Tim Atkin MW: Lessons in internationalism

“How many of you here tonight were born in London?” In a room of 400 people, no more than 20 of us put up our hands (in case you’re wondering, I’m from Dartford). “And how many of those people’s parents were also born here?” Six people confirmed they were second-generation Londoners. “And your grandparents?” The arms were lowered. “You see,” said the man on the stage, “we’re all immigrants in a way.”

The person asking the question was the Chilean folk singer Nano Stern, currently on tour in Europe to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the great musician and activist Víctor Jara. At such a concert, you’d expect a fair percentage of the room to be from other places. It’s also worth remembering that London is a metropolis, not some backwater where successive generations are more likely to stay in the same place. But the point was still well made.

South America producer Q&A: Pepe Moquillaza, Peru

Headline heroes: Franco Bastías, Domaine Bousquet

Harpers speaks to Franco Bastías, head of agronomy & sustainability, Domaine Bousquet. 

Jerry Lockspeiser: Are brands the answer to Wine UK’s problems?

In the early days of my wine business career an experienced trader told me to hang onto an important insight. He said that wine is one of those subjects where the more you know the less you understand.

Producer Q&A: Rebekah Wineburg, Quintessa

Soapbox: Natural wine – a murderous funk?

Amphora Cambridge owner Cong Cong Bo takes a low intervention swipe at the faddish addiction to the word ‘natural’ in wine.

Boutinot Wines: Our friends in the north

The straight-talking northern distributor is a company with many hidden talents, writes Jo Gilbert.

Guy Woodward: On growing into wine

Our trade is not prone to hysteria, but there has been a pronounced bout of bedwetting recently. The cause? Studies showing how the younger generation is turning away from wine, with commentators quick to respond via apocryphal prophecies of doom if the industry doesn’t better engage with millennials.

55 minutes with Rathfinny Estate’s winemaking team

A double dose of decision-making is this month’s focus as Andrew Catchpole join’s Rathfinny for 2019 Blanc de Blancs and Blanc de Noir dosage trials

Producer Q&A: Haysley MacDonald, TUKU Maori Wine Collective

Launched in New Zealand in 2018, TUKU is the world’s first Maori winemakers collective, bringing together partners producing premium varietals in some of the nation’s most illustrious winegrowing regions: Hawkes Bay, Marlborough, North Canterbury and Central Otago.

Jerry Lockspeiser: What can wine learn from Southgate and Stokes?

Some Harpers’ readers may not be avid sports fans, while others may live in countries where football is called soccer or where the game of cricket is as mystifying as nuclear physics. So before discussing why England football manager Gareth Southgate and cricket captain Ben Stokes have something to teach us about business, a little scene setting may be in order.

Danbury Ridge shows eastern promise

Essex clays are poised to lead the charge of quality English still wine. Andrew Catchpole reports from Crouch Valley’s Danbury Ridge.

Soapbox: Is alcohol in Scotland an endangered species?

Luvians manager Archie McDiarmid fears for the future of the alcohol industry in Scotland if government proposals go ahead

Profile: Turning the dial on Greek wine, Maltby & Greek

After growing from market stallholders in London’s Bermondsey, Maltby & Greek founders Yannos Hadjiioannou and Stefanos Kokotos are establishing themselves as London’s go-to Greek food and wine specialists. Jo Gilbert catches up with a duo entering their prime

Tim Atkin MW: ‘Fine wine’ is outdated

It was a noble, if ultimately inconclusive exercise. Maybe that’s true of anything that involves an indigestible dose of subjectivity. But you can’t fault Areni Global for attempting to define and “rethink” the fine wine market, no less. In a recent white paper, accompanied by an entertaining panel debate and tasting at Sotheby’s in London, the impressive think tank set out to analyse what its chair, Nicole Rolet, calls the “fine wine ecosystem”. Ambitious, as I said.

Five minutes with Ricardo Baettig, Viña Morandé

Andrew Catchpole catches up with the man who drives the exploratory winemaking at Viña Morandé, one of Chile’s most consistently innovative producers

Jerry Lockspeiser: Why the trade should be asking ‘What could go right?’

According to research across 36 countries by IPSOS, a majority of people think the global economy will get worse in 2023. A whopping 79% think prices will rise faster than incomes, 57% believe it will be the hottest year on record in their country, and an alarming 48% think nuclear weapons will be used in a conflict somewhere in the world.

Producer Q&A: Tiffani Graydon, Yealands Wine Group

CEO Tiffani Graydon talks to Andrew Catchpole about joining Yealands just ahead of the pandemic and where she’s driving the company now.

Harpers Sustainability Charter Spotlight: Chris Millson, Direct Wines

As 2023’s first new signatory to Harpers Sustainability Charter, Direct Wines’ head of sustainability Chris Millson talks Andrew Catchpole through the necessity of progress.

Q&A: Fabrice Mauge, CEO, VinoVirtual

What is VinoVirtual and how does it differ from ‘run-of-the-mill’ trade shows?