Fetzer: no significant costs by going organic

Californian producer Fetzer has claimed that there is no significant increase in costs to convert to organic winemaking.

Crush signs three from Oz

Crush Wines, the fast-growing distributor launched earlier this year, has launched an Australian protfolio.

GWW offers Oz trip

Great Western Wine is offering visitors to its stand, D12, at this year's LIWSF the chance to win an all-expenses-paid field trip to Australia.

Argentinian generic tasting

This year's Wines of Argentina Annual Trade Tasting is scheduled to take place on Tuesday 19 September at The Nursery Pavilion, Lord's Cricket Ground, London NW8.
Hunt & Coady will be organising the event. For further information, please contact Tina Coady, Tel/Fax: 01638 614775; email t.coady@ntlworld.com.

Mount back full-time

Angela Mount has returned to Somerfield's wine buying department on a full time basis and fortified buyer Nimisha Gohil has been given an increased remit.

Nobilo, New Zealand's second-largest wine producer,

has announced plans to spend 250,000 on a media and public relations campaign during 2006.

Hardys launches SMS campaign

Hardys - the UK's best-selling Australian wine brand - is launching a new marketing campaign based around SMS text messaging.

On-trade big guns sign up for Wine+

Wine+, the launch event from Fresh RM for the on-trade in London and the Home Counties, is gathering real momentum. Since its launch in February 2006, a host of leading suppliers and brand owners have confirmed they will be taking part in this Harpers-supported event.

Cloof opens UK office

South African producer Cloof - a Shiraz specialist based in the Darling region - has set up a UK office.

Dominion opens office in UK

Page steps down

Bill Page, chairman of London-based distributor Mentzendorff, is standing down from the company at the end of June. Page joined the company as managing director in 2001 and became chairman in 2004.
Arnould d'Hautefeuille, president of Societe Jacques Bollinger (one of the two major shareholders), will take on the chairmanship.

Devil's Rock Riesling goes global

German brand Devil's Rock is to expand, with a new umbrella brand called the Private Collection.

New Oz regionality range aims at 30-somethings

A new 7.99 range of Australian wines has been launched by Percy Fox, with a big emphasis on regionality.

Consternation over Paris 1976 recreation

Franois Mauss, founder-president of the Grand Jury Europen - which conducts large-scale blind tastings using an international panel - has criticised the 30th anniversary rematch of the Judgement of Paris' tasting due to take place in London and Napa on 24 May.

Consternation over Paris 1976 recreation

Franois Mauss, founder-president of the Grand Jury Europen - which conducts large-scale blind tastings using an international panel - has criticised the 30th anniversary rematch of the Judgement of Paris' tasting due to take place in London and Napa on 24 May.

Western seminar scrapped

Western Wines has cancelled its proposed seminar at this year's LIWSF, following its takeover by Constellation Wines. The seminar, entitled What are the predictions for premium wine in the UK market in the 2012 Olympic year?', was due to be held from 10.30am to 11.30am on Thursday 18 May, in the LIWSF seminar arena by entrance S8 of ExCeL.

Bruichladdich profits up

Islay distillery Bruichladdich saw its profits rise 101% to 403,000 in 2005 - only four years after it was reopened. Chairman Sir John Mactaggart commented: This is another encouraging performance. Bruichladdich punches above its weight in a sector dominated by multinationals. In Russia we are the fourth-largest-selling single malt.'

Stone, Vine & Sun to run Jacquesson distribution

Following thace collapse of Mayfair Cellars (see Harpers, 28 April) wine merchant Stone, Vine & Sun is temporarily looking after the distribution of Jacquesson Champagne.

Mitchell not Hambleton

Chris Mitchell of Cube Communications and The Drinks Sampling Company would like to assure readers he has not changed his surname to Hambleton, as appeared in Harpers April 28 issue. He will continue to use Mitchell for many years to come.

Cava course

The Cava and Peneds Wine Institute is inviting applications from those involved in any aspect of the wine industry to take part in the 23nd edition of its wine course, to be held between 25 September and 1 October 2006 in Vilafranca del Peneds, near Barcelona, Spain.