Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Ribera del Duero completes milestone vintage

Published: 12 December, 2022

Ribera del Duero celebrated its fortieth harvest this year, picking the last grape on 12 November.

Extreme summer shrinks Cava harvest in 2022

Published: 19 October, 2022

Cava's regulatory council has issued a statement about the difficult growing season this year, characterised by “continuous and above-average high temperatures, along with successive heat waves in late spring and early summer.”

Record-breaking early harvest for Spain

Published: 18 August, 2022

Spain has recorded some of its earliest ever harvests this year, with many parts of the country bringing picking forward in order to mitigate a barrage of wildfires, widespread drought and “constant heat”.

Re-elected Cava president pledges to build ‘prestige’

Published: 01 August, 2022

Javier Pagés has been re-elected to the post of president of the Cava DO – a role he has pledged to use to continue to raise Cava’s status to one of “world’s highest quality sparkling wines”.

Powering up Pinot Grigio

Published: 19 May, 2022

With a new export drive underway to key markets including the UK, the DOC delle Venezie Consorzio is looking to put a premium bounce in the step of its Pinot Grigio, setting itself above the run-of-the-mill.

Arribaes: The New frontier of Iberian fine wines

Published: 08 April, 2022

It is known as Arribes del Duero in Spanish, and Arribas Do Douro in Portuguese, but now Iberian producers in this cross-frontier wine region have joined forces to create Arribaes, a new brand of low-intervention fine wines.

Ribera del Duero well positioned to lead on terroir classification in Spain

Published: 28 January, 2022

During an online tasting of the wines of Ribera del Duero held yesterday (27 January), Harpers columnist Tim Atkin MW suggested that the appellation had the potential to embrace a formal terroir classification, as there are fewer ‘political’ barriers than in other Dos.

Cava’s 2021 exports surge towards pre-pandemic levels

Published: 17 December, 2021

Global shipments of Spain's signature sparkling wine grew by 16.45% in the first nine months of the year, according to the Cava Consejo Regulador.

Barcelona Wine Week to focus on indigenous varieties

Published: 22 November, 2021

The second edition of Barcelona’s leading trade fair will highlight the incredible diversity of the nation's viticultural palate, showcasing an eclectic mix of both corporate brands and boutique wineries.

Headline hero: Santiago Mora Poveda, director general, DO Rueda

Published: 12 November, 2021

In association with DO Rueda

What is it about the style of Rueda that’s driven its popularity?

Supercharging Verdejo

Published: 04 November, 2021

Spain’s leading white region has its eyes firmly set on the top table, with a new quality tier underpinning its ambition, as Andrew Catchpole reports.

Rueda campaign to underpin export growth

Published: 03 November, 2021

Spain’s leading white wine export has continued its upward trajectory, with DO Rueda reporting a 15% upswing in 2020.

Headline hero: Javier Santafé, DO Navarra

Published: 02 November, 2021

In association with Wines of Navarra

Ramón Bilbao brings ‘forgotten grapes’ to life

Published: 02 September, 2021

Rioja’s Ramón Bilbao has launched Limite Norte and Limite Sur – a red and white duo from viticultural extremes of the region designed to show the richness and diversity of the DO by bringing Rioja’s “forgotten grapes” to life.

Exploring alternative premium whites

Published: 05 August, 2021

Modern food and lifestyle choices often naturally lend themselves to white wine, but is the trade doing enough to encourage consumers to trade up and seek out premium choices beyond the usual suspects? In a world where reds often hold top spot, Andrew Catchpole invited a panel to discuss how to better capitalise on and communicate the USPs of alternative higher-end whites, to inspire and broaden consumers’ repertoire, to the benefit of both trade and punter alike. DO Rías Baixas provided the sponsorship and wines in order to whet appetites for the session.

Cava in the round

Published: 09 June, 2021

DO Cava has announced a series of educational webinars aimed at UK and US trade and communicators as part of its 2021 marketing campaign.

Chile’s diversity deserves more delineated DOs

Published: 27 May, 2021

The demarcation of Chile’s regions and sub-regions could and should be much clearer, focusing in with smaller local denominations to better reflect the diversity of the country’s winemaking.

Gran Vino de Rueda sets bar high for Verdejo

Published: 12 May, 2021

The launch of new quality tier Gran Vino de Rueda in Spain’s leading white DO aims to elevate visibility of the top wines from the region.

Bespoke lands Eat Spain Drink Spain account

Published: 11 August, 2020

Drinks-focused marketing agency Bespoke Drinks Media has won the account for the annual Eat Spain Drink Spain campaign.

Julio Sáenz, winemaker, La Rioja Alta

Published: 04 August, 2020

As La Rioja Alta celebrates its 130th anniversary, and with the release of its second ever Viña Arana Gran Reserva (2014) in August, Andrew Catchpole catches up with Julio Sáenz for taste and talk over his most recent trio of Gran Reserva wines.