La Spinetta has appointed The Wine Treasury as its sole UK importer.
The London-based importer will carry both the well-established Piedmont range of wines and the new range from La Spinetta's Tuscan Casanova estate.
Simon Farr, one of the founders of London-based distributor Bibendum, is returning to work for the company full time after five years as non-executive deputy chairman.
Farr, who co-founded the company with Chris Collins in 1982, will take up the role of head of wine strategy, as well as taking responsibility for the host of joint ventures Bibendum has set up in recent years - such as the Argento Wine Company, Boisset and Lion Nathan. He was buying director at Bibendum until he stepped down in 2000.
His decision to return to a full-time role at Bibendum comes just weeks after high-profile joint managing director Dan Jago unexpectedly left the company. Bibendum also recently hired a new chief operating officer, Jeremy Young, recruited from DHL.
Last week Bibendum featured in the Sunday Times' 'Top 100 Best Small Companies to Work For' list for the third time.
Ctes du Rhne has become the top-selling French AOC in the UK off-trade for the first time. Generic body Inter Rhne made the announcement while laying out its UK strategy for 2006, which will include sponsorship of Twenty20 cricket.
The latest AC Nielsen figures (MAT to 7 January) show that sales by volume increased by 10.6%, from 1,405,873 nine-litre cases to 1,554,936. Bordeaux fell by nearly 17% over the same period, down to 1,514,882 cases, and France overall saw a slump in sales of nearly 5%. Sales figures by value were absent, but Inter Rhne export manager Franois Drounau confirmed that the 10.6% increase applied to both.
Winter Hill, the brand produced by Languedoc co-operative Foncalieu and represented in the UK by PLB, has a new look.
The brand's oval logo has been updated and the Rserve (RRP 4.99) and Grande Rserve wines (5.99) have a split label. The latter also has a weightier, embossed bottle.
'The new designs still convey a sense of tradition, yet also give the brand a contemporary feel,' said PLB's Panela Dunn.
Foncalieu has 2,200 member growers and exports 80% of its production.
The recent trend for co-fermenting red Shiraz grapes with white Viognier has come full circle - from France to Australia and back again - with the launch of Guy Anderson Wines' new brand from the south of France.
Le Freak, part of the Thierry and Guy stable of wines, utilises Syrah from a 20-year-old vineyard near Carcassone and co-ferments it with a small portion of Viognier from a
nearby vineyard.
McGuigan Simeon, the major Australian wine producer, is giving away 100 tickets to the England v Pakistan one-day cricket series in an in-store promotion running from June on McGuigan Gold wines (5.99) in Tesco and Sainsbury's. There will also be radio interviews with live tastings.
Read more...Salons des Vines du Monde is described as 'a two-day extravaganza for the best of international (non-French) wines', which takes place at the Palais des Congrs in Paris from 8-9 October.
France is the third largest importer of wines in the world and the show is aimed at sommeliers, restaurateurs, retail chains and specialists.
For more information contact International Fairs on +33 1 53 36 70 32, or email: international.fairs@wannadoo.fr
The Wine Institute of California is holding a seminar on Zinfandel, the grape variety the sunshine state hails as its own.
The seminar takes place at 9.30am on Thursday, 23 March at the conference centre in the Royal Horticultural Halls, Greycoat Street, London.
At the seminar six vineyard designate Zinfandels will be available to taste to highlight the affect of different terroirs. Camille Seghesio from Seghesio Family Vineyards and Donn Reisen of Ridge will talk through the variety's history and discuss its importance to California's wine industry.
Places are limited so if you wish to attend please email: info@calwine.co.uk.
Chile's Via Falernia has appointed Great Western Wine as its sole UK distributor.
Based in the Elqui Valley, Falernia proclaims itself Chile's northernmost wine estate'. It produces a range of wines covering all the normal varietal bases, with RSPs of between 4.95 and 9.95.
Falernia won the award for Best Value Wine in Show for its 2004 Carmenre/Syrah at the 2006 Wines of Chile Awards, as well as a gold medal for its 2004 Syrah.
Glenfiddich single malt whisky, distributed in the UK by First Drinks Brands, is investing more than 500,000 in 'Glenfiddich National Conversation Week - a new initiative highlighting the sociable side of the brand'.
The Glenfiddich National Conversation Week, running from 3-9 April, will 'communicate the social attributes of enjoying Glenfiddich with friends' using 'a concentrated week of activity including national advertising, direct marketing and consumer PR'.
'The activities all support the advertising message of
"Inspiring Great Conversation since 1887", to boost sales and awareness of brand,' said Nick Williamson, Glenfiddich brand manager.
Glenfiddich Conversation Week also looks to 'deseasonalise' sales of whisky by ensuring the trade has a reason to support malt whisky outside of the Christmas period.
Cutty Sark International has announced that from 1 April it is switching distribution and marketing of its single malt whisky, The Glenrothes from Gordon & MacPhail to Maxxium in the UK.
Maxxium UK managing director Huw Pennell said: 'We see great potential for The Glenrothes, particularly in the on-trade and within specialist whisky retailers.'
Cutty Sark claims The Glenrothes is one of the fastest growing single malt whisky brands in UK. Following success in the USA and Spain, The Glenrothes Select Reserve launched in the UK in 2005. Maxxium UK will manage the full range of products including The Glenrothes Select Reserve and The Glenrothes Vintages.
