Fit for the future

Maison Martell has formed a dynamic partnership aimed at preparing its vineyards for climate breakdown, as  Alison Reid, of ethical-hedonist.com, reports. 

Soave’s top sites upgraded to crus

The Italian Ministry of Agriculture has officially recognised 33 cru vineyards in Soave, following an 18-year “zoning” project by the region’s consorzio.

Bacchus symposium de-codes potential of English wine’s “flag bearer”

Experimentation is the key to unlocking the potential of Bacchus, which is fast becoming a “flag bearer” for English wine, industry experts have said.

Domaine de la Métairie d'Alon expansion

Domaine de la Métairie d'Alon, part of the Badet Clement portfolio, has unveiled plans for a major expansion programme.

UK independent distilleries break £2bn barrier

Sales for the UK’s independent spirits distilleries exceeded £2 billion for the first time last year, according to research from private equity house Growthdeck.

Sustainability accreditation in the works for UK wine

A new sustainability and climate change mitigation scheme for the UK wine industry could be complete by the end of the year.

Rioja 2018 given the thumbs up from the DOCa despite weather woes

The Rioja vintage for 2018 has been classified as ‘Good’ despite the uncertainty around the impact of unpredictable weather conditions on the region.

Gusbourne to grow its West Sussex vines in 2020

Gusbourne Estate is planning on increasing its acreage in West Sussex with vines to be planted across 57 acres.

Interview: Danny Lucchesi, Delicato Family

Viticulturalist Danny Lucchesi talks to Chris Wilson about special old vines, Zin and Gnarley Head

Hardys weighs into alcohol free market

Top selling UK wine brand Hardys has tapped into the fast growing market for low and no alcohol with the launch of an Alcohol Free Chardonnay addition to the range.

Sales of English and Welsh wine double in 2018

The English and Welsh wine industry produced a record-breaking amount of wine last year thanks to a frost-free spring and a long, mostly dry summer.

Scandinavian style: Climate change pushes wine to the fringes

For much of the winemaking world, it’s an inconvenient truth that climate change is changing how easily and successfully wine can be made.

Harpers Design Awards 2018: The winners

Good design may only sell the one, first bottle if the liquid inside is discovered to be below par. But present the most sublime booze in a mediocre or off-putting package and the painstaking craft of the distiller or winemaker is likely to be left collecting dust.

Guilhon d’Aze XO Armagnac wins biennial Prix Du Président

This year’s Les Talents de l’Armagnac competition in Eauze awarded the top honour to a relative outsider, Guilhon d’Aze Bas Armagnac X0 from Domaine Denis Tastet, in a hotly contested judging round presided over by Harpers editor Andrew Catchpole.

Bruce Jack UK launch

Prominent South African winemaker Bruce Jack officially launched his new eponymous wine range yesterday at High Timber restaurant in London.

Edinburgh Gin plans multi-million-pound distillery

Edinburgh Gin has unveiled plans to invest in a new multi-million-pound distillery in Edinburgh city centre.

Distell to launch fine wine division

African wine, spirits and cider giant Distell is set to launch a new premium wine division with Nederburg as its flagship, Harpers can reveal.

Accolade sparkling head and wine icon Ed Carr on launching Tasmanian fizz onto the world stage

Fresh from his win at the Lifetime Achievement Awards at last week’s Champagne and Sparkling Wine World Championships in London, Ed Carr, group head sparkling winemaker at Accolade Wines talked to Harpers about putting Tasmania on the map.

Missed opportunity: What a rise with inflation means for the UK wine trade

Pub landlords and spirits importers will be breathing a sigh of relief this morning, but not the nation’s wine trade – which is looking at an extra £90 million bill in duty next year.

Low disease pressure and minimal intervention casts warm glow over UK wine industry