South Africa Supplement 2004

The South African wine industry has come a long way in the past decade, emerging from international obscurity to become one of the wine world's major players.

Promoting discussion

Harpers drew a packed house at last month's LIWSF to debate how wine brand-owners can make the most of their marketing budgets. In the second part of our coverage of the event, Harpers presents the reaction of our panellists and the audience to the specially commissioned consumer research presented by Wine Intelligence and outlined in last week's issue

Diageo's Walsh lectures trade

Diageo managing director Paul Walsh was the tenth high-profile trade figure to be accorded the honour of making the WSET's annual lecture. His speech, delivered on Wednesday 1 June, focused on what the wine and spirits industries could learn from eachother, but, prompted by a number of questions from the floor, Walsh also held forth on such key trade issues as discounting and distribution, the quality of Blossom Hill and, inevitably, Diageo's take on the Allied auction.

New Zealand Supplement 2005

New Zealand promises to be favourable to the vine as far as I can judge at present of the nature of the soil and climate. New Zealand will be the finest country in the world for wine'. So enthused Samuel Marsden, an Anglican missionary, in 1819. Hardly a Richard Smart, Marsden's evangelical zeal for the vine was borne out of his efforts to civilise' the Maoris by teaching them agriculture and handicrafts, rather than commercial or national interests. Nevertheless, he saw the potential of New Zealand.

Vinexposed

The organisers claim that the exhibition site has been totally reorganised, thanks to the recently built Hall 3, a permanent 12,000m2 structure that replaces the former temporary building. Standing to the west of Hall 1, it will house some 200 exhibitors, with air-conditioning, no interior pillars, picture windows and 10-metre-high ceilings. Hall 3 will also contain a 400m2 conference room that will accommodate a number of tastings and provide 2,000 extra parking spaces.

Calvet Launches First Organic Wine

BORDEAUX - 26th May, 2005 - Calvet, the UK's No.1 Bordeaux brand (off-trade), has launched an organically grown Merlot Cabernet Sauvignon blend under the Calvet Reserve label.

Calvet is proud to present what it believes to be one of the very first branded French wines that is made entirely from organically grown grapes.

Constellation given June 29 deadline to bid for Allied

Constellation Brands has been given until 29 June by the Takeover Panel in the City of London to make a formal counter offer for Allied Domecq.

Napa Valley wins in court

The California Court of Appeal has ruled in favour of the Napa Valley Vintners, thus ensuring that any wine that carries the word Napa' on the label contains wine made from at least 75% Napa grapes.

English wine producers get Defra funding

East Sussex wine producers, RidgeView, Davenport and Breaky Bottom, have received funding amounting to more than 345,000 under Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affiars (Defra) funding schemes delivered by the Rural Development Service (RDS).

2005 South African vintage 12% down on last year

The 2005 vintage in South Africa is almost 12% down on 2004, according to Wines of South Africa (WOSA).

WSTA joins forces to fight new EU labelling

The Wine and Spirit Trade Association (WSTA) has been working with the Comit Europen des Enterprises Vins (CEEV) on a submission to the European Commission, to respond to the suggestion that allergen warnings on wine labels would have to be written in each EU member state's language.

Chapel Down upgraded

After an ambitious refurbishment project lasting five months and representing an investment of 500,000, the new look Chapel Down winery and Fine Food store was re-opened to the public in time for the St George's Day weekend.

Burge moves to Hatch

UK distributor Hatch Mansfield has taken on its first new producer in seven years, Barossa premium winemaker Grant Burge.

Andrew Firth, Managing director, Playford Ros, North Yorkshire

Brown Brothers honours Patricia

A new range from Australian wine producer Brown Brothers has been named in honour of the company's matriarch'.

Primeur Penfolds

Penfolds is offering two special-release 2004 vintage wines en primeur': a Penfolds Block 42 Cabernet Sauvignon and Bin 60A, a homage to the legendary Bin 60A.

New MD at Goedhuis

After 24 years as managing director of Goedhuis & Company, Johnny Goedhuis is stepping down.

Record numbers at LIWSF

LIWSF organiser Brintex is claiming its most successful event to date with a gross visitor attendance of 19,024.

Bruichladdich posts profit

Bruichladdich, the single malt whisky producer formed in 2001, has announced an inaugural profit of 200,000 in 2004 . The profits were based on an export-led sales increase of 38%.

Southern French generics pull together

A new strategy from the Conseil Interprofessionnel des Vins du Languedoc (CIVL) and Oc Wines sees the generic activity for the UK market linked by a joint export campaign: South of France Wines.