Producers - Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

The week that was: top news, Q&As and opinion on Harpers.co.uk

Published: 11 April, 2014

In case you missed some of the headlines this week on harpers.co.uk, we have done a review of the top online news, Q&As, and opinion stories.

Constellation Brands bet on beer pays off

Published: 09 April, 2014

Constellation Brands released its 2014 fiscal results today reporting fourth quarter profits increasing 92% to $157 million, driven largely by market gains related to the acquisition of Grupo Modelo's US commercial beer business.

David Beckham gets behind new Diageo Scotch whisky

Published: 08 April, 2014

Diageo is launching a new Scotch whisky called Haig Club, in partnership with footballing great David Beckham and music mogul Simon Fuller.

Brancott Estate doubles marketing spend

Published: 08 April, 2014

Pernod Ricard UK has doubled its consumer marketing spend on New Zealand wine brand Brancott Estate.

Brown-Forman may acquire Whyte & Mackay, not Rémy Cointreau

Published: 08 April, 2014

Last week Rémy Cointreau' stocks spiked on speculation that Brown-Forman was a possible interested buyer, however reports have surfaced that Brown-Forman is a possible bidder for the Whyte & Mackay business which is currently up for sale.

UK trade still finds Bordeaux 2013 wines to buy

Published: 07 April, 2014

After much criticism ahead of the 2013 en primeur tastings, it seems that many UK merchants have been undeterred by negative press and plan to buy and sell this year's wines.

English Wine Week unveils new brand and image for 2014

Published: 04 April, 2014

A new logo has been produced to help English Wine Producers promote and celebrate English Wine Week which takes place between May 24 and June 1 across the UK.

?Growth of private label wines overtakes brands in multiples

Published: 04 April, 2014

Growth of private label wines is outpacing branded wines, and now accounts for over one-third of wines on offer across the major retailers.

Senior wine critics call for en primeur "sham" to be overhauled

Published: 04 April, 2014

Two of wine's most-respected wine critics have called for urgent reform of Bordeaux's en primeur system, describing it, in turn, as a "con" a "sham" and a system that the trade and investors have "lost faith in".

New Generation Wines to distribute Guerrieri Rizzardi wines

Published: 02 April, 2014

New Generation Wines has signed a deal to become Italy's Guerrieri Rizzardi's exclusive importer and agent in the UK.

Have we made an (April) fool out of you?

Published: 01 April, 2014

Just in case you have not realised, but we thought it was only fair to own up and admit a couple of the stories on today's news feed are not quite what they seem.

Les Dauphins becomes a million bottle brand in the UK and around the world

Published: 01 April, 2014

Les Dauphins, the Rhone brand from Cellier des Dauphins, is now selling over a million bottles in the UK and a million bottles around the world as it continues to expand in to new countries.

Bees could help speed up the ageing of wine finds new research

Published: 01 April, 2014

Two of England's high profile Masters of Wine have announced a radical new method of accelerating the ageing of wine - with the help of a hive of bees.

MW students to be voted either "in" or "out" by final BBC Voice-style judging panel

Published: 01 April, 2014

Final year Masters of Wine students will have to face the wine trade's equivalent of the BBC's The Voice in order to stand a chance of being accepted in to the Institute of Masters of Wine.

Bordeaux university brutally honest over poor 2013 vintage

Published: 01 April, 2014

Bordeaux's 2013 vintage fails to meet any of the requirements for a fine red wine vintage, said Bordeaux University's Vine and Wine Science Institute in a brutally honest press release.

Matua introduces new Legends range to its New Zealand wine portfolio

Published: 31 March, 2014

New Zealand winery, Matua, is introducing a new premium range of wines in to its key UK and European markets called Matua Lands & Legends.

Echo Falls revamps design to support higher prices

Published: 31 March, 2014

Echo Falls has changed its bottles and label design to demarcate its range into a two tier offering and support a higher price point.

Wines of Brazil hopes official World Cup wine will help boost its wines sales in the UK

Published: 28 March, 2014

Wines of Brazil hopes the release of a new limited edition official licensed wine for the FIFA World Cup will bring added attention to all the country's wines in the UK and all its key export markets around the world.

Pernod Ricard reports disappointing Chinese New Year sales

Published: 28 March, 2014

Pernod Ricard reports that there has been no improvements in sales following the Lunar New Year celebrations in China, which is traditionally the busiest sales period of the year for drinks companies, warning that China could remain sluggish until 2015 at the earliest.

?Ardbeg to release limited edition 'Auriverdes' as its tribute to the Brazilian World Cup

Published: 28 March, 2014

Auriverdes is a 2014 limited edition Scotch whisky produced by Islay's Ardbeg Distillery that plays tribute to the World Cup taking place in Brazil this summer. It is being released to coincide with Ardbeg Day on May 31.