United Kingdom - Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Gladwin to retire as Wine GB deputy chair

Published: 31 March, 2021

Wine GB deputy chairman Peter Gladwin is to retire from the board at the next Annual General Meeting, currently planned for 27 May 2021.

Kent picked as one of 10 top ‘Grape Escape Destinations'

Published: 17 March, 2021

International Wine Tourism Conference (IWINETC) has pinpointed Kent as one of its ’10 Grape Escape Destinations' for 2021.

International Women’s Day Q&A: Plumpton College’s Ana Ðogić

Published: 08 March, 2021

In celebration of International Women’s Day today (8 March), Harpers is celebrating the contributions of Croatian born Ana Ðogić, interim winemaker Plumpton Estate Wines and Winery Instructor at Plumpton College.

Wine GB gears up for first wine tourism conference

Published: 24 February, 2021

Wine GB is gearing up to stage its wine tourism conference next week, the first event from the trade body to focus solely on this part of the UK wine industry.

Sharpham to double output as part of expansion plans

Published: 23 February, 2021

Sharpham Wine has announced plans to increase its output from 60,000 bottles to 120,000 per year.

Long Read: English Pinot Noir comes of age

Published: 18 February, 2021

Pinot Noir has long had a place in UK winemaking, as part of the classic Champagne varieties and, to a lesser extent, still variants often from select vineyards or small parcels. Now, with an increasingly changing climate helping to ripen and tease out those darker fruits, it could be poised to strike out on its own, as Jacopo Mazzeo surmises.

Soaring demand for rosé and exports at Nyetimber

Published: 15 February, 2021

Nyetimber has reported a major spike in demand for rosé in 2020 from their south east England vineyards, despite the loss of social drinking occasions often associated with pink wines.

Wine GB turns spotlight on wine tourism and retail

Published: 08 February, 2021

Wine GB has released its 2021 calendar of activities, revealing a strong focus on wine tourism and the retail sector.

Ridgeview to feature on Jamie & Jimmy’s Friday Night Feast

Published: 26 January, 2021

Ridgeview will be putting English sparkling wine in the spotlight this week, with the Sussex winery set to feature on Jamie & Jimmy’s Friday Night Feast.

Balfour partners with Bibendum and Matthew Clark

Published: 14 December, 2020

Bibendum, Matthew Clark, and Walker & Wodehouse has signed a deal as the exclusive distributors for English wine producer Balfour Wines.

Balfour and Majestic launch English wine follow-up

Published: 08 December, 2020

Majestic Wine and Balfour Wines at Hush Heath Estate are following up the debut of their English wine partnership, with a sophomore release of limited edition labels.

Dom Perignon winemaker moves to Kent

Published: 08 December, 2020

Nick Lane, who was part of the winemaking team at Dom Perignon, has moved to the UK to join contract-only winery, Defined Wine.

House of Commons in retail partnership with Digby Fine English

Published: 02 December, 2020

Sussex-based sparkling wine producer Digby Fine English has been appointed as the official supplier of English sparkling wine to the House of Commons gift shops.

Cheer from Chapel Down as sales hit one million bottles

Published: 25 November, 2020

Kent-based Chapel Down has hit a new high, with 2020 sales passing the one million bottle mark in October this year.

Chateau de Berne joins Bibendum

Published: 16 November, 2020

Bibendum Wine has become the exclusive UK distributor for Chateau de Berne, also taking on the other three wines in the Provence-driven MDCV portfolio.

Q&A: Mark Driver, Rathfinny Wine Estate

Published: 10 November, 2020

As the 2020 vintage came in, Rathfinny owner Mark Driver spoke with Andrew Catchpole about the challenges of flexing the business in a remarkable year

Sussex winery launches with two vintages

Published: 03 November, 2020

New boutique Sussex vineyard Artelium has launched with two sparkling vintages created by winemaker Dermot Sugrue.

Henners unveils new look ahead of plans to double capacity

Published: 30 October, 2020

Henners Vineyard, the English wine estate in East Sussex owned by Boutinot, has unveiled a new look ahead of plans to double capacity.

Lyme Bay unveils Pinot Noir with 14.7% abv potential

Published: 20 October, 2020

Lyme Bay Winery (LBW) has reported a batch of Pinot Noir with potential alcohol levels of 14.7% - a record for the UK it claimed.

Wine GB launches industry hallmark for classic method wines

Published: 15 October, 2020

Wine GB has announced its first ever collective campaign for producers in England and Wales, including a hallmark to help to differentiate English and Welsh PDO sparkling wines made using the “time and craft-intensive classic method”.