AFTER THE FLOOD

Last month, Harpers hosted an "Anything But Chardonnay?" seminar in London, focusing on the future of the world's favourite grape. Among the issues up for debate were the split identity of Chardonnay, and the tough choices facing those producers who fear that the grape is out of control

SOFTWARE OVER THE RAINBOW

There is a new reality in the virtual world, with developments in software promising to change the day-to-day business practices of companies large and small. So if AOC means more to you than ADSL and ASP, you need to read on. Especially when ASP may be the last thing your IT team will tell you about. By Neil Beckett

FOURTH WINE RELIEF RAISES 625,000

THE RUM CONUNDRUM

Distributors are seeking to give rum an edge in the spirits market through innovative promotions and a greater range of flavours, but are supermarkets ready to vary their options? James Aufenast reports on the campaign to reposition rum

All white on the night?

Well, not if it's Spanish and over a fiver - and especially not in the on-trade, according to the latest figures. However, John Radford has been finding some areas of growth and optimism in the Spanish white wine business

Breaking through

After a difficult few years Vins de Pays appear to be turning the corner. Jo Burzynska looks at new initiatives and what is needed to enable the category to stand up to increasing New World competition

Branding: what can the wine trade learn

There may be nothing brand-new about brands, but brand news is still news. Harpers asked five leading figures in the industry for their views on what it could learn from other sectors. And with extensive experience in the beer, spirits and fast food sectors, they were all well qualified to say. The seminar was chaired by Tim Atkin, editorial director of Harpers, and featured (in the order in which they spoke) Allan Westray, managing director, International Wine Services; James Ryland, export director, Calvet; James Herrick, chairman, Wineprophet; Mario Micheli, president, Southcorp Europe; and David Williams, CEO, First Quench. The seminar was held as part of the London International Wine & Spirits Fair at Olympia on 23 May, in front of a full audience of 300 people.

There is Life in the Old Boy Yet

Berkmann is Back - with a vengeance. Just when we thought he might be ready to throw in the towel, he is out there snapping up agencies, doubling his sales force and making waves. Lisa Barnard speaks to Joseph Berkmann about his technicolour wine business.

BIG TWO TO SELL ALCOHOL ALL NIGHT

By Jack Hibberd

Fighting for Facings

Once derided as the epitome of naff, branded wines are enjoying an Australian-led renaissance, as Tim Atkin reports

Goblets of Fire

With the Seagram buy-out finally concluded, the malt whisky industry is eyeing the future with some optimism. As David Williams reports, however, there are still several problems to be addressed

Last Orders

No-one has a post-prandial drink any more. Oh really? asks James Aufenast

Up for Clicks and Grabs

Auction markets are becoming as fragmented and as global as any other sector of the trade. What is the scale of the threat to UK auction houses from US auction houses and dotcoms, and from the thousands of individuals bringing down the hammer remotely? Is the auction market being divided or expanded, and what lessons are there for the rest of the trade? Neil Beckett concludes a two-part investigation

Dotcom Diagnosis

Wine e-tailing has not been the great success that was predicted two years ago. There may have to be consolidation in the industry if any e-tailers are to survive, as Giles Fallowfield reports

Snapshots from Heaven

With abysmally low levels of profitability one of the biggest threats facing the wine industry worldwide, is a new qualification part of the solution? Is the image of Tim Nice but Dim about to be dispelled once and for all by a new elite of high-flying business executives? Neil Beckett investigates the world's first Wine MBA

TESCO DENIES 'RADICAL' CULL

Best of British?

The fragmented category of British Wine (or the affordables category, as it has become known) may lack glamour, but still contains some strong brands, as David Williams reports

Global Surplus - part II

The global wine lake is getting deeper and wider. But it does not engulf everybody and everything. In the second of a two-part investigation, Neil Beckett asks who and what will be most affected and what, if anything, can be done about it?

Global Surplus - part I

The global wine surplus. Everyone knows it exists. But how bad is it really? Who and what will be most affected and what can be done about it? The answers, says Neil Beckett in a two-part investigation, will be good news for some and bad for others

MIDI PROTEST TURNS VIOLENT

By Jim Budd