CRANSWICK-SMITH RETURNS

Graham Cranswick-Smith, founder of Cranswick Premium Wines, has joined forces with Kingston Estate Wines to form a new distribution company, Kingston Wine Agencies.

NEW PLANTINGS IN CHIANTI CLASSICO MAR THE LANDSCAPE, SAYS CONSORZIO CHIEF

The planting of new vineyards in the Chianti Classico zone is marring the landscape and reducing the agricultural diversity of the region, according to Consorzio del Marche Storico Chianti Classico president Giovanni Ricasoli-Firidolfi.

DARBYSHIRE RUNS FOR SOUTH AFRICAN CHARITY

Thierry's boss Peter Darbyshire is running the London Marathon on 17 April for a South African charity that aims to help disadvantaged children with special educational needs and those whose lives are adversely affected by alcohol.

CONCHA Y TORO BUYS FRANCISCO DE AGUIRRE

Major Chilean wine producer Concha y Toro has bought Francisco de Aguirre in Chile's Limar valley for US$17 million.

BIG THREE TO BECOME BIG TWO?

The share price of Allied Domecq soared 96p to 633p last week after it emerged that Pernod Ricard could be planning a takeover.

THE INTERVIEW - GEMMA CRANGLE

Gemma Crangle, a WSET-accredited tutor, worked briefly at consumer magazine Wine International and then for two years in the buying department of Corney & Barrow before setting up Terroir in 2003. The company supplies restaurants and private customers, focusing on wines from the Languedoc, but has recently expanded to include wines from the neighbouring region of Roussillon. Terroir is the sole agent in the UK for the majority of the producers it represents.

THE INTERVIEW - DAVID 'ROBBO' ROBERTSON

David Robbo' Robertson, the chief nose behind Jon, Mark & Robbo's Easy Drinking Whisky Company, was born at Royal Brackla Distillery in Nairn, where his father was assistant manager. In 1994, he joined the team at The Macallan, initially as distillery manager and later as master distiller and brand ambassador. In January 2003, after securing financial backing from The Edrington Group, Robertson left The Macallan to set up Jon, Mark & Robbo's Easy drinking Whisky Company with Jon and Mark Geary.
*With thanks to Etienne at Cargo, 83 Rivington Street, London, for the use of the venue for photography.

THE INTERVIEW - KUMIKO OHTA

Kumiko Ohta and two French sommeliers, Jean-Louis Naveilhan and Xavier Chapelou, set up premium sake distribution company Isak in April 2004. The company supplies restaurants and retail outlets and sells its range of around 20 premium sakes through its website, as well as running courses in sake appreciation for both the trade and private customers and organising dinners matching sake to Italian food at Fabbrica restaurant on Battersea Park Road. Ohta's parents cultivate the rice that is used in the production of sake in Fukuroi, near Mount Fuji.

THE INTERVIEW - PATRICK SALLES

VINEXPO LABELS LONDONERS 'BLISSFUL' WINE DRINKERS

Wine is the last piece of the jigsaw' and when it fits, it's absolute bliss'. This is one of the findings of research into Londoners' view of wine commissioned by Vinexpo in advance of its major exhibition in Bordeaux in June.

WOW STRIPTEASE

Seven leading wine trade figures are to strip for charity at a wine industry event this summer. Christelle Guibert, tastings manager at consumer wine magazine Decanter, has persuaded The Observer's wine columnist Tim Atkin MW, Wines of Chile marketing director Michael Cox, Peter Darbyshire of Thierry's, Murray J Harris of The Bridge in Barnes, Richard Milsom of Charles Taylor Wines, Michael Palij MW of Winetraders and Stone, Vine & Sun's Andrew Shaw to perform a Chippendale-style Full Monty' striptease at a charity bash she is organising in conjunction with Women of Wine (WOW).

TEN OF THE BEST AT LIWSF

Brintex, the organiser of the London International Wine & Spirits Fair, has come up with a new feature to celebrate its 25th anniversary - a tasting featuring 10 of the best wines from the 10 top producing countries.

ON-TRADE WINE SALES FALL 6%

After years of uninterrupted growth, the on-trade wine sector has slipped into decline. The latest figures from AC Nielsen (December/January bi-months) show that the volume of wine drunk in the UK's pubs, bars, hotels and restaurants has fallen by 6% in the past year (MAT to the end of January).

WILLIAMSON TAKES OVER AT WAITROSE

Mark Williamson will be succeeding Derek Strange as head of buying for wines, beers, spirits and tobacco at Waitrose.

FRESCOBALDI BUYS ORNELLAIA

Following the recent acquisition by Frescobaldi of 50% of the shares of Luce della Vite, which Constellation Brands had bought from Mondavi, Marchesi de' Frescobaldi has announced it has now purchased from Constellation the remaining half of the shares of Ornellaia, which had also been Mondavi's.

WILKIN NAMED TOP SOMMELIER

Matthew Wilkin of The Capital Hotel Group has won the 14th Champagne Ruinart UK Sommelier of the Year competition, organised by the Academy of Food & Wine Service.

NZ WINERY DEFENDS ITSELF AGAINST SLUR

Vavasour, the New Zealand winery in Marlborough's Awatere Valley, has denied giving the next New Zealand high commissioner to London a barrel of wine in return for promoting the company in the UK.

DECLARATIONS AND A NEW STRATEGY FROM OPORTO

The Symington Family Port Company has become the first producer to reveal officially one of the wine world's worst-kept secrets, by declaring the 2003 Port vintage for every house in its portfolio.

VIRGIN WINES AND SAINSBURY'S IN SPAT OVER 'WINE' BUYERS

Sainsbury's has hit back at claims made in an email sent by Virgin Wines to its customers that to work as a supermarket wine buyer you don't need to know anything about wine'.

WADSACK IS TOP COMMUNICATOR

Broadcaster, writer and consultant Joe Wadsack, is the International Wine & Spirit Competition's (IWSC) 2005 Communicator of the Year'.