Blog Vinexpo

The Vinexpo blog goes on holiday

2009-07-28T14:50:47.017+02:00

Vinexpo, the leading international wine and spirits exhibition thanks you for support ing its blog on a daily basis and wish you good holydays. (Source: Vinexpo)

Vinexpo Asia-Pacific returns to Hong Kong in 2010

2009-07-28T09:36:25.76+02:00

The success of Vinexpo Asia-Pacific 2008 in Hong Kong reveals how much the Asian wine and spirits professionals were awaiting the event. The attendance of large numbers of important buyers, importers and distributors, alongside the international press and renowned experts, who spoke at the seminars and led tastings, confirms the leadership of Vinexpo Asia-Pacific in this area.

After the unanimously acclaimed success, having observed business statistics that demonstrate that Asia is one of the most promising markets in the world, Vinexpo Asia-Pacific, the international wine and spirits exhibition for Asia-Pacific, will be held in Hong Kong again on 25, 26 and 27 May 2010.

Admission Pack have been sent to the exhibitors at the end of July. (Source: Vinexpo)

All the vitality and energy within the world wine and spirits market was clearly expressed at Vinexpo

2009-07-27T15:24:06.858+02:00

The number of visitors attending VINEXPO 2009 finally amounted to 46,621.
This exceeded all estimations made before the exhibition took place and is a clear demonstration of the ambition of wine and spirits industry players to move forward and not yield to the ambient gloom. VINEXPO stands out more than ever as the major international event for trade professionals. (Source : Vinexpo)

Half a glass of wine per day increases life expectancy by 5 years

2009-07-27T12:08:46.442+02:00

Drinking up to half a glass of wine per day can increase life expectancy in men by 5 years according to a Dutch study published in a specialist journal.

Men who only drink wine (the study does not give details regarding colour), as long as they do not drink more than half a glass per day, enjoy about two and a half years longer life expectancies than men who regularly drink beer or other alcoholic beverages. The wine drinking men can however hope to live 5 years longer than men who drink no alcohol at all, according to this study of 1,400 subjects over a forty-year period from 1960 to 2000. (Source: AFP)

Georgia to host OIV conference

2009-07-27T11:15:31.245+02:00

Next year's 33rd International Organisation of Vine and Wine conference will take place in Georgia – for the first time in nearly 50 years.

Georgia hopes that attention garnered by hosting the conference – in June 2010 – will help its 100 commercial wineries to sell their annual 500m cases.

In 2006 Russia – the main buyer of Georgian wine – banned Georgian wines, leading to nearly 200 winery closures and a drop in exports of 75%. (Source: Decanter.com)

Slovenia a land of wine

2009-07-27T11:10:37.163+02:00

The vintage, friends, is over, And here sweet wine makes, once again, Sad eyes and hearts recover, Puts fire into every vein. Drowns dull care, Everywhere And summons hope out of despair.

The first verse of the Slovenian national anthem states clearly that this small country is a land of wine, and the lines of the poem even form the shape of a wine glass.

Between 80 and 100,000 million litres of wine are produced in Slovenia per year on about 22,000 hectares , principally in three regions: Primorska, Posavje and Podrajve.

Nine terroirs and about fifty grape varieties give Slovenian wines a wide range of diversity; 70% of them are white. (Source: Revue Vinicole Internationale)

Wine ideally highlights the three pillars of a sustainable development

2009-07-24T09:52:00.417+02:00

“Wine ideally highlights the three pillars of a sustainable development: a source of income and of emplyment, the respect towards nature and a good deal of humanness... but one must not slip into excessive marketing, even though this has now taken a major role in our potential sucess.” Julie Campos, General Managing at Cave du Tain (Source : Vinexpo Daily News / Numéro spécial RVI)

Scotch whisky exports increase in value, but decrease in volume

2009-07-24T09:30:06.041+02:00

According to the Scotch Whisky Association, Scotch exports have topped £3 billion or almost €3.5 billion. This growth of 8% compared to 2007 is due to both the bottled blends and the malts that grew by 9% each.

