into light wine.

Bibendum & Campari shake on Champagne partnership

Published: 23 February, 2024

Bibendum and Campari have teamed up to give a fresh boost to Champagne Lallier, with the Campari-owned house now joining the on-trade distribution’s portfolio of premium brands.

White hot: Demand for fizz pushes white production to its highest ever level

Published: 14 February, 2024

Global red wine supply and demand have significantly decreased in the last twenty years, while white wine has picked up the slack (along with rosé), largely due to the boom in sparkling wine in markets like the UK.

Gusbourne reports double digit growth for 2023

Published: 31 January, 2024

Gusbourne has revealed the results of what turned out to be a major year of change and upheaval for the estate, with sales growth both in the UK and abroad in the double digits.

Gusbourne reshuffle continues with new head winemaker

Published: 29 January, 2024

Gusbourne has announced it has a new face leading its winemaking team, with Mary Bridges now officially taking on the mantle of head winemaker following the departure of CEO Charlie Holland.

Yann Munier joins Maison Mumm as cellar master

Published: 26 January, 2024

Maison Mumm, the Champagne house owned by Pernod Ricard, has announced the appointment of Yann Munier as its new cellar master, effective from 8 April 2024.

Hambledon announces new MD

Published: 24 January, 2024

Hambledon Vineyard has announced it has a new MD as it prepares to embark on a future under joint Symington Family Estates and Berry Bros. & Rudd ownership.

All change for Gusbourne as it announces CEO

Published: 17 January, 2024

Leading sparkling and fine wine producer Gusbourne has today announced it has a new CEO, with former marketing director Jonathan White stepping up following a ‘rigorous internal and external search process’.

2023 Champagne shipments down 8.2%, 'as expected'

Published: 15 January, 2024

Le Comité Interprofessionnel du vin de Champagne (CIVC), the organisation grouping the actors of Champagne production and trade, has revealed that total Champagne shipments in 2023 were down 8.2% to 299m bottles.

Cava sales boosted by domestic market

Published: 20 December, 2023

The Cava Designation of Origin (Cava DO) has announced that total Cava sales have risen by 2.35% from January to September 2023, with a notable increase of 7.65% in the domestic market.

Segmentation aims to lift critically low grape prices for Cava

Published: 04 December, 2023

The Cava DO is pinning its hopes on the evolution of aged styles in international markets as a way of lifting the average price of its grapes, which now sits at around 30 cents per kilo – over twenty times less than the price of Champagne (€7 a kilo).