Hungary lays claim to possibly the worst evening of my wine-buying career on a visit to a newly privatised winery back in the early 1990s. In spite of memories of spectacularly nasty wine and even grimmer food, it was clear then that the country's great strength was, and is, its people.
Read more...Randall Grahm of California producer Bonny Doon is to start producing Grner Veltliner, Chenin Blanc and Riesling in large quantities from next year.
The new Drinkaware Trust has named its first-ever board of trustees. The charity's 10 voluntary trustees will be responsible for creating a programme to tackle alcohol harm and promote responsible drinking in the UK.
Award-winning winemaker Louisa Rose is the new chief winemaker at Yalumba, Australia's oldest family-owned winery, based in the Barossa. She was quietly' appointed on 1 December, taking over from Alan Hoey, who has been made manager of wineries and operations.
California's crop last year was 20% down on 2005, preliminary figures showed, calming fears of another grape glut.
Growers in South Africa are being paid not to harvest grapes, while others are selling up their farms as severe oversupply hits the industry.
Diageo has announced plans to invest 100 million to increase its production of Scotch whisky.
Beam Global, whose brands include Courvoisier Cognac, Harveys Sherry and Cockburn's Port, has reported growth of more than 10% by value, despite almost every category being in decline in the UK.
Tawny Port will be the focus of the 2007 programme of the Instituto dos Vinhos do Douro e do Porto (IVDP).
There should be great opportunities for Portugal in the UK, but despite the fact that the country's winemakers have started to make great red wines and decent whites, it has yet to fulfil its potential. At this month's 50 Great Wines of Portugal event there was more interest than ever before - the wines had run out by 4 pm - and the event will move to a bigger venue next year.
Were you sent flowers this Valentine's Day? Maybe you ordered a present for your loved one via the Internet, or perhaps you had the ingredients for a special meal home delivered. Chances are that, even if you didn't, you have used - or will use - your computer for buying goods and services.
More than 230 wines from 45 wineries will be on offer at the annual generic Hungarian tasting next month. The off-trade is the most important sector for Hungary, selling 614,000 nine-litre cases in 2006. Although this figure was down 2.7% in volume on the previous 12 months, the two biggest UK importers of Hungarian wine - Bottle Green and Myliko - have both reported encouraging performances. Louise Hartley of Bottle Green said: Sales of total Hilltop wines are showing a strong increase on last year by almost 10% in volume.' The average bottle price is up slightly from 3.36 to 3.47 (AC Nielsen MAT to Dec 2006).
Wines of Portugal has announced that it will focus its marketing on the UK on-trade in 2007, after latest sales figures showed an increase of 32% by value.
John Trevena grew up in Santiago, Chile. He came to London to study economics, and worked as an accountant before setting up a life pensions programme with three friends. In the early 1980s he decided to follow his passion for wine and set up his own wine wholesale business. After premises in Langham Street and St Martin's Lane in London, the business moved to Pimlico and developed a retail arm, now known as Vintage Cellars, which generates about 5% of the company's turnover. Exclusive agencies include: Via Carta Vieja and Viedos TerraNoble (Chile); Riversleigh Estate (New Zealand); Eagle's Cliff (South Africa); and Domaine de la Madonne (France).
The Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) has teamed up with a number of generic bodies, including Australia, New Zealand and Chile. It will now have a stand at shows such as the Wines of Chile consumer show and the Wines of Portugal event at the end of March.
The sale of Whyte & Mackay, the leading independent whisky distiller, will be finalised this week, Harpers understands.
Chilean wine group San Pedro has parted company with Buckingham Vintners, naming Les Grands Chais de France (LGCF) as its new UK distributor. LGCF will now take responsibility for the Chilean brands 35 South and Castillo de Molina, as well as its Argentinian label Finca La Celia.
Two members of the Harpers writing team have won scholarships at the WSET Awards of Excellence for the second year running.
The famous Valpolicella house of Allegrini, run by oenologist Franco Allegrini and his marketing manager sister Marilisa, has expanded once again in Tuscany. After establishing the Poggio al Tesoro estate in Bolgheri several years ago, they have now purchased a 15-hectare property in Montalcino, in what is said to be one of the choicest sites available, half of it, it seems, already planted to Brunello. It is rumoured that Leonardo Locascio, head of Allegrini's US importers Winebow, is also involved.
Read more...After Puglia, Piemonte and Sicily, Lamberto Edoardo and Massimiliano Vallarino Gancia have chosen Tuscany as the next location for their expansion programme.
