Producers - Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Rise of German cool climate wine leads to UK's first German Pinot Noir tasting

Published: 19 January, 2018

Britain’s first ever German Pinot Noir tasting is to take place in London, in March this year, Harpers can reveal.

Rioja directs coffers on global promotional spend and single village clarity for 2018

Published: 16 January, 2018

The Rioja Control Board is continuing to invest heavily in its marketing activity in 12 key countries, including the UK.

Matt Pym to lead “ambitious growth” plan at Vintae UK

Published: 18 December, 2017

Majestic’s former head buyer has joined Spanish and Chilean producer Vintae to head-up the producer’s plan to “heavily invest” in the UK and Ireland.

Thistledown champions Grenache renaissance

Published: 11 December, 2017

Alliance Wine’s Giles Cooke MW will be releasing the first commercially available results of Thistledown Wine Company’s Riverland project, focusing on old vine Grenache, under a Gorgeous Grenache label at M&S this spring.

Jean-Claude Mas continues quest for Languedoc domination

Published: 08 December, 2017

Since founding Domaine Paul Mas in 2000, Jean-Claude Mas has been building up a wine empire across the Languedoc Roussillon. Harpers caught up with the Paul Mas proprietor and pioneer behind some the Languedoc’s biggest exports to discuss how the newest portfolio addition continues his quest to own estates “in all the great areas" of this versatile region

The creation of Priorat Singulars

Published: 29 November, 2017

A new association of producers from Catalonia’s DOQ Priorat officially presented their new Priorat Singulars group in Barcelona on 27 November, representing a new initiative to raise the profile of the region's very top wines.

Marcelo Papa takes top wine job as Concha y Toro named biggest mover of 2016

Published: 28 November, 2017

Marcelo Papa has been appointed technical director of South American wine behemoth Concha y Toro.

Spanish give English Albariño wine the thumbs up

Published: 20 November, 2017

Chapel Down Winery in Kent is the only UK vineyard to make a wine from 100% Albariño – a grape associated with Galicia in northwest Spain.

How the “crazy” state of Prosecco’s 23p price erosion could be about to change

Published: 17 October, 2017

The media last week widely reported that the average price for a bottle of Prosecco has fallen a further 23p over past year as competition drives down prices.

The battle for closure

Published: 09 October, 2017

The industry has been split on the issue of cork versus screwcap for years, but now consumers are calling the shots, as Lisa Riley reports

Champagne harvest one of the earliest in 67 years

Published: 20 September, 2017

Champagne has followed the European trend of an earlier harvest this year with yields potentially affected by fluctuating weather conditions.

The Pinot Noir Alliance announces first session

Published: 18 September, 2017

Five producers from some of the world’s most famous Pinot Noir producing regions are teaming up to promote the variety worldwide.

Italian co-operative outlines plans for quality rebrand

Published: 12 September, 2017

A large-scale Italian cooperative is aiming to challenge its “reliable Pinot Grigio” reputation with a marketing push in the UK.

SWA heads to Japan to insulate trade against Brexit

Published: 31 August, 2017

The Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) chief executive Karen Betts is this week joining the Prime Minister Theresa May and International Trade Secretary Liam Fox on a business delegation to Japan to ensure that trade opportunities aren’t scuppered by Brexit.

Strong FY17 results boosts acceleration at Pernod

Published: 31 August, 2017

Pernod Ricard, the world number two in spirits, has forecasted accelerated net profits for the current financial year thanks to a strong performance in 2016/2017.

Kingsland responds to "sweet-shop" labelling concerns

Published: 24 August, 2017

Mr Gladstone’s Curious Emporium product range has agreed to change its packaging after a ruling by drinks watchdog The Portman Group.

Diageo Wine acquisition drives growth for TWE in FY17

Published: 21 August, 2017

Treasury Wine Estates (TWE), the Australian winemaker, has reported net profits after tax up 55% to AU$269.1m for the year ending June 30, 2017.

Years of debate ends with new Bourgogne Côte D’Or approval

Published: 21 August, 2017

French authorities have approved Bourgogne Côte D’Or, a new regional appellation, which could become a new premium area of wine production in the heart of Burgundy.

Delivering a pipe dream

Published: 21 August, 2017

If brand-building is rooted in USPs, then the Fair Spirits label has impressive credentials. But converting these into sustainable momentum in a crowded spirits world can be quite a challenge, as Andrew Catchpole discovers.

Q&A: May de Lencquesaing, proprietor at Glenelly Estate, SA

Published: 18 August, 2017

With a career spanning over 40 years and two continents, May de Lencquesaing certainly earned the IWC Lifetime Achievement Award bestowed upon her early this summer.