France - Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Bordeaux sees average market prices drop 18%

Published: 04 April, 2025

Analysis from fine wine consulting agency Wine Lister, shows that Bordeaux wines have seen their average market prices drop by 18% over the past 12 months.

Domaine du Météore gains Bibendum distribution

Published: 10 March, 2025

Domaine du Météore – which, as the name suggests, is grown in and around a meteor crater – has joined Bibendum’s portfolio of wine producers. The producer’s wines will now be distributed through Bibendum to the on-trade and independent merchants through Walker & Wodehouse in England & Wales.

Live-Ex: Market confidence in Burgundy remains low

Published: 06 March, 2025

Data from Live-Ex, the fine wine trading platform, shows that over the past two years, the Burgundy 150, (which collates the performance of the top 150 Burgundian wines on the platform), was down 30.2%. This is the largest drop of any sub-index within the Live-Ex's Fine Wine 1000.

Château Roubine makes a rosé splash at Bibendum

Published: 03 March, 2025

Bibendum Wine has become the distributor of rosé specialist Château Roubine in the UK, including the Hippy, La Rose and Lion & Dragon brands from the Provence estate.

Jeroboams expands portfolio with wines from Chinon and Alentejo

Published: 26 February, 2025

Fine wine merchant, Jeroboams, has added two producers to its portfolio with Domaine de la Chapelle from Chinon, Loire Valley and Mouchão vineyard from the Alentejo, Portugal.

Laurent Delaunay’s new range aims to disrupt Burgundy category

Published: 18 February, 2025

Laurent Delaunay, the fifth-generation Burgundian winemaker, has launched a new eponymous range called Laurent Delaunay Les Grappillages. The range offers classic styles from Burgundy as well as Beaujolais, at a more affordable price point.

Bureau de L'Occitanie London office set to close after 17 years

Published: 04 February, 2025

The Bureau de L'Occitanie, first set up to represent wines from Occitanie, including those from Languedoc, Roussillon and South-West France, will shutter on 7 March.

Alliance and H2Vin launch 2023 Burgundy en primeur

Published: 13 January, 2025

Alliance Wine is launching its first fully fledged Burgundy en primeur campaign thanks to the integration of wines from the newly acquired H2Vin portfolio.

Domaine Lafage becomes latest member of Hallgarten family

Published: 09 January, 2025

A leading producer in the Languedoc-Roussillon has signed an exclusive distribution agreement with Hallgarten & Novum Wines, adding further clout to the importer's expanding portfolio of French wineries.

Moët & Chandon reaches halfway point in 100km Champagne hedgerow project

Published: 05 December, 2024

One of Champagne’s most iconic houses has reached the halfway point of a project to plant 100km of hedgerow in Champagne as part of a plan to boost biodiversity in the region.

Two Burgundy appellations follow in Pouilly-Fuissé’s Premier Cru footsteps

Published: 03 December, 2024

Burgundy’s Pouilly-Loché and Pouilly-Vinzelles ODG (Organisme de Gestion et Défense) have been now recognised as Premier Cru wines, joining their neighbours in Pouilly-Fuissé which achieved its Premier Cru status in 2020.

Loire Valley producers reeling from 'unprecedented climatic conditions' in 2024

Published: 20 November, 2024

Vintage 2024 in the Loire Valley has been described as "one of the most trying years in recent decades” for growers in north-western France.

Cru Bourgeois de Medoc looks to 2030 classification following major overhaul

Published: 18 November, 2024

A new era for the Cru Bourgeois de Medoc was on show at last week’s central London tasting where the trade and press were invited to taste wines from 2022 – the last of five vintages classified in the current 2020 classification and the first vintage to be blind tasted and included in the analysis for the upcoming 2030 classification.

Chablis faces tough harvest but targets UK growth

Published: 08 November, 2024

The 2024 vintage in Chablis has emerged from one of the most challenging seasons in recent memory, with severe frost, hailstorms and heavy rains collectively slashing yields by an estimated 60%. Despite these setbacks, the region’s winemakers remain optimistic, citing the vintage’s distinctive quality, marked by vibrant lemon and grapefruit notes and characteristic minerality.

UK debut of Occitanie wine event highlights growing demand

Published: 28 October, 2024

On Tuesday, 22 October 2024, the Experience le Sud Tasting made its UK debut in London, an event organised by the Bureau de la Région Occitanie à Londres. Created to increase visibility for Occitanie wines among UK trade professionals, the tasting focused on varietals and styles that are rapidly gaining traction in the market. The event attracted key figures from the UK wine trade, including sommeliers, importers, independent merchants and journalists, who were introduced to a wide range of wines that highlight the quality and unique identity of Occitanie.

New director and president for Centre-Loire Wines

Published: 16 October, 2024

Interprofessionnel des Vins du Centre-Loire (BIVC) has made two major new changes to its leadership team with François Bouteille officially taking over from Edouard Mognetti as director and Bertrand Minchin taking on the role of co-president.

Bibendum unveils New Bordeaux School for sommeliers

Published: 27 September, 2024

Bibendum Wine has launched its New Bordeaux School, an educational programme targeting sommeliers.

Sotheby’s to auction wines marking 40 years of Domaine Clarence Dillon

Published: 26 September, 2024

Sotheby’s London will host an auction on 7 November 2024 featuring a collection of wines from the cellars of Château La Mission Haut-Brion.

Laudun becomes new Côtes du Rhône Cru

Published: 20 September, 2024

Laudun has officially been recognised as the 18th Cru of the Côtes du Rhône, with 2024 set to mark the first vintage under this prestigious title. Formerly classified as Côtes du Rhône Villages Laudun, the wine-producing area achieved communal appellation status following a decision by the National Institute for Origin and Quality (INAO) on 11 September.

French wines see strong UK growth despite market decline

Published: 11 September, 2024

Despite a 4% decline in the overall UK wine market, French wines recorded a 6% growth, driven by a 21% surge in wines from the Languedoc-Roussillon region.