New Masters of Wine announced

Seven new Masters of Wine (MW) were announced last night at the Institute of Masters of Wine Annual Reception including a Tesco buyer, two Australians and the first MW from Sweden.

Cloudy Bay spices it up

New Zealand producer Cloudy Bay is to launch its 2004 Gewurztraminer via its online search facility, Cloudy Bay Locator.

Ros Champagne boosts LVMH sales

Luxury goods company, Louis Vuitton Mot Hennessy (LVMH), has announced its wine and spirit sales have risen 9%.

Australia wins a third of all Gold medals

IWSC awards the country with 44 Best in Class and six Golds.

Tesco launches autumn wine promotion

UK: Tesco's autumn wine festival has wine discounts of up to 50%

Phylloxera strikes in New Zealand

A wine estate in Wairarapa has been hit by phylloxera, making it likely that the entire region will become infected.

Special delivery: SITT?2007

Are you being served?

Forty-two per cent of wines on restaurant wine lists are priced at more than 50 a bottle, according to research unveiled by Wine Intelligence (WI) at the inaugural Wine+ exhibition two weeks ago.

Kiwi producers proud of diverse climate

New Zealand's unique climatic conditions may protect its wine industry from the threat of global warming, a leading producer said at the country's annual trade tasting last week.

Renewed zeal

WHERE: Lord's Cricket Ground, St John's Wood, London NW1
WHEN: Monday, 15 January 2007 from 11am-5pm and Tuesday, 16 January 2007 from 10am-5pm
CONTACT: Alison Power at New Zealand Winegrowers on 020 7973 8079

Full speed ahead

In the UK wine market, where suppliers have been lashed by flat sales - and some countries have started to sink, New Zealand continues to ride a wave of success. But sea changes are already underway for 2007, as the States look set to overtake the UK as New Zealand's primary export destination - despite the Kiwis sending more wine to Britain than ever before.

WOW celebrates Christmas

The Women of Wine (WoW) Christmas party was held at the Met Hennessy HQ in London's Mayfair last month.

New Zealand Winegrowers elect new chairman

Stuart Smith, a grape grower and winery owner in Marlborough, has been elected chairman of New Zealand Winegrowers (NZW), the national trade body. Smith will represent the industry in dealings with government and media for a one-year term. The position complements his role as chair of the national grape growers council.

Wonderful world of Oz (Clarke)

Oz Clarke is one of the best-known names in the wine trade.

New on-trade sales boss at Enotria

Enotria Winecellars has appointed Simon Treanor as its new on-trade sales director.

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.

The Interview - Kevin Howell, Thresher franchisee, Thresher shop, Hythe, Kent

Kevin Howell has been in the licensed trade just about all his 44 years. His parents ran the White Hart, one of major pubs in Hythe High Street in Kent. After studying at Portsmouth College, he went to work in a Peter Dominic off-licence in nearby Bearsted in Kent. He then moved to the Thresher shop in Hythe, 17 years ago. Kevin is the second person to switch from manager to fracnhisee under the new Thresher franchisee scheme. He is also vice-chairman of the local chamber of commerce.

Ian Dunkerley, chef/proprietor, Dunkerleys

How did you get started?
I was born in Ashford (Kent) but then
we moved to Cyprus, because my father worked with the army. He became ill and died, so we returned initially to Deal but then moved to Ashford. It was full of London overspill so it was a tough environment. To keep out of trouble, I did two paper rounds, worked in a sweet shop and in a fish and chip shop - I used to have a barrow at Ashford station and served Bill Deedes (the Conservative MP and former editor of the Daily Telegraph).

6-7 category up 27%

The 6 to 7 price band is booming in the UK's multiple grocers - with sales by volume up 27% in the last year.

Katy HulstoneManager, The Elephant

What made you set up shop in Torquay?
Simon, my husband and the head chef, went to school round here, and his family live in Paignton, the town next door, so we know the area. People have this image of Torquay, but it's not like Fawlty Towers any more.