The Quebec Société des Alcools (SAQ) has just announced that a fund is to be set up to develop the sommellerie profession by contributing to the expansion of accredited professional training organisations (ASPs). 550,000 Canadian dollars (€378,500) will be invested over five years to enhance programmes and develop infrastructures. (source VSB)

Marcus Moller-Racke, CEO of the German group Racke, has announced the sale of its Hechstein winery in Mainz am Rhein to Grands Chais de France. The deal includes the winery and bottling unit as well as the Amselkeller, Bongeronde, Rosière and Viala brands (representing turnover of €24 million). In this move, Racke leaves the bottom-of-the-range wine segment of products sold at less than €3 per bottle, to focus on international joint ventures and its premium brands such as Lamberti and Yellow Tail. (Source : Décision Boissons)

In its 2020 strategic plan adopted a little more than three years ago, the Argentinean wine industry set itself the ambitious objective of reaching $2 billion in export sales. For 2007, the objective was $600 million, which was already exceeded in November with $610 million worth of wines and musts exported, an increase of 32.5% over 2006. The 2008 objective is $800 million, double that of 2005. The US accounts for almost a quarter of the Argentinean exports, followed by UK, Canada and Brazil. (Source : VSB)

Louis Latour, whose head office is in Beaune in Burgundy, France announced yesterday that they had taken over wine company Fessy at St-Jean-d'Ardières in the Beaujolais area. Fessy sells more than 2 million bottles per year and owns a

15-hectare estate. The price paid for the acquisition was not stated. Louis Latour, a

2-hundred-year-old family business, run by Louis-Fabrice Latour representing the seventh generation, sells 8 million bottles per year achieving a turnover of €55 million. (Source : www.lefigaro.fr)

The Austrian Minister of Agriculture gave his approval last December for the founding of a new AOC: Kremstal DAC. The Kremstal wine growing area is one of the oldest in Austria. Located on the banks of the Danube between the regions of Wachau and Kamptal, Kremstal is the fourth DAC in the country, following Weinviertel (2003), Mittelburgenland (2006) and Traisental (2007). The new name enters into effect for wines from the 2007 harvest onwards.

Rémy Cointreau’s strategy of re-focussing its efforts on premium liqueurs has paid off: demand is soaring, especially in Russia and China. Having increased its prices, the French group has achieved organic growth that is increasing its underlying operational profit by 12.7%, reaching €65.5 million in the first half year spanning 2007 and 2008. Sales reached €374.4 million, up 5.7%. (Source Les Echos)

The future of the Australian wine industry looks threatened by lack of water, which has affected the country for several months. The 2007 harvest had already been reduced by 32% compared to the last 5-year average and the Australian Wine and Brandy Corporation has confirmed a worrying forecast for the future harvest: fruit picked in 2008 is expected to reach 1.3 million tonnes at best, which is no better than 2007. The country is confronted with an unprecedented drought and experts believe that due to climate change, this situation could become the norm. Wine Grape Growers Australia sounded the alarm by announcing that almost 1,000 growers of the country’s 7,500 could go out of business in the very short term. Already, some of the large corporations such as Lindemans have diversified their sources of supply by signing agreements with South American producers. The latest statistics on Australian wine imports reveal 121% growth in Chilean products entering the country, representing a volume of 1.5 million litres.