Leeds-based distributor and brand owner Bottle Green is going into a partnership with strategy and creative consultancy Industry @ Saatchi to develop a new wine brand that can create a strong consumer following without having to rely on price'.
The joint venture will probably produce its first product later this year' according to Bottle Green managing director, Jerry Lockspeiser. I heard Vicky Moffat, managing director of Industry @ Saatchi talking about the opportunity to create a really exciting wine brand so I picked up the phone and called her. This partnership is all about mixing our wine knowledge with their branding and creative skills. It's early days yet but I'm confident we can come up with a really exciting brand that can really relate to consumers and excite them. We've already done some interesting stuff with our brands such as PKNT, but there's so much more we could do with wine.'
A vodka-based drink which features grinning cartoon spider characters on its packaging has breached the drinks industry Code of Practice, as drawn up the Portman Group.
The products Wee Beastie' and Big Beastie', produced by Inver House Distillers, fell foul of the the Independent Complaints Panel due to concerns that the grinning spider character, which featured prominently on both products and on the website, was both cartoon-like and childlike. It was also concerned that the warning Strictly for over 18s ADULTS ONLY' was likely to have a particular appeal to under 18s.
Spain's leading wine critic Jos Pen is launching a range of wines in the UK under the brand Pen Selection.
Imported through Surrey-based Latin Wines, the four-strong range consists of a Rueda blanco, a Crianza Rioja tinto, a Ribera del Duero tinto and a Toro tinto.
The wines, which come from bodegas selected by Pen for showing the best price-to-quality ratio', will be distributed worldwide except for in Spain itself. They are expected to retail at between 8 and 14.
Pen publishes the bestselling annual guide to Spanish wine.
A new wine company, Crush Wines, headed up by two long-standing members of the wine trade, launched last week.
Crush Wines will specialise in facilitating ex-cellar sales with marketing and sales support.
Managing director Chris Ellis formerly held senior roles at Western Wines and Skalli, while Andrew Lamberth, sales and marketing director, previously held similar roles at Domaine Boyar and PLB.
Lamberth commented: Initial trade responses to our format and ideas have been tremendous. It has been really encouraging to see buyers take us on as suppliers so quickly.'
He added that the lean business structure' allows Crush to deliver real value'.
Full details are expected to follow shortly.
The problem of global oversupply and the accompanying fierce price competition in key markets is having an ever-greater impact on profitability around the globe.
With Australia and parts of France already deep into a wine downturn, it increasingly appears that South Africa and Chilean producers are also suffering serious economic problems.
Just last week, the South African Wine & Brandy Company (SAWBC) met with a government agricultural committee to ask for increased support to regain a competitive advantage' and warned that it was becoming virtually impossible' for South Africa to compete profitably on price in its two key markets, Germany and the UK. As well as an oversupply of wine
driving a discount culture in supermarkets, the continued strength of the rand has meant margins were low.
Following six months of negotiations with the European Commission, the WSTA has secured the continued use of the existing 8 Digits Customs Subheadings. The Commission had considered abolishing these codes as part of its simplification of the European Combined Nomenclature.
These codes allow the trade to compare year-on-year production and sales using recognised industry product codes.
WSTA chief executive Jeremy Beadles said: This is a good outcome for the trade, which had argued strongly for these customs subheadings to be maintained. We are in favour of simplifying the nomenclature, but there is no point in losing something that is recognised and used by the trade to help monitor performance.'
Delibo Fine Wines has signed an agreement with Vina San Esteban to distribute its In Situ range of Chilean wines in
the UK, a range developed specifically for this market.
The winery, located at the eastern edge of the Aconcagua Valley, in central Chile, produces a Reserva range (Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmenre, Merlot, Syrah, Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay) with RSPs of 5.99 and a Winemakers Selection range (Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmenre, Syrah and Chardonnay) with RSPs of 7.99.
PLB has launched a new brand from Sicily. Named Sicilano, it aims to capitalise on positive consumer perception of the Italian island'.
Sealed with a screwcap closure, the four wines will be available at two price points. Nero d'Avola/Shiraz and Chardonnay/Cataratto blends will sit at 3.99, with Nero d'Avola and Grillo varietals priced at 4.99.
Brand manager Paul Shelton commented: Research conducted
by Wine Intelligence identified two important consumers of Italian wines: "Frascati Girl", who knows she likes Italian wines at a certain price points; and "Chianti Connoisseur", who will be attracted by the indigenous varieties. Sicilano will appeal to both.'
The wine is produced by the Firriato winery in Sicily and the labels were designed by the London-based Barlow Doherty design agency.
A group of Caribbean rum producers is launching a generic marketing body.
The West Indian Rum Producers Association (WIRPA) includes the produce of most Caribbean rum producers (with the exception of those in Cuba, Bermuda, Venezuela and the French-speaking islands) and has been funded by the EU as
a result of the phasing out of preferential trading agreements with the region.
The UK arm (it will also operate in selected markets worldwide) will be run by James Stocker. As well as an educational campaign run by the WIRPA itself, companies can apply to the body for funding for their own marketing campaigns.
I want the various island-specific West Indian rums to
be thought of the same way as Scotch malts,' said Stocker.
