David Babich on how carefully matched food helps bring his wines alive

David Babich, general manager of the family-owned Babich Wines, which reaped its first vintage in Auckland's Henderson Valley in 1916, along with Dinah Kinnear, sales manager for Europe, introduced their wine range at a special event hosted by UK distributor, PLB, at London's Underground Cookery School.

Calling all drinks businesses: share your Responsibility Deal successes

Following this week's public backing of the drinks industry by the government for the work it has done to comply with the Responsibility Deal, Harpers is now giving drinks businesses the chance to share and publicise the efforts they have made.

Harpers Low-Alcohol Wine Report: Subscribers download here

Try as it might, the UK wine trade has yet to crack the low-alcohol wine category, according to a new Harpers report published today.

?Roussillon's Maison Cazes buys vineyard in Maury

Maison Cazes, the Rivesaltes-based producer, has expanded its Roussillon holdings by buying a new vineyard in Maury.

Screw cap grows in popularity in UK and Australia, but Americans lag behind

Americans are still wary of screw cap closures for wine, while their British and Australian counterparts are much more accepting.

California's wine regions at risk of fire caused by extreme drought

The entire state of California is now in the worst stages of drought according to new figures released on July 3, 2014 by the US Drought Monitor.

Whisky maker William Grant & Sons donates to campaigns against Scottish independence

Spirits firm William Grant & Sons has donated money to several groups who are campaigning for a "no" vote in the upcoming Scottish independence referendum.

Lebanese producers move to protect vital supplies from Syria

Lebanese wine producers are having to take continued steps to ensure the quality of aniseed sourced from Syria to help make the traditonal drink, arak, is not compromised by the continued conflict over the border.

Adrian Atkinson leaves his role as Pernod Ricard's wine development manager

Adrian Atkinson has left Pernod Ricard this week as part of a mini restructure of its commercial and marketing teams.

Harpers Design Awards relaunches as global competition

The Harpers Design Awards are being relaunched for 2014 as a global competition, inviting entries for wines, spirits, beers, ciders and soft drinks from anywhere in the world - providing they are already on sale in the market.

Guy Woodward lambasts old school wine world for being stuck in its ivory tower

Former Decanter editor, Guy Woodward, uses his first regular Harpers column today to lambast the old school wine world for being out of touch with how consumers now want to talk about wine.

The rum doctor: Dr Frank Ward of WIRSPA

Harpers.co.uk caught up with Dr. Frank Ward of the West Indies Rum and Spirits Producers' Association (WIRSPA) to find out what the association is currently doing to raise the profile of Caribbean rum in the UK.

Wine Vision to focus on how industry must adapt to millennials' needs

Wine Vision's return to London in November will examine key issues affecting growth in the industry as relationships between wine brands and consumers change and competition from spirits and beer intensifies.

Nik Darlington plays out the World Cup for real - with the world of wine

You could cut the tension with a grissino. The shoot-out was tied at 2-2, both sides' fans on tenterhooks.

Tour de France celebrates with Champagne de Castelnau

As parts of the UK brace themselves for the start of the gruelling Tour de France cycle race that starts in Yorkshire on July 5, Champagne de Castelnau has introduced this very appropriate limited edition Champagne.

Christian Seely shows the quality of the Douro with a vertical tasting of Quinta do Noval

Christian Seely's contention that the Quinta do Noval vineyards are producing outstanding dry red table wines was vindicated at a mid-summer vertical tasting in London. The flamboyant, bow-tie- wearing managing director of the leading port house has always believed that unfortified wines from the Douro had the potential to express Noval's terroir. A look at the estate's three dry reds - Quinta do Noval Douro DOC,  Cedro do Noval and Quinta do Noval Touriga Nacional - between the period 2004-11 supported that view.

Edrington Group profits and turnover rise due to whisky boom

The Edrington Group, the Scottish maker of The Macallan, Famous Grouse, Cutty Sark, and Highland Park whiskies, saw profits rise by 3% and turnover hit £730.4 million for fiscal year 2014 which ended on March 31.

Treasury Wine Estates appoints Coca-Cola exec to lead Asia and Europe

Mentzendorff boosts premium Australian wine range with Kilikanoon

Mentzendorff is looking to ramp up its premium Australian wine offering and has taken on distribution of Clare Valley's Kilikanoon as a first step.

Australian wine legend, Doug Lehmann, dies a year after his father Peter

Doug Lehmann, one of the charismatic figures in the Australian wine trade, has died over the weekend aged 62.