South African harvest slumps to record low

The South African wine grape harvest in 2019 hit a record low thanks to a drought and fluctuating weather conditions. However, winemakers are positive about the quality of the resulting vintage.

Waitrose adds first English ‘orange’ wine to menu

Waitrose has expanded its English wine menu with seven new offerings, including its first homegrown ‘orange’ wine.

Concha gears up to join ‘wine in can’ category

Concha y Toro (CyT) is poised to become the latest wine producer to turn to the can as the increasingly popular format continues to gather momentum in the UK.

The week that was

In case you missed some of the headlines this week on harpers.co.uk, here’s a review of the top online news, analysis, opinion and features.

People's Choice Awards recognises women-driven wines

A wine competition judged by consumers has added a new category to highlight the contributions of female winemakers.

Kopparberg moves into gin

Cider specialist Kopparberg is moving into gin, releasing a bottle into the on-trade from 6 May and in retail on 22 May.

En primeur report: extraordinary and exceptional 2018 vintage

Gavin Quinney’s annual en primeur and vintage report for Harpers describes 2018 as “an exceptional vintage”, with the top red wines showing “extraordinary depth, opulence and intensity”.

LWF fees came from “aggrieved” exhibitors

The London Wine Fair’s boss has come out in defence of the decision to charge certain visitors to this year’s show, saying the decision came from consultations with “several long-standing exhibitors, who were aggrieved that competitive businesses were not taking a stand yet attending the show en masse with a view to trading”.

Romanian group pulls out of LWF as Brexit hits funding

González Byass UK MD says first Tio Pepe En Rama was “a risk”

Tio Pepe is celebrating ten years of shaking up moribund sherry sales with its en rama or ‘raw’ sherries, which established a new category in the UK.

Bordeaux producers acquitted over fungicides case

A French court has acquitted two Bordeaux wine producers in a highly sensitive case over the spraying of chemicals, which allegedly provoked sickness in a teacher and dozens of schoolchildren.

Berry Bros & Rudd pop up returns for London Wine Week

After proving popular last year, Berry Bros & Rudd will bring back its pop-up wine bar for London Wine Week at Flat Iron Square.

Bodegas Fabre reports “exceptional vintage”

Bodegas Fabre has said its 2019 vintage in Mendoza has benefitted from excellent conditions at its vineyards in the Uco Valley and Lujan de Cuyo.

Australian wine exports to UK up in value but volume stagnant

Exports of Australian wine to the UK jumped 4% in value to AUD$388 million last year, and 0.1% in volume to 242 million litres.

William Grant & Sons launches Verano Gin

William Grant & Sons has launched Verano Gin in Watermelon and Lemon flavours.

Checkout free shopping trial sees alcohol removed from shelves

The need for age verification has led the first UK till-free supermarket to remove wines, beers and spirits from its shelves.

Laine Pub Company snaps up Urban Art Bar

Laine Pub Company snaps up Urban Art Bar

Flavoured and spiced to replace white as favourite rum style in UK off-trade

Flavoured and spiced rums are storming their way to becoming the most drunk style of rum in the off-trade, and could be the most sold style in the UK by the end of the year.

Mangrove makes five new hires

Uk spirits distributor Mangrove UK has made five new appointments to its sales and account management team in London, the south and the north of the UK.

Scotch Whisky fuels the UK by £5.5bn

Scotch Whisky now contributes £5.5billion to the UK economy, up 10% since 2016, according to the Scotch Whisky Association (SWA).