Waitrose backs New World

Waitrose is giving the New World a boost with a New World Wine Showcase to be held in all branches from 4 to 24 September.

Riedel versus Zwiesel: who will shatter first?

Zwiesel Kristallglas AG claims that rival glass company Riedel, Nachtmann and Spiegelau has misrepresented the facts of a dispute over marketing material in a recent statement to the industry.

Diageo introduces a glass for the boys

By Dawn Cran
Drinks giant, Diageo, is launching a new 16oz spirits and mixer glass into the UK on-trade to take advantage of recent figures that show footfall within the on-trade has been increasing by 12 extra visits per outlet since early 2005.

California hit by record temperatures

by Larry Walker
Grape growers throughout California are keeping an uneasy eye on the weather while getting ready for the 2006 harvest.

Wines in the Weekly Press, 26/27 August, 2006

Wines of Argentina MD quits

The managing director of Wines of Argentina has quit the post less than one year after taking up the reins.

Len Evans dies

By Max Allen
Len Evans - one of Australian wine's most important figures - died of a heart attack last week (17 August), just a few days short of his 76th birthday, and hours before the annual Hunter Valley Wine Show dinner - at which, no doubt, he would have made a typically ebullient speech.

Bacardi and Pernod step up rum war

By Ron Emler
The long-running row over who owns the Havana Club brand has reached a new intensity, with Pernod Ricard planning fresh legal action in the US against Bacardi.

Appointments - Who's going where

New marketing director at Maxxium UK
Maxxium UK has appointed Peter Mooney, 37, as marketing director. Mooney, currently international marketing manager for Scottish & Newcastle, replaces former marketing director Huw Pennell, who took on the role of Maxxium UK managing director earlier this year.

SA Shiraz festival

From Persia to Paarl' is the theme of the first-ever South African wine festival devoted to the Shiraz grape.

Small is beautiful

Wine Australia 2006, held in Sydney last month, concentrated on championing smaller producers. Stuart Peskett considers whether the format was a success

New BBC show for Oz Clarke

Oz Clarke is teaming up with Top Gear's James May for a new BBC wine programme to be aired this autumn - Oz & James's Big Wine Adventure.

Riedel issues statement to the press

Stemware maker, Riedel issues statement regarding claims made by Zwiesel Kristallglass about its crystal glass.

Wine In The Name of Peace - the Lebanese/Israeli wine tasting event has been cancelled

The organisers of the Wine In The Name of Peace - a Lebanese/Israeli wine tasting event which was due to take place on Wednesday 16 August at Vinopolis on London's South Bank, have announced that it has been cancelled.

Consumers are the winners with Oz surplus, says ex-Hardy's winemaker

by Christian Davis
With some Australian grape prices a third of what they were just a few years of year's ago, consumers are benefiting from great-quality Australian wines at great prices, according to Stephen Pannell, a former group winemaker with Hardy's.

Wine Australia praised despite Foster's no-show

by Stuart Peskett
It may have been a smaller event than two years ago, but the overriding reaction to Wine Australia 2006, which took place in Sydney last month, was extremely positive.

Lutterworth opening

Shadow Trade & Industry Minister, Alan Duncan MP, has opened CERT drinks network's new 235,000 sq ft bonded distribution centre in Lutterworth, Leicestershire, which will act as a national hub for the delivery of drinks across the UK to the multiples, wholesalers and convenience stores.

Tesco looks to educate

Tesco is promising new consumer education initiaves
at this year's Tesco Wine Club Fairs - with improved masterclasses and a new Challenge Your Senses' zone.

Pallanti for President

Marco Pallanti, of the renowned Chianti Classico estate Castello di Ama, has been elected president of the Chianti Classico Wine Consortium following a unanimous vote last month.

Bolla to be bought by GIV?

by Nicolas Belfrage MW and Franco Ziliani
One of the biggest names in traditional Italian viniculture, Bolla, may be on its way into the portfolio of the giant Gruppo Italiano Vini (GIV).