Wines in the Weekly Press, 26/27 August, 2006

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.

Wine trade fairs

If you've survived the annual jaunt to the two major events in the wine trade calendar, the London International Wine & Spirits Fair (LIWSF) and Vinexpo, it's now time to sit back and enjoy the brief lull before the next round of exhibition hall madness. But how many of us are already planning to visit some of Europe's smaller wine fairs next year too? And are wine trade fairs an essential part of an independent wine merchant's buying strategy, or simply a waste of time and energy?

Wines of Argentina MD quits

The managing director of Wines of Argentina has quit the post less than one year after taking up the reins.

Thoughts and reflections on Len Evans

Len Evans AO, OBE, oenophile
Born 1 August 1930; died 17 August 2006, aged 75

Yeast - wild, cultured, genetically modified - by Jamie Goode

A few months ago, I visited one of Australia's leading small wineries at harvest time. A small open-top fermenter had been loaded with Shiraz the previous day: now, some 24 hours later, the must was already quite deeply coloured, but fermentation hadn't yet begun.

Austrian wine - in the groove - by Dawn Cran

What do most people think of when Austria comes up in conversation? Almost certainly Mozart and Viennese Opera, maybe Wiener Schnitzel, perhaps even mountainous ski resorts, but Austrian wine is unlikely to feature. This is no great surprise, considering that Austria accounts for less than 1% of the world's total wine production, but there are some serious wines hiding away here, and those who start to include them in their Austrian experiences are unlikely to regret it.

Len Evans dies

By Max Allen
Len Evans - one of Australian wine's most important figures - died of a heart attack last week (17 August), just a few days short of his 76th birthday, and hours before the annual Hunter Valley Wine Show dinner - at which, no doubt, he would have made a typically ebullient speech.

Bacardi and Pernod step up rum war

By Ron Emler
The long-running row over who owns the Havana Club brand has reached a new intensity, with Pernod Ricard planning fresh legal action in the US against Bacardi.

Rising alcohol levels - discuss

With the alcohol level of wines on a seemingly inexorable rise - led by the New World, but now increasingly driven by the Old World as well - the International Wine and Spirits Competition decided to hold a debate to discuss the often controversial issues that surround high alcohol. Does high alcohol go hand in hand with high quality? Do consumers like elevated alcohol levels? What are the health issues associated with consuming wines with high alcohol levels? And can a wine of 15% ABV ever be balanced?

Appointments - Who's going where

New marketing director at Maxxium UK
Maxxium UK has appointed Peter Mooney, 37, as marketing director. Mooney, currently international marketing manager for Scottish & Newcastle, replaces former marketing director Huw Pennell, who took on the role of Maxxium UK managing director earlier this year.

SA Shiraz festival

From Persia to Paarl' is the theme of the first-ever South African wine festival devoted to the Shiraz grape.

Small is beautiful

Wine Australia 2006, held in Sydney last month, concentrated on championing smaller producers. Stuart Peskett considers whether the format was a success

New BBC show for Oz Clarke

Oz Clarke is teaming up with Top Gear's James May for a new BBC wine programme to be aired this autumn - Oz & James's Big Wine Adventure.

Riedel issues statement to the press

Stemware maker, Riedel issues statement regarding claims made by Zwiesel Kristallglass about its crystal glass.

Wine In The Name of Peace - the Lebanese/Israeli wine tasting event has been cancelled

The organisers of the Wine In The Name of Peace - a Lebanese/Israeli wine tasting event which was due to take place on Wednesday 16 August at Vinopolis on London's South Bank, have announced that it has been cancelled.

Consumers are the winners with Oz surplus, says ex-Hardy's winemaker

by Christian Davis
With some Australian grape prices a third of what they were just a few years of year's ago, consumers are benefiting from great-quality Australian wines at great prices, according to Stephen Pannell, a former group winemaker with Hardy's.

A new era for Cyprus by Caroline Gilby MW

The Cyprus wine industry has reached a turning point. On the
one hand, EU membership has seen the loss of substantial subsidies for wine exports. This brought to an end the shipments of vast quantities of low-quality bulk wine that had been destined for Sherry-type fortified wines, gluhwein' and other mass markets in the EU. On the other hand, in 2005, Italian archaeologists found evidence that winemaking on the island dates back to 3,500 bc, possibly the longest winemaking history in Europe. Cyprus also claims one of the oldest images of wine drinkers in the 3rd century ad mosaics at Paphos. And Cypriots are proud of their sweet, fortified wine Commandaria, which is the oldest named' wine in the world, dating back to the 12th century and still made in the traditional manner from sun-dried grapes.

Wine Australia praised despite Foster's no-show

by Stuart Peskett
It may have been a smaller event than two years ago, but the overriding reaction to Wine Australia 2006, which took place in Sydney last month, was extremely positive.

Lutterworth opening

Shadow Trade & Industry Minister, Alan Duncan MP, has opened CERT drinks network's new 235,000 sq ft bonded distribution centre in Lutterworth, Leicestershire, which will act as a national hub for the delivery of drinks across the UK to the multiples, wholesalers and convenience stores.