Australian woes continue

The tough times for the Australian wine industry look set to continue with a new report warning that producers face continuing losses' unless serious structural issues are addressed.

Ochoa moves to Pol Roger

Bodegas Ochoa of Navarra and Bodegas Miguel Merino of Rioja will be represented in the UK by Pol Roger from this month.

Taste-in launched

A new bespoke' wine tasting service has been launched - utilising the services of Anthony Rose, Andrew Jefford, Oz Clarke, Robert Joseph, Steven Spurrier, Michael Broadbent and Charles Metcalfe - by wine writer John Stimpfig and wine consultant Sophie Jump.

See and be seen

Having just returned from the London International Wine & Spirits Fair, probably the last thing you want to think about is another exhibition. But MiWine, which claims to showcase the finest spirits and wine makers throughout Italy as well as exhibitors from other producing countries, takes place from 12-14 June in Milan.

Waste not, want not

Like a bad penny, the Packaging Waste Regulations keep turning up in my career. When I was a solicitor, I represented a number of companies that were prosecuted for failing to comply with different parts of the regulations. My last case ended up in the High Court arguing about whether plant pots were packaging or not.

Mathieu Roche - Chef sommelier/matre d'htel, Longueville Manor

You grew up in Bordeaux but learned about wine in Jersey. Isn't this a bit back to front?
I suppose it is. For some reason, the wine courses at my catering college were very complicated - maybe I didn't really click with the teacher or something - but when I arrived at Longueville, I was encouraged to learn about wine in depth.

Waverley TBS buys into Wales

Wholesaler WaverleyTBS has announced that it is buying one of Wales' largest independent wholesalers, Cellar Wines Direct (CWD), based in Cardiff, for an undisclosed sum.

Eastern efforts

The more I travel across Eastern and southeastern Europe, the more amazing I find it that countries geographically so close can be so vastly different in their cultures and in their wine industries. Each of these countries has its own distinct challenges and opportunities ahead, not least influenced by the long arms of the EU.

Need to know

The market research profession gets a bit of a mixed press. First, the good news: thanks to advances in technology, it has never been easier to gather views on the products individuals buy and consume.

Fetzer: no significant costs by going organic

Californian producer Fetzer has claimed that there is no significant increase in costs to convert to organic winemaking.

Crush signs three from Oz

Crush Wines, the fast-growing distributor launched earlier this year, has launched an Australian protfolio.

GWW offers Oz trip

Great Western Wine is offering visitors to its stand, D12, at this year's LIWSF the chance to win an all-expenses-paid field trip to Australia.

Argentinian generic tasting

This year's Wines of Argentina Annual Trade Tasting is scheduled to take place on Tuesday 19 September at The Nursery Pavilion, Lord's Cricket Ground, London NW8.
Hunt & Coady will be organising the event. For further information, please contact Tina Coady, Tel/Fax: 01638 614775; email t.coady@ntlworld.com.

Mount back full-time

Angela Mount has returned to Somerfield's wine buying department on a full time basis and fortified buyer Nimisha Gohil has been given an increased remit.

Nobilo, New Zealand's second-largest wine producer,

has announced plans to spend 250,000 on a media and public relations campaign during 2006.

Hardys launches SMS campaign

Hardys - the UK's best-selling Australian wine brand - is launching a new marketing campaign based around SMS text messaging.

On-trade big guns sign up for Wine+

Wine+, the launch event from Fresh RM for the on-trade in London and the Home Counties, is gathering real momentum. Since its launch in February 2006, a host of leading suppliers and brand owners have confirmed they will be taking part in this Harpers-supported event.

Cloof opens UK office

South African producer Cloof - a Shiraz specialist based in the Darling region - has set up a UK office.

Dominion opens office in UK

Page steps down

Bill Page, chairman of London-based distributor Mentzendorff, is standing down from the company at the end of June. Page joined the company as managing director in 2001 and became chairman in 2004.
Arnould d'Hautefeuille, president of Societe Jacques Bollinger (one of the two major shareholders), will take on the chairmanship.