The World Cup is over and Australia inched to glory after a tense and sweaty final against gallant runners-up Portugal.
Brazil was forced into early retirement after an embarrassing first-round thrashing, while Germany succumbed in the semis.
Two years ago I visited several wineries in Romania all making wines that, in terms of quality and value, could hold their own with what is on UK wine shelves, at least up to the 10 mark. I was able to express enthusiasm about the wines, but my heart sank when, as inevitably happens when visiting a region not well established in the UK, I was asked about how they might prosper in the UK.
The London International Vintners Exchange 100 Fine Wine Benchmark Index (Liv-ex 100'), which tracks the price of blue-chip wines, is now available on www.bloomberg.com (code: LIVX100), the global investment and stockmarket information website.
Read more...The 119th Annual General Meeting of the Wine & Spirit Trades' Benevolent Society will be held at Vintners' Hall, Upper Thames Street, London EC4V 3BG on Tuesday 6 June 2006 at 11am.
Read more...Following thace collapse of Mayfair Cellars (see Harpers, 28 April) wine merchant Stone, Vine & Sun is temporarily looking after the distribution of Jacquesson Champagne.
Vranken-Pommery Monopole has spent a massive 20 million for 21 hectares (ha) of land in Champagne, a transaction the company claims is the biggest of its kind in the region within the past decade.
Arc International is unveiling a new range of stemware which, it claims, uses a new material that is the most transparent material to date, while also being resilient to breakage and fade-resistant.
Louis Latour has been appointed as exclusive agent for the on-trade and independent sectors by New Zealand producer Craggy Range.
Read more...The WSTA's long period of restructuring has finally come to end with the creation of the WSTA Wine Importers' Panel and the consequent abolition of eight Shippers' Committees.
New Zealand's Waipara Hills Wine Estate (WHWE) has bought Canterbury House, a major Waipara producer, taking WHWE's holding in the region to 500 hectares.
Premium South African producer Villiera Wines has become the first agency to leave Western Wines following its purchase by Constellation.
Chile's biggest wine exporter, Concha y Toro, has seen its profits hit hard by the continuing strength of the Chilean peso.
The Gallo family has dropped the Ernest & Julio in its name and introduced the name Gallo Family Vineyards, ahead of its 75th anniversary in 2008.
Read more...South African brand FirstCape is to get a home' for the first time when a 4.5 million-litre winery is built in the Breede Valley later this year.
Swedish giant V&S is to sell its Danish vodka brand, Danzka, and increase its focus on its core portfolio of Absolut vodka and Cruzan rum.
Asda's beers, wines and spirits team is back to full strength, following a host of internal appointments.
Download the Quality Drink Conference 2006 Sponsorship & Promotional Opportunities information pdf here
Read more...As a consumer, I readily to admit to being something of a Riedel convert. After all, I've done the tastings, seen the light and got the glasses (well, some of them). Wine really does seem to taste better in a Riedel glass - especially if it's the right' one. And yet, the journalist in me can't help but remain a tad agnostic about some of the proselytising in Riedel's sales pitch.
Cube Communications and Sensible Wine Services have teamed up to launch a new company, which focuses entirely on presenting wines, beers and spirits to consumers face to face.
The contenders to take over Taittinger Champagne have been whittled down to a short list from the 40 or so who expressed initial interest.
