Blog Vinexpo

The Vinexpo blog goes on holiday from 1 August to 1 September 2008

Full Service Full Service — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 12:30:43 GMT

Vinexpo, the leading international wine and spirits exhibition thanks you for support ing its blog on a daily basis. We look forward to welcoming you back on 1 September for general news about the exhibition, business news and the latest on products and the markets. (Source: Vinexpo)

Fruit brandy just part of European culture

Full Service Full Service — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 12:29:53 GMT

With 20 million cases sold in 2006 (indicative of an 11% decrease in the period from 1998 to 2006), the fruit-based brandy market is solely European. It is also a very concentrated market with the ten highest consuming countries accounting for 95% of all volumes drunk. The leaders are Rumania , Serbia and Hungary , who alone cover 70% of total consumption. (Source: La Revue Vinicole Internationale )

Cognac returns to growth

Full Service Full Service — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 09:47:47 GMT

At the end of April 2008, after several months of slowing business since the peak reached in October 2007, year-to-date deliveries of cognac returned to growth, up 11.4% compared to April 2007. This turnaround is attributable to Asian demand, up 14.7% over the last rolling twelve months, which compensates for the NAFTA decrease of 2.2%. Furthermore, China has become the 3^rd largest cognac market in the world, having overtaken UK (not counting re-consignments). (Source: VSB)

Wine tourism in Argentina up 118%

Full Service Full Service — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 09:42:09 GMT

In 2007, 1.1 million tourists followed the Argentinean vineyard itineraries, 118% more than in 2006, a much higher rise than that in the general tourism figures. Mendoza is, of course, the leading wine growing region to attract the most visitors to its 96 cellars open to the public. (Source: VSB)

Great Britain: vodka overtakes whisky in popularity

Full Service Full Service — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 14:51:03 GMT

Vodka has overtaken scotch to become Britain ’s favourite spirit for the first time, new industry figures reveal. Traditional blended whiskies have been knocked off the top spot by heavily marketed vodka brands which have appealed to a younger, trendier market. Sales of vodka increased by 11% to €948 million in the year to April, while blended whisky sales only nudged ahead by 1% to €942 million. (Source: The Herald)

SAQ bottom line leaps 7.5%

Full Service Full Service — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 14:47:30 GMT

The Société des Alcools du Québec liquor monopoly generated net consolidated profit of 482 million euros at the end of March 2008, an increase of 7.5% compared to the previous year. (Source: VSB)

Syrah (Chiraz) has superstar status

Full Service Full Service — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 08:40:58 GMT

Originating in the Rhône-Alpes region of France , the Syrah (Chiraz) grape variety was so widely used in the south that it became the fourth most important variety in France . This success has been mirrored internationally for about fifteen years with approximately 146,000 hectares of it growing all over the world. (Source: VITI)

Greece wants to double its wine exports in 5 years

Full Service Full Service — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 08:31:21 GMT

The Wine Promotion Manager of Hellenic Foreign Trade Export says the objective is to double Greek wine exports in 5 years. Greek vineyards now cover 71,177 hectares , making Greece the 6th largest European wine producing country, but only 10% of the wines produced are exported, and 50% of this is sent to Germany . The main target markets are North America, Benelux , UK and Scandinavia . (Source: Revue Vinicole Internationale)

Argentina, the largest producer in the southern hemisphere in 2008

Full Service Full Service — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 10:12:12 GMT

Argentina will be the largest southern hemisphere wine producer in 2008 with 15.25 million hectolitres (compared to 15.04 in 2007), according to the International Vine and Wine Organisation. Argentina , which also boasts the largest winegrowing area equivalent to 230,000 hectares , is also the biggest consumer, drinking 11.16 million hectolitres. (Source: VSB)

Alsace wine growers looking for a cheesy boost

Full Service Full Service — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 07:17:21 GMT

The wine growers of the Alsace region in northeast France are trying to boost sales by promoting the combination of their mostly white wines with cheese. Yselise Sciard of the Alsace wine growers association said that “usually when cheeses arrive on the table a bottle of red wine is opened, but in fact 80% of cheeses marry very well with whites”. Of the 1.2 million hectolitres of Alsace wines –more than 160 million bottles – 91% are white… (Source: Reuters)

China could lower its import duty on wine

Full Service Full Service — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 14:40:04 GMT

The recent decision taken by Hong Kong to discontinue import duty on wine could provoke a knock-on effect in Macao , where the duty is at 15%, and particularly in continental China . (Source: VSB)

French drinkers dip into foreign sparkling wines

Full Service Full Service — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 07:12:04 GMT

While still wine sales in French super- and hypermarkets fell in 2007, representing no more than 1.8% of total purchases in volume and value, sales of foreign sparkling wines grew both in volume (up 7.5%) and value (up 12.5%). Representing 5.39 million bottles worth €16.82 million, these wines’ market share has reached 3.3% in volume and 1.5% in value. (Source: VSB)

Osborne to be distributed by The Wine Group

Full Service Full Service — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 14:46:15 GMT

The Spanish group Osborne has signed a strategic partnership with The Wine Group in America , the third largest wine company in the world, for the latter to distribute Osborne brands and launch new products on the North American market. (Source: VSB)

Cellars Champagne bottles underwater

Full Service Full Service — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 07:28:09 GMT

Several dozen bottles 15 metres have been placed underwater in northern France to find out if the Champagne tastes better if it is kept in cold sea and rocked by currents than in a cellar. A cellarman came up with the idea after realising that the water temperature in the bay of Mont Saint-Michel , a constant 10 degrees Celsius, was ideal for ageing Champagne . (Source: Reuters)

Wine glut looming for India

Full Service Full Service — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 13:44:48 GMT

India ’s major wine producing state, Maharashtra , has produced a record vintage with 21m litres of wine produced, as compared to 13m litres last year. The increase is due to new acreage at India ’s existing wineries, plus the emergence of several new wineries. While production is growing, sales have not kept pace, and even with the projected tripling of current consumption over three years, there is still likely to be excess wine in the system. (Source: Wine Business International)

Labels project an image of wine

Full Service Full Service — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 13:43:58 GMT

According to an American study, labels with a simple design are associated by consumers with sincere wines that are good quality, sophisticated and often expensive. A more solidly designed label with greater depth and more visual impact, however, is perceived to represent wines of lesser quality that are plain, less well-made, but also cheaper. (Source: Findawine.com)

How to enjoy Burgundy wines for Chinese drinkers

Full Service Full Service — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 09:00:14 GMT

A practical guide on Burgundy wines has been sent to wine professionals in China . This book written in simplified Chinese, which can be read and understood in all China ’s provinces, explains the basics about Burgundy wines: their history, the grape varieties, the terroirs, the appellations and how to serve them, etc. About forty pages help importers and traders better explain the subtleties and variety of Burgundy wines to their customers. (Source: Bureau Interprofessionnel des Vins de Bourgogne)

Indian whiskies surge

Full Service Full Service — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 12:07:57 GMT

With a growth at around 18% per annum to reach around 70m cases in 2007, Indian whisky is one of the most dynamic non-scotch whiskies. (Source: IWSR)

Time is a vital element in the art of cooperage

Full Service Full Service — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 07:21:35 GMT

Heirs of two thousands years of tradition, coopers have always fully contributed to the universe of wine and spirits, even if only 2% of total world production is matured in barrels. Vital element in this universe: time. From the moment an oak tree is formed to the moment of tasting a fine wine passed 200 years! (Source: Sommeliers International)