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.
Read more...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.
Read more...Californian producer Fetzer has claimed that there is no significant increase in costs to convert to organic winemaking.
Crush Wines, the fast-growing distributor launched earlier this year, has launched an Australian protfolio.
Read more...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.
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.
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.
Read more...has announced plans to spend 250,000 on a media and public relations campaign during 2006.
Hardys - the UK's best-selling Australian wine brand - is launching a new marketing campaign based around SMS text messaging.
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.
South African producer Cloof - a Shiraz specialist based in the Darling region - has set up a UK office.
Read more...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.
German brand Devil's Rock is to expand, with a new umbrella brand called the Private Collection.
Read more...A new 7.99 range of Australian wines has been launched by Percy Fox, with a big emphasis on regionality.
Franois Mauss, founder-president of the Grand Jury Europen - which conducts large-scale blind tastings using an international panel - has criticised the 30th anniversary rematch of the Judgement of Paris' tasting due to take place in London and Napa on 24 May.
Read more...Franois Mauss, founder-president of the Grand Jury Europen - which conducts large-scale blind tastings using an international panel - has criticised the 30th anniversary rematch of the Judgement of Paris' tasting due to take place in London and Napa on 24 May.
Read more...It's taken for granted now, but there was a time when Mis en bouteille au chteau' was a badge of honour, signifying that a wine had not been sloshed around in a barrel while en route to the UK. Bottled at source and with its cork firmly in place, the quality of the wine was vouchsafed by its arrival: intact, labelled and ready for the consumer. Taken for granted, but increasingly not the case.
Western Wines has cancelled its proposed seminar at this year's LIWSF, following its takeover by Constellation Wines. The seminar, entitled What are the predictions for premium wine in the UK market in the 2012 Olympic year?', was due to be held from 10.30am to 11.30am on Thursday 18 May, in the LIWSF seminar arena by entrance S8 of ExCeL.
Read more...Islay distillery Bruichladdich saw its profits rise 101% to 403,000 in 2005 - only four years after it was reopened. Chairman Sir John Mactaggart commented: This is another encouraging performance. Bruichladdich punches above its weight in a sector dominated by multinationals. In Russia we are the fourth-largest-selling single malt.'