This significant increase in sales turns out to be higher than the actual volumes exported, which were down 5%, although they still exceed one billion bottles. (Source: Décision Boissons)

Québec: The SAQ stops bulk wine sales

2009-07-23T14:49:16.445+02:00

The people of Québec will no longer be able to fill up their empty bottles. The SAQ has decided to put an end to their sales of wine in bulk, after sales had been falling: from 15 million Canadian dollars in 2005, to just 7.5 million dollars today, making up just 6% of the total sales made at SAQ depots. The SAQ explained their decision by saying that they will be making improvements, with product offers and discounts in their stores, which will make better economic sense for the customer than filling their own bottles. This increase in alternative sales is intended to compensate for the loss of revenue from bulk sales, with the hope that it may even exceed it.

Until now, the slowing down of the economy has not affected SAQ’s sales. (Source: WineAlley.com / Le Devoir)

240 million bottles of Bordeaux exported in 2008

2009-07-23T08:54:01.8+02:00

240 million bottles of Bordeaux wines were exported in 2008, down 7% compared to 2007. Since a large proportion of these were 2005 vintages, the exports were worth €1,69 billion an increase of 22%. (Source: La Revue du Vin de France)

Italian wine export volumes fall in 2008

2009-07-22T15:16:57.425+02:00

Italian wine export volumes fell to 17.8m hectolitres in 2008, a drop of 7% on 2007 volumes, according to figures from Unione Italiana Vini (UIV).

Higher average prices meant that the value of exports increased in 2008 by 2%, reaching €3.6bn.

Exports to Germany – the number one export market by volume – fell by 10% to 5.6m hl.

The US remains Italy ’s number one export market by value, and here sales fell to €800m, a 4% drop. (Source: IWSR)

Wine is UK drinkers’ top tipple

2009-07-22T11:08:33.882+02:00

Wine has trounced beer and spirits in a new poll to find the UK ’s favourite alcoholic drink.

The Wine Intelligence survey revealed that one in three (34%) British drinkers prefer wine to any other alcoholic drink.

When alcohol drinkers were asked to specify why they like certain drinks, they put wine top in terms of taste (77%), as a relaxing drink without food (75%) and good for food (89%). (Source: The Drinks Business)

France: Bugey wines, the AOC at least!

2009-07-21T17:33:48.019+02:00

The INAO has approved the plan to allow the areas of ‘Bugey’ and ‘Roussette du Bugey’ to become AOCs.
At the crossroads of the wine-producing region of Savoie , Burgundy and Jura, Bugey has produced wines recognised as Appellation d’Origine Vin Délimité de Qualité Supérieure (AOVDQS – the classification below AOC) since 1958. The producers from the appellation should see their passage crowned, following their efforts to build an identity for the wines in their region. The vineyard of Bugey represents around 500 hectares , encompassing 67 communes in the department of Ain. (Source: WineAlley.com)

Korean distributor Winenara changes strategy

2009-07-21T14:34:03.631+02:00

Facing a decrease in the Korean demand for wine and a fall in wine imports since the beginning of the year, Winenara, the leading local independent distributor has decided to change its strategy by deferring its development programme designed to increase the number of its outlets (wine bars, restaurants and boutiques) to 100 in the next 5 years. However, Winenara intends to increase its sales and promotional activities in order to differentiate itself from its super- and hypermarket competitors and to establish strong links with its customers. (Source: VSB)

The Greening of Napa

2009-07-21T09:38:20.914+02:00

Since 2008, winemakers in the Napa Valley have been working to put in place the Napa Green Certified Land farming programme, certified by 19 environmental protection agencies. The goal is to identify and apply sustainable techniques to achieve responsible and biodynamic agriculture. Adapted to each vineyard, Napa Green has already converted 25% of the region covering 16,000 hectares . The programme includes recycling of water and other materials, energy saving, reduction of greenhouse gas emmision and chemicals and the protection of fauna and flora. The programme is more stringent than the current legal requirements. (Source: Vinexpo)

Best Sommelier in Thailand competition supported by French and German partners

2009-07-20T14:07:50.155+02:00

The final of the 2009 Best Sommelier in Thailand , organised by Wine Today magazine, will take place on 31 July at the Dusit Thani hotel in Bangkok . This final will be sponsored by Hotel Thani, 20 Thai importers, the German Wurttemberg region, the Conseil Interprofessionnel des Vins de Bordeaux, Sopexa and Pommery champagne. (Source: VSB)

Diageo cuts marketing budget and shifts focus to at-home drinking

2009-07-20T08:56:42.975+02:00

Diageo has announced it is cutting its marketing budget this year in response to the economic downturn, but expects deflation to boost its return to investments.

