News - Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Prowein celebrates 30th anniversary as Vinexpo comes up behind

Published: 15 March, 2024

Prowein closed its doors on its 30th show this week, having welcomed thousands of visitors to the 17 well-trodden halls of the Messe Düsseldorf.

Majestic joins Sustainable Wine Roundtable

Published: 15 March, 2024

Majestic has joined the Sustainable Wine Roundtable (SWR) to accelerate its green agenda as it targets net-zero emissions by 2050.

Spanish government to reduce restaurant opening hours

Published: 15 March, 2024

The Spanish government has announced its intention to enforce a 35-hour working week, to align itself with the rest of Europe and reduce restaurant opening hours.

Friday Read: Encirc on uncorking the path to Net Zero

Published: 15 March, 2024

Fiacre O’Donnell, sustainability director at glass container manufacturer Encirc, looks at the future of sustainability for wine and spirits supply, including low-carbon/alternative energy fuels and the possibilities of a digital deposit return scheme (DDRS).

Sommelier Wine Awards makes a welcome return

Published: 14 March, 2024

Following a pandemic-induced hiatus, the Sommelier Wine Awards (SWA) made a lively return this week (12-13 March) at The Oval in London, bringing together judges from a wide pool of the UK's leading restaurants.

Hospitality continues slow start to 2024

Published: 14 March, 2024

Britain’s top hospitality groups achieved modest like-for-like sales growth of 1.4% in February, the latest CGA RSM Hospitality Business Tracker has revealed.

End in sight for Chinese import tariffs on Australian wine

Published: 13 March, 2024

The Chinese government has hinted at the imminent removal of punitive tariffs for the import of Australian wine which have cost the Australian wine industry around $1bn a year since 2020.

Berkmann expands premium portfolio with EPC Champagne

Published: 13 March, 2024

Berkmann Wine Cellars has reached an agreement with EPC Champagne to distribute the brand in the UK market.

Justerini & Brooks opens Burlington Arcade boutique

Published: 13 March, 2024

Justerini & Brooks (J&B) will mark its 275th anniversary with the unveiling of its first boutique and tasting rooms.

LWF welcomes return of UK agents and Wines of South Africa

Published: 12 March, 2024

Several leading UK agents including Mentzendorff (for the first time in 12 years), Buckingham Schenk and Freixenet Copestick will return to London Wine Fair (LWF) following absences.

Festa reaffirms ‘home of Portugal’ status

Published: 12 March, 2024

Festa, the online retailer and supplier of Portuguese wines, showcased its spring portfolio at Bar Douro yesterday, the bar/restaurant owned by Festa founder Max Graham.

Prowein 2024: Wine industry needs to professionalise to survive

Published: 12 March, 2024

Economic sustainability is the big topic at Prowein this year, as the global cost of living crisis chafes against the challenges of decreasing consumption rates and an overabundance of supply.

Newly-merged Goedhuis Waddesdon announces two portfolio additions

Published: 12 March, 2024

Goedhuis Waddesdon has announced the addition of two new suppliers – Roche de Bellene and Ox Hardy. The new additions are the first since Goedhuis & Co and Waddesdon Wine merged in November 2023.

Moldova unveils new AI-produced cuvées at Prowein

Published: 12 March, 2024

The controversial world of advanced technology has taken a new direction this week, as Wine of Moldova launches two new cuvées produced by AI at the 2024 edition of Prowein.

The Cocktail Co agrees LWC listing

Published: 11 March, 2024

The Cocktail Co, a producer of premium, ready-to-drink (RTD) cocktails, has secured a listing with the UK’s largest independent drinks wholesaler, LWC, with a view to on-trade expansion.

Hospices de Nuits auction’s ambitions ride high despite dip in prices

Published: 11 March, 2024

The 63rd Hospices de Nuits Vente de Vin, which took place this Sunday (10 March), marked another step in the evolution of this more modest rival to its glitzier cousin in Beaune.

Kopke releases trio of rare bottlings

Published: 11 March, 2024

Kopke, the world’s oldest port house, has launched The Library Collection, an exclusive library of some of the rarest wines in the world.

Hospitality industry hit by 63% cost surge

Published: 11 March, 2024

Research conducted by the price comparison website money.co.uk has found that the hospitality industry has been the most affected by cost increases.

Nick Gillett: When celebrity spirits deliver substance over style

Published: 11 March, 2024

We’re seeing an increase in the number of celebrities entering the spirits industry. And who can blame them – our industry is vibrant, fun, and full of top-notch people who are creative and love what they do. George Clooney, Ryan Reynolds, Matthew McConaughey and Kendall Jenner are just a few of the household names who have gone and produced their own booze brand. And it’s not restricted to spirits, with big names like Kylie Minogue and even Graham Norton entering the wine industry.