Chile’s leading wine exporter planned to invest $60 million in 2008, mostly to acquire and develop vineyards and boost capacity. Concha y Toro had 2007 profit of $68 million, nearly double the year ago. (Source: Reuters)

New Zealand’s wine exports have reached a new record level with wine export revenues increasing 16% to NZ$766 million in the year to March 2008. The continuing growth of wine exports reflects strong demand for New Zealand wines, and confirms its status as world class producer of Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot noir and Chardonnay. (Source: New Zealand Winegrowers)

Claude de Jouvencel, Deputy General Manager of the cognac producer Société des Produits Marnier Lapostolle, 90% of whose sales are exported, has been elected as President of the French Federation of Wine and Spirits Exporters (FEVS). He takes over from Philippe Casteja, President of Borie-Manoux, who came to the end of his 3-year term. Claude de Jouvencel declared that he had “firmly decided to maintain and develop activities aimed at strengthening the performance of French exporters”. FEVS has a membership of 550 companies. (Source: Vinexpo)

In order to respond to growth in the world demand for scotch whisky, Diageo has just invested £12 million (€17.35 million) in a new bottling chain for Johnnie Walker with a capacity of 300 bottles per minute, approximately equivalent to 4.5 million cases per year. (Source: Top drinks)

The Comité Interprofessionnel du Vin de Bordeaux has announced the launch of a carbon analys for the Bordeaux wine sector. The bilan carbone is essential for beginning a deliberation about its ecological impact and determining measures which aim to efficiently reduce the level of greenhouse gas emission. Results are expected for September 2008. In France, some compagnies as Rémy Cointreau, Hennesy, and The Vignerons de Vacqueyras Winery have already calculated their carbon analysis.(Source: CIVB / EuroWine)

While screw caps are frequently used in the “Anglo-Saxon” countries, the American critic Robert Parker has stated that they are practical and desirable for everyday wines, but not for great wines that need to age for periods of longer than 5 years. (Source: Le Figaro)