United Kingdom - Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Sam Linter says farewell to Bolney

Published: 20 April, 2023

Bolney Wine Estate’s longstanding chief winemaker is moving on to pursue new opportunities, following a transition period to new owners Freixenet Copestick.

Scotland’s alcohol advertising ban ‘sent back to drawing board’

Published: 19 April, 2023

After significant backlash from the Scottish drinks trade proposals to restrict alcohol advertising north of the border have been, “sent back to the drawing board”, first minister Humza Yousaf has announced.

Emma Rice to work as consultant for burgeoning English wine industry

Published: 17 April, 2023

One of the UK’s most reputable winemakers, Emma Rice has set up her own winemaking consultancy company to help further advance the burgeoning UK wine industry. Rice will provide expertise in winery design, equipment sourcing, sensory evaluation and wine style strategy as part of her consultancy offering.

Balfour outlines ambitious plans for growth

Published: 05 April, 2023

Balfour has revealed plans to double its annual production to one million bottles, made at the 400-acre Hush Heath Estate in Kent.

Campden BRI and AWRI team-up to support growth of UK wine sector

Published: 03 April, 2023

Campden BRI and the Australian Wine Research Institute (AWRI) are teaming up to provide UK wine growers and importers with “cutting-edge insight and knowledge”.

Simon Thorpe MW steps down as WineGB CEO

Published: 03 April, 2023

It is all change for WineGB as the trade organisation announces it is looking for a new CEO.

Roebuck Estates Launches Its ‘Viticulture Academy’

Published: 27 March, 2023

Sussex’s Roebuck Estates, which is celebrating its tenth anniversary this year, has launched its Roebuck Viticulture Academy, a three-day vineyard training programme available exclusively to its trade partners.

Friday read: Hampshire wines making their mark

Published: 24 March, 2023

Ahead of next week’s Vineyards of Hampshire trade tasting, Justin Keay dives into how the wider English wine industry has changed, with regions outside Kent and Sussex growing all the while.

Danbury Ridge shows eastern promise

Published: 21 February, 2023

Essex clays are poised to lead the charge of quality English still wine. Andrew Catchpole reports from Crouch Valley’s Danbury Ridge.

Nyetimber announces America’s Cup partnership

Published: 13 February, 2023

Nyetimber, a leading English sparkling wine producer, has announced its partnership with INEOS Britannia, the British race team challenging for the 37th America’s Cup.

Premium English sparkling wine producer, Gusbourne, reports significant sales growth in 2022

Published: 01 February, 2023

Gusbourne, the Kent and West Sussex-based premium sparkling wine producer, has reported significant sales increases in its unaudited trading update for the 12 months to 31 December 2022.

Fells adds Wiston Estate to portfolio

Published: 19 January, 2023

John E Fells & Sons have added its first English winery, Wiston Estate, to its portfolio.

ABS adds first English wine to Portfolio

Published: 20 December, 2022

Awin Barratt Siegel Wine Agencies (ABS) is partnering with House Coren, to distribute their sparkling wine, Boco – the first English wine to join the ABS portfolio.

Staffing the English vineyard boom

Published: 16 November, 2022

All too often in our industry lately, the word ‘staffing’ has been swiftly followed by ‘crisis’ – and for good reason. UK Hospitality estimates there are 170,000 unfilled jobs in hospitality (not including seasonal and casual workers) – a vacancy rate of 10%.

Sandridge Barton estimates 80,000 bottles after bumper harvest

Published: 24 October, 2022

Sandridge Barton, the home of Sharpham Wine, is toasting a bumper harvest after collecting more than 80 tonnes of grapes, enough for approximately 80,000 bottles.

Small producers slip through the net for duty relief

Published: 14 October, 2022

WineGB has criticised the set up of the government’s duty relief scheme which effectively denies small wine producers support.

Vranken-Pommery tests the waters of vine density in English ‘trials’

Published: 07 October, 2022

Vranken-Pommery’s English wine ‘trials’ at its Pinglestone Estate in Hampshire could prompt viticulture changes in Champagne, the house has said, with Pinglestone being used as a ‘laboratory’ where findings on lowering vine density could be taken across the Channel.

Ridgeview has high hopes for 2022 harvest

Published: 04 October, 2022

English sparkling wine estate Ridgeview has announced its ambitions for the 2022 harvest, citing the soaring summer temperatures as a significant contributor to excellent growing conditions.

Sales and temperatures rise in tandem for UK wine industry

Published: 07 September, 2022

Much has been made of the growth of the UK wine sector and how climate change is slowly emerging as a net benefit for vineyards across the country.

What next for UK wine labelling scheme?

Published: 05 September, 2022

By the time this feature is published, a new UK wine labelling scheme should be effective. However, according to the Wine & Spirit Trade Association (WSTA), the government has signalled its intention to defer the introduction of the forthcoming labelling rules until 1 January, 2024.