Producers - Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

London Cru acquires Sussex vineyard

Published: 28 June, 2023

London's first urban winery has purchased a vineyard in West Sussex, adjacent to Bolney Estate.

Rioja’s top wines take the spotlight in London

Published: 26 June, 2023

A selection of age-worthy styles from recent to older decades were on full show at the recent Rioja Residency – a new, unbeatable showing of the region’s best wines.

Friday read: London’s wineries offer ‘disruptive’ balance to English Wine Week

Published: 23 June, 2023

London’s urban wineries’ inaugural joint tasting this week (19 June) marked an intriguing counterpoint to the more regular medley of tasting, dinners and vineyard picnics that typically mark English Wine Week.

UK Port celebrates 650 years history of Portuguese alliance

Published: 16 June, 2023

The UK Port industry is celebrating six-and-a-half centuries of cooperation and trade this week, which included a celebratory dinner hosted by Taylor’s in the Tower of London’s White Tower.

Balfour tells British farmers 'grow grapes to secure your future'

Published: 16 June, 2023

Richard Balfour-Lynn, co-founder of Balfour Winery, one of the UK’s largest English wine producers, has urged British farmers to convert their land to viticulture in the face of climate change and rising demand for grapes.

Ribera del Duero DO 2022 'very good' according to external committee

Published: 16 June, 2023

Ribera del Duero DO is lauding its 2022 vintage as “very good” following the verdict of the Exceptional Committee, a group of 12 leading figures from the Spanish wine industry.

Trentodoc welcomes its first Champagne 'émigré'

Published: 16 June, 2023

Cyril Brun has become the first French national to take up residence at a Trentodoc winery, accepting the position of technical director at Ferrari Trento.

Chapel Down stunt “raises eyebrows” among the Champenois

Published: 13 June, 2023

English winery Chapel Down has loosed the cat among the proverbial pigeons in Reims ahead of English Wine Week, by going undercover as Champagne – and apparently beating the Champenois at their own game.

Friday read: ‘Grape of the sun’ in the hot seat with Peter McCombie MW

Published: 02 June, 2023

Monastrell was given a chance to shine in London recently, via a masterclass which aimed to show a sun-loving variety in a brand new light.

Italy bounces back

Published: 30 May, 2023

Despite another challenging year across the trade, the appetite for Italian wine is as strong as ever in the UK, James Bayley reports.

The Symington family and Anselmo Mendes begin Alvarinho venture

Published: 26 May, 2023

The Symington family estate is to produce a range of Alvarinho wines with winemaker Anselmo Mendes, following the company’s recent acquisition of Casa de Rodas.

Q&A: Nayan Gowda winemaker, Jardín Oculto

Published: 24 May, 2023

Nayan Gowda, well-travelled UK winemaker now making wines at 2,300m altitude with Jardín Oculto in the Cinti Valley in Bolivia, talks Darren Smith through his work.

Bolney to increase visitor capacity by 120% with expansion

Published: 22 May, 2023

Bolney Wine Estate, one of the UK’s first commercial vineyards, is currently undergoing phase one of an expansion to its hospitality and retail area, which will increase visitor capacity by 120%. The estate remains open to visitors throughout the work, with phase one due to complete in late Summer.

LWF exclusive: Ukrainian producers to set up import and distribution operation in UK

Published: 18 May, 2023

Wines of Ukraine is planning to launch its own import and distribution company in the UK, to help facilitate and grow exports to what its members see as a crucial market for boosting the profile of the country internationally.

Still wines to the fore at WineGB stall

Published: 16 May, 2023

From Georgia to Greece, to China and Uruguay, the 2023 London Wine Fair (LWF) has showcased many esoteric regions across its vast trade floor. As its home event, it may seem odd to place UK wines in this ‘emerging’ bracket. However, with little penetration beyond a simmering domestic market, the wines of Great Britain are hardly a global phenomenon… yet.

Drought: A burning issue for wine

Published: 14 May, 2023

With another scorching summer on the horizon, James Bayley assesses the damage caused by drought to affected regions across the globe.

Domenico Clerico Tasting: 'Our wines are like Ferraris'

Published: 12 May, 2023

Like all great Italian institutions, Domenico Clerico’s small estate is a product of passion, producing wines with great personalities.

Kanonkop marks 50th with salvo of older vintages in London

Published: 11 May, 2023

Kanonkop Wine Estate celebrated its half century yesterday (11 May) with a masterclass looking back at notable older vintages of Estate Pinotage and Cabernet Sauvignon, stretching back several decades.

2023 Viña Santa Rita harvest warmest for 70 years

Published: 09 May, 2023

Chilean producer Viña Santa Rita experienced a historically warm harvest, with the highest temperatures recorded in the last 70 years contributing to “unprecedented grape maturity”.

NZ scientists create 6000 new SB variants to increase environmental resilience

Published: 03 May, 2023

The Bragato Research Institute in Marlborough has sequenced 6,000 genetic variants of New Zealand’s leading grape variety, developed to help tackle climate change.