Producers - Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

South Africa's high hopes

Published: 01 April, 2021

If Bordeaux declares another 'vintage of the century' in 2021, then eyes will undoubtedly roll.

UK craft brewery openings hit record levels

Published: 15 March, 2021

Flying in the face of on-trade closures during the pandemic, the number of craft breweries operating in the UK has reached levels not seen since 1930s.

Six new grape varieties approved in Bordeaux

Published: 04 March, 2021

The Institut National de l’Origine et de la Qualité (INAO) has formally approved the use of four new red and two new white grape varieties for official use in Bordeaux as the region makes strides to future proof itself against the effects of climate change.

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.

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.

Atkin Rioja Report awards first-ever 100 point score to a white

Published: 15 February, 2021

Tim Atkin MW has revealed a perfect score for a wine for Rioja for the first time – and it’s a white.

Daou assembles dream team for Patrimony label

Published: 04 February, 2021

California’s Daou Family Estates has made four new hires in order to lead the advancement of its Patrimony Estate, including three former faces at Opus One.

Calls for UK trade to help crippled SA by freeing up tank space

Published: 25 January, 2021

Richard Bampfield MW has issued a call to the UK trade to support the beleaguered South African wine industry as producers continue to suffer crippling government restriction and oversupply issues.

Daou Family Estates outlines climate strategy

Published: 17 December, 2020

California’s Daou Family Estates has revealed the ‘three phase approach’ it is employing to tackle heatwaves and cold snaps in the vineyard, which have become more extreme over the past decade.

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.

United Wine Growers launches first brand

Published: 07 December, 2020

United Wine Growers has taken the plunge with the launch of its first brand.

Joint Harpers-NZ webinar to examine myths and facts around sea-shipping emissions

Published: 07 December, 2020

With food miles increasingly under scrutiny, Harpers is partnering with New Zealand Winegrowers to host a webinar looking into misconceptions surrounding the sustainability or otherwise of transporting wines across the world’s oceans.

New Zealand wine exports reach NZ$2 billion

Published: 26 November, 2020

International demand for New Zealand wine has surged over the past decade, with total export value now reaching a record-breaking NZ$2 billion in 2020.

Beaujolais Nouveau producers ‘forced’ to make hand sanitiser

Published: 23 November, 2020

Producers of Beaujolais Nouveau have been left with no choice but to turn part of their crop into pure alcohol, it has been reported, after exports of wine from the region fell during the first nine months of the year.

Diageo launches ambitious ten-year sustainability plan

Published: 23 November, 2020

Global drinks giant Diageo has launched a new ten-year sustainability action plan featuring a range of goals involving environment issues, diversity and inclusion, and moderate drinking initiatives.

IXSIR powers through Lebanon challenges to declare healthy vintage

Published: 16 November, 2020

Leading Lebanese winery IXSIR is reporting a “healthy” 2020 vintage, despite the harvest beginning within days of the deadly explosion that rocked Beirut and increasing Covid-19 restrictions.

Calabria acquires three wine brands from Henkell Freixenet

Published: 12 November, 2020

Calabria Family Wines has acquired a trio of Australian wine brands – Deakin Estate, La La Land and Azahara, from Wingara Wine Group [part of Henkell Freixenet], for an undisclosed sum.

Villa Maria looks to sell surplus land as part of global growth ambitions

Published: 05 November, 2020

Leading New Zealand estate Villa Maria has announced it is aiming to sell 31 ha of surplus land surrounding its headquarters in Mangere, Auckland, and is exploring raising capital to accelerate growth plans worldwide.

CyT thrives in Q3 despite pandemic

Published: 02 November, 2020

Net profits at Chilean wine giant Viña Concha y Toro have risen 54% in the third quarter, the company has announced, with EBITDA growing 53%.

Friday Read: Monoculture wars – the vineyards killing ecosystems

Published: 30 October, 2020

In Napa, John Williams, winemaker and the owner of Frogs Leap, is a winemaker in the minority. Around 6-7% of his land is devoted to crops other than vines. It’s a move that makes him stick out like a sore thumb surrounded by Rutherford’s rolling valleys where there’s barely a fruit tree in sight. In a region where a single hectare costs on average $1m, why devote a single plot to anything else?