French cricket

French wine producers have such a huge advantage over the Aussies, South Africans, Chileans, Californians and so on, yet only the scandalously overlooked vignerons of Saumur-Champigny have had the bravura bonhomie to capitalise on it. But capitalise on it they have, and in a most original way. Firstly, of course, French producers have the advantage of proximity. To get to Saumur-Champigny, all I had to do was leap aboard a coach four minutes from my house and go to Stansted airport thence Tours. I did not have to spend 25 hours in the air and possess a visa acquired after queuing up at Australia House, nor did I have to submit to the brutal indignities of the US immigration system. I did not have to ensure I was smeared all over with factor-300 sun cream nor drink only bottled water, and I did not require an Afrikaans phrasebook in order to express myself demotically when confronted with a 14.9% ABV Pinotage.

The City: It's all about the money

Ask any Frenchman to name five famous Belgians, and one of the answers is likely to be Albert Frre. The billionaire who began as a nail merchant has been a great facilitator', aiding French giants such as oil group Total, utilities combine Suez and insurance giant AXA to invest in Belgium of late.

The City: The agony of the analysts

The thing investors fear most is uncertainty. Even disastrous news is usually quantifiable and can thus be priced, but a leap into the unknown causes deep anxiety. Take licensed premises. They are about to undergo some of the biggest shake-ups in a generation, but the City is extremely cool about the probable outcomes.

Remember Super-Tuscans?

It was only yesterday, it seems, that Super-Tuscans were flying high, write Nicolas Belfrage MW and Franco Ziliani. They were the rebel wines, the ones that broke the rules and whirled Tuscany into the vinous stratosphere of the planet, notching up pundit points higher than all but the best Burgundies and commanding prices that would not have made a second-growth claret producer blush. They were the breath of fresh air in the musty dankness of Tuscan tradition.

The City: Sharing the wealth

Why buy shares? Essentially for dividend payments and capital growth (share-price rises) that, combined, will outstrip the return of putting your money in the bank and pay a premium to reward for the risk of potential losses. So, on both counts, shareholders in Diageo have done well. In the past five years they have seen the value of their shares rise by about 50% to around 820p at the same time as receiving a strong dividend stream.

The City

When it floated on the stock market in 1996, Belhaven, the Dunbar-based brewer, was valued at just 40 million.

People power

Halfway through listening to Wolf Blass's speech towards the end of this year's Australian Wine Marketing Conference in Adelaide last month, I realised I was witnessing a genius at work.

Spin doctors

In last week's editorial leader (Chile, spin and reverse swing', Harpers, 26 August), who's doing the spinning here?
I agree with David Williams's editorial that Chilean wines have taken great strides recently. But when he questions my judgment for writing two years ago that I was more often than not stifling a yawn with Chilean wines, I think he might have pointed out that he had asked me to be the witness for the prosecution in a debate with Steve Daniel on the question Is Chile boring?'
David's instructions were: In your piece, I'd like you to say what's boring about Chilean wine. Why do you think the Chilean wine industry is churning out so many boring wines? Steve will be saying how wonderful Chile is, so we'll be looking to you to balance that out.'
Anthony Rose, via e-mail

When wine is not wine

Ostriches of a feather

I just read Nicolas Belfrage MW's and Franco Ziliani's entertaining column (Ostrich Friulano', Harpers, 8 July) on the Italians dragging their heels about deciding on an alternative name for their Tocai Friulano since the Hungarians have successfully objected to it.
Having just got to T (hooray) while updating the Oxford Companion to Wine for its third edition, due out next year (plug over), I wondered whether they have considered using either of the obvious synonyms for Tocai Friulano - Sauvignon Vert or Sauvignonasse?
I appreciate these names may not be very Italian', but they are very recognisable by modern wine drinkers, most of whom don't realise that the Chileans have been desperately replacing theirs with Sauvignon Blanc over the past few years.
Jancis Robinson MW, via e-mail

The City: When takeovers raise value

Many studies have revealed that takeovers destroy value for the shareholders of the purchasing company, writes RON EMLER.

The City

Farewell Allied Domecq.

Masters of mystique

I first became aware of the existence of the Masters of Wine before I started working in the wine trade.

Atlantic potions

As the 2005 harvest approaches, the problems for French grape growers seem to have nothing whatever to do with the state of the vines or the grapes.

Not the best of British

I totally agree with Conal Gregory's letter in last week's issue (A G8 shame', Harpers, 22 July).

The City

While the big spirits producers are intent on consolidation, so are the on-trade retailers who sell their wares in the UK.

Literary rambles

Was it Gordon Selfridge or Henry Ford who said that all publicity is good publicity'?

Bristol renaissance

Last week saw the re-birth of an organisation that last met more than 30 years ago - The Bristol Wine Trade Lunch Club.

The City

All companies aspire to a strong balance sheet. It is a sign of corporate health and a strong incentive for investors to buy the shares.

A G8 shame

What a missed opportunity for the UK.