People & Opinion - Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Producer Q&A: Giles Cooke MW, Thistledown Wines

Published: 22 May, 2025

From retailer to merchant to producer, Giles Cooke has spanned the wine trade. He talks Majestic, murder and McLaren Vale.

On-trade Q&A: Charlie Stein, Rick Stein Group

Published: 22 May, 2025

As his family’s restaurant group celebrates its 50th year, Harpers catches up with Cornish wine supremo Charlie Stein, director of wine at Rick Stein Group.

Jerry Lockspeiser: How can we make our own success?

Published: 14 May, 2025

I have been involved in dozens of small enterprises over the last 40 years. A few have grown very successfully from acorns to oak trees, some are healthy saplings still reaching upwards, but most have tottered in the wind before collapsing onto the ground and ending up on a bonfire.

Guy Woodward: how to avoid putting off consumers

Published: 15 May, 2025

I’m going to come right out and admit it. I’ve worked in the wine world for 22 years now, and I still don’t really understand malolactic fermentation. I know what it is, in principle. I even know roughly what it does. But how it works or how you stop it? Not a scooby…

Profile: Thorman Hunt’s Simon Thorpe MW

Published: 13 May, 2025

Being selfish, please don’t tell the world how good TH are!” As pleas of the ‘don’t spoil the party for those in the know’ go, this comment, from a London-based wine consultant, stands as pretty flattering, whichever way you slice it. And it certainly seems to fit with the image of Thorman Hunt out in the wider trade; namely that this team of self-described ‘wine shippers’ quietly gets on with doing what it does well – shifting great wines without fanfare or fuss. And, as anyone who has attended its tastings will doubtless attest, the French-dominated, generally smaller domaine-led portfolio lands some beautiful organoleptic punches, with subtle and elegant styles being to the fore.

Five minutes with Claudia Bastiaensen, Moët Hennessy UK

Published: 06 May, 2025

When you look at, not necessarily Moët Hennessy’s numbers, but the overall category numbers on wine, and notably on Champagne as well, the economic context is challenging. But when it comes to rosé, we do not see growth stopping or slowing down yet. The category is still growing significantly, notably on the premium end.

Producer Q&A: Sam Harrop MW, Sam Harrop Wine

Published: 29 April, 2025

Waiheke-based wine consultant and winemaker, Sam Harrop, talks Andrew Catchpole through the path that led to his extraordinarily holistic grasp on the world of wine.

Sustainable producer Q&A: Andrés Valero, Grupo Avinea/Argento

Published: 22 April, 2025

Mendoza-based Andrés Valero, sustainability and CSR leader at Grupo Avinea/Argento, explains the benefits of rooting sustainability in both vineyard and community, while Andrew Catchpole listens in.

Soapbox: Celebrating the eco-margin

Published: 17 April, 2025

Rosie Davenport, founder of specialist sustainability and communications agency Impact Focus, stresses that wine brands should find a competitive advantage in sustainability – if it’s well communicated.

Profile: Bibendum’s fresh approach

Published: 15 April, 2025

As Bibendum’s new sales director, Andrew Ingham is determined to tear up the old-school rulebook. Andrew Catchpole finds out how.

Tim Atkin MW: The Cape deserves our respect

Published: 11 April, 2025

There are a few grapes still out there on the vines, but the verdict on the quality of the 2025 crop was harvested some time ago. After a run of challenging years, South Africa is completing one of its greatest ever vintages. “Seriously promising” is how Eben Sadie, the country’s most famous winemaker, describes it.

Jerry Lockspeiser: Have I completely missed the point about natural wine?

Published: 10 April, 2025

I have got to be honest about natural wine. I am not a fan. As a pioneer of organic wine distribution in the UK it hurts me to say that. I started back in 1985. I am a believer that less is more when it comes to natural flavours, environmental responsibility and personal health. But I just don’t like the taste of nine out of 10 natural wines that I try.

Five minutes with Rhône champion Matt Walls

Published: 08 April, 2025

Andrew Catchpole catches up with the UK’s leading Rhône expert ahead of his inaugural Rhône Roots Tasting in London.

Producer Q&A: John Wurdeman, Pheasant’s Tears and Living Roots

Published: 01 April, 2025

Artist-turned-winemaker and restaurateur John Wurdeman explains to Andrew Catchpole how he came to be at the forefront of Georgia’s natural wine movement.

South America Report: Daniel Pisano, Pisano Family Vineyards

Published: 27 March, 2025

Geoffrey Dean visits Daniel Pisano, export manager at Pisano Family Vineyards in Uruguay’s Canelones region, where brothers Gustavo and Eduardo are winemaker and viticulturist, respectively.

Buyers’ Spotlight: Burgundy 2023 en primeur

Published: 25 March, 2025

Jason Millar assesses the 2023 en primeur campaign and finds the system in good health.

Profile: Fell’s stylish evolution

Published: 20 March, 2025

Following portfolio additions and a team restructure, there’s an upbeat mood at Fells, as Andrew Catchpole discovers.

Soapbox: Putting pressure on the supply chain for a sustainable future

Published: 18 March, 2025

Canned Wine Group chief commercial officer Ben Franks says the trade should be leveraging its buying power to bring about a sustainable future

Guy Woodward: How polytunnels could enhance producers’ toolkit

Published: 13 March, 2025

From Margaret River to Mendoza, Barolo to Burgundy, I’ve seen some picturesque vineyards in my time. The B58 Winery in Beaulieu was not one of them. Muddy, grey and damp, the scene that February morning would do nothing to dispel an outsider’s preconceptions of English wine.