Spain forges ahead full throttle

There are those who will tell you that in wine terms Spain has gone up a gear since the turn of the century. I've been going to Spain on wine-related business since 1972 and my own opinion is that Spain has gone up several boxes-full of gears since the year 2000, and is still accelerating. There is so much movement, new investment and new thinking that the mind starts to spin. Soaring land prices and ever more costly planting rights don't seem to have had the slightest effect and there are ambitious new projects, even in the most expensive areas, such as Ribera del Duero and Rioja.

The Spanish celebrate diversity

This year's Wines from Spain tasting celebrates the 25th anniversary of the creation of the generic body, and will feature 30 Spanish bodegas seeking UK representation, as well as 55 importers, with more than 2,000 wines available to taste.

Testing the top wines of Trentino

Twenty-eight producers from Trentino in north-east Italy will travel to London to present their wines and grappas to the UK trade.

Austrians under the spotlight

Where: The Institute of Directors, 116 Pall Mall, London SW1
When: Thursday 22 February 2007, 11am-4.30pm
Contact: The Austrian Wine Marketing Board, tel: 020 7411 3825

Special delivery: SITT?2007

Seminal look at Australian Shiraz

Flavour profiles of Shiraz across Australia was the subject of a seminar at the Australia Day Tasting in London last week.

The Interview: William Hutchings, Proprietor and wine buyer, The Bell at Skenfrith

William and Janet Hutchings bought the Bell at Skenfrith in December 1999 and immediately closed it to embark on a major refurbishment programme, planning to reopen for Christmas 2000. In early December 2000 the River Monnow, which flows past the Bell, burst its banks and flooded the restaurant, so it did not open for business until March 2001.

New consumption research

Businesses will now be able to track the habits of wine consumers internationally with the launch of a new research service.

Clare producers split on GI issue

Clare Valley producers are divided by the possibility of subdividing the region.

Henry announces new direction for Australia

The biggest piece of research on Australian wine and its markets in more than a decade is ready to be unveiled, the head of Wine Australia told Harpers last week.

Absolut vodka could go for knock-down price

Vin & Sprit, the Swedish state company, has started to mount its defences against predators who are targeting Absolut vodka when the Stockholm government privatises the group, possibly later this year.

Cognac exports surge ahead

Exports of Cognac in 2006 were the third highest on record. According to figures released by the Bureau National Interprofessionel du Cognac (BNIC), 152 million bottles of Cognac were exported worldwide, representing an increase of 7.2% by volume and 11% in value compared with 2005. These volumes have only been bettered by sales in 1989 and 1990.

The Interview: Jeremy Cowen, Head sommelier, Galvin Bistrot de Luxe, London W1

Jeremy grew up on the Wirral, trying his first wine, a 1967 Chateau d'Yquem, when he was 11, and joining The Wine Society at the age of 14. After failing to complete an engineering degree, he began a career in wine at Oddbins in 1999. He left in 2002 to join an outside catering firm in Cheshire, moving a year later to the Establishment, a restaurant he helped open in Manchester, devising a list of 400 wines. However, he struggled to sell wines to the locals and the following year started at the London Carriage Works in Liverpool, spending just two months there before moving to the Galvin brothers' Bistrot de Luxe, at the start of 2006. Suppliers at Galvin include Le Cave de Pyrene, Vine Trail, Taittinger and Billecart-Salmon.

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.

Packaging complaints upheld

A total of eight complaints were made about drinks packaging in the UK in 2006, according to responsible drinking organisation The Portman Group, with gift packs like the one pictured right making up the majority.

New name and logo for The Benevolent

The Wine and Spirit Trades' Benevolent Society has changed its name and updated its image to attract more members and increase fundraising efforts.

IWSC changes judging timetable

The timetable for judging entries in the International Wine & Spirit Competition (IWSC) is to be changed after a number of requests from New World producers.

WSTA condemns 7% licence fee hike

Plans to increase all licence fees by 7% for the next three years have been slammed by the Wine & Spirit Trade Assocation (WSTA). The increase, as recommended by the Licensing Fees Review Panel, would be introduced in the period 2007/8 and would then be reviewed in 2009/10.

Wine tourism for backpackers

New Zealand may have a new adventure tourism experience to rival bungee jumping and white-water rafting if one enterprising winemaker has his way.

McGuigan to quit marketing role

Lisa McGuigan will step down from her role as global marketing director for McGuigan Simeon Wines next Friday (9 February) to concentrate on managing the growth of the Tempus Two brand.