Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Top Selection bags award-winning Tuscan producer

Published: 03 February, 2020

London-based wine merchant Top Selection is to be the exclusive distributor for Tuscan producer Villa Saletta.

Bibendum launches major Bordeaux service

Published: 03 February, 2020

Leading UK distributor Bibendum Wine has launched a new initiative to streamline the sale of fine wines from Bordeaux to the UK on- and off-trade.

CIVB launches Hot 50 Bordeaux 2020 promotion

Published: 29 January, 2020

Vins de Bordeaux has announced a new initiative to promote Bordeaux wines in the UK market.

Jerry Lockspeiser: The winemakers that changed the world…and those that made themselves redundant

Published: 24 January, 2020

Harpers columnist Jerry Lockspeiser is the former chairman of Off Piste Wines. Lockspeiser left at the end of 2019 after ten years at the company, which he helped to grow from ‘acorn to oak tree’ after joining back in 2010. His departure follows an investment in Off Piste just before Christmas, which will take the company into a new phase of development. Lockspeiser was also involved in the founding and building of Bottle Green in 1990 and organic wine specialist Vinceremos Wines in 1985. Here, he takes a reflective look back on 15 years that changed the wine world.

Feel Good Grapes: All you need to know about the new online retailer

Published: 23 January, 2020

UK-based wine businessman and writer Mike Turner has added a new string to his bow for 2020. As well as running Please Bring Me My Wine, a wine industry focused digital media consultancy, and co-owning Primrose Hill restaurant La Ferme, where he oversees the wine list and wine training, he has launched a new online wine merchant.

Trump trade truce puts US tariffs on French wine on hold

Published: 22 January, 2020

The USA’s threat of slapping 100% tariffs on US$2.4 billion worth of French imports including wine and Champagne seems to have been put on hold after the countries’ leaders announced a ceasefire on Twitter.

Henschke manages fire woes while bolstered China and Armenia get a look in at Liberty tasting

Published: 15 January, 2020

Liberty Wines returned to The Oval for its annual shebang yesterday with a number of new stars to brighten up what turned out to be an exceptionally dismal afternoon weather-wise.

Jascots lists Barbaresco producer Rivetti

Published: 15 January, 2020

London-based on-trade distributor Jascots has added organic Barbaresco and Barolo producer Massimo Rivetti to its list.

Events guide 2020: What not to miss

Published: 13 January, 2020

James Lawrence looks ahead to some of the essential trade dates across another busy year

Greek winery expands in London on-trade

Published: 08 January, 2020

Greek winery T-Oinos is celebrating new listings at a range of top restaurants in London.

Vinexpo and Comexposium join forces

Published: 08 January, 2020

Leading global wine event organisations Vinexpo and Comexposium are to join forces in a new body.

Xmas high-street sales falter but Majestic and Aldi thrive

Published: 07 January, 2020

Despite mixed results from the BWS sector over the Christmas trading period, some retailers were able to buck the trend.

Henschke drops Enotria for Liberty Wines

Published: 06 January, 2020

Iconic family-owned Australian wine producer Henschke has appointed Liberty Wines as its UK agent.

Black Chalk expands into vineyards

Published: 06 January, 2020

Hampshire winery Black Chalk has leased four vineyard sites from Fullerton Estate in the Test Valley.

Naked/Majestic consumer-bases were a bad ‘fit’

Published: 13 December, 2019

The matchmakers behind the Majestic and Naked Wines merger have said that the ‘experiment’ was doomed to fail because of the inherent differences between the two sets of customers, and because of increasing consumer preference towards companies that have a unique USP.

German wine sales soar at royal wine supplier

Published: 09 December, 2019

Sales of German wines at fine wine merchant Justerini & Brooks have rocketed this year.

Accolade appoints new European marketing director

Published: 09 December, 2019

Accolade Wines has appointed Caroline Thompson-Hill to the role of European marketing director.

Ridgeview's Roberts named 2020 IWSC president

Published: 29 November, 2019

Tamara Roberts, chief executive of Ridgeview Wines, has been appointed president of the International Wine & Spirit Competition Awards for 2020.

Speciality Brands signs distribution deal for Beluga

Published: 20 November, 2019

Speciality Brands has signed a deal as the exclusive UK distributor for vodka brand Beluga.

Friday read: Latitude, altitude and attitude – the quest for balance and personality in Argentina

Published: 15 November, 2019

Bodega Norton and Viñalba have both played key roles in Argentina’s vinous revolution, helping to establish the country as a beacon of quality and price on the world stage. Through the lens of these two Mendonza wineries in both Uco Valley and Luján de Cuyo, Jo Gilbert charts how the country got to where it is today, and how a new wave of winemakers are heading outwards to explore Argentina’s terroir.