Diageo is also spending more on off-trade promotions, with the recession fuelling growth in at-home drinking.(Source: The Drinks Business)

Asian consumers struggle to understand traditional Western wine language

2009-07-17T11:09:04.839+02:00

Asian consumers struggle to grasp traditional Western wine descriptions, says Jeannie Cho Lee.

Cho Lee explains that wine writers need to discover new ways to communicate with Asian wine drinkers, but that it may take two generations to come up with a language that is relevant and meaningful to Asian wine lovers.

The traditional Western language of wine has been subject to inaccurate translations and means little to many Asian consumers, according to Cho Lee.

When it comes to the Asian palate there is a need for more familiar reference points which relate to their cuisine and dining habits. (Source: Decanter.com)

Turkey whisky tax reform toasted by distillers

2009-07-17T09:28:45.059+02:00

An agreement between the EU and Turkey , eliminating tax discrimination against Scotch Whisky, has given a major boost to Scotch Whisky’s prospects in Turkey .

Scotch Whisky has been taxed at double the rate of locally produced Raki, making excise reform in Turkey a longstanding priority for The Scotch Whisky Association (SWA).

All spirits will be taxed at the same level from 2018. (Source: The Scotch Whisky Association)

4 countries supply 95% of the volumes of sparkling wines drunk in UK

2009-07-16T16:56:14.202+02:00

In 2007, consumers in UK drank the equivalent of 8.5 million cases of sparkling wines, practically double the quantity consumed in 1997 of 4.3 million cases. This is a very concentrated market, since four countries supply 95% of the volumes: France , Spain , Italy and Australia . (Source: La Revue Vinicole Internationale )

New wine research centre opens in Bordeaux

2009-07-16T14:44:14.898+02:00

Bordeaux 's new oenology university and research institute has finally opened.

The Institut des Sciences de la Vigne et du Vin (ISW), which has taken ten years to plan and build, will be entirely dedicated to the study of winemaking.

Costing €25m, the ambitious project – the largest in Europe – was created using both local and EU funding.

“You can sum up in three words this exciting new centre's mandate,” says Professor Denis Dubourdieu, one of Bordeaux 's leading winemakers. “Research, training and communication.” (Source: Decanter.com)

Italian-Indian joint venture

2009-07-16T11:06:38.02+02:00

Indage Vintners and the cooperative Cavit have signed a memorandum of agreement with a view to starting a 50-50 joint venture.

The new company will have two activities; one commercial to ensure the penetration of both partners’ products and the other will involve winegrowing to integrate Italian grape varieties in India . (Source: VSB)

Oeneo’s sales decrease despite good results posted for Diam corks

2009-07-16T09:52:36.791+02:00

Oeneo Group achieved sales of €32 million in the first quarter of 2009, a 6.8% decrease compared to the €34.3 million in sales accomplished in the first quarter of 2008. This decrease is partially due to poor results in the barrel-making division, whose sales decreased by 15.3% down to €17 million. The cork division, on the other hand, posted a 5.1% increase up to €15 million, support ed by significant growth in the Diam cork range. (Source: VSB)

Vines in London …

2009-07-15T16:04:49.157+02:00

1,500 Bacchus vines, a variety made by crossing Silvaner and Riesling with Müller-Thurgeau, have just been planted in London at Forty Hall Organic Farm. These high quality vines are being cultivated using biodynamic principles in order to produce a wine especially for the London market.

Forty Hall plans eventually to plant Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Auxerrois also. (Source: Vitisphère)

British distributors will soon be forced to help prevent alcohol abuse

2009-07-15T12:17:26.827+02:00

The British government is considering forcing shops which sell alcohol to provide information regarding its impact on health and to cite recommended minimum quantities of alcoholic beverages based on their alcohol content. (Source: VSB)

Lebanon: Vodka on the rise

2009-07-15T09:16:44.008+02:00

Vodka has shown steady growth in Lebanon since 1999, but this accelerated in 2008, with the category growing by 22.5% to 106,000 nine-litre cases.

Growth was strongest in the premium (up 36%) and super-premium levels (up 83%). Growth in the top segment was driven by Grey Goose, which reached 2,000 cases. (Source: IWSR)