When a French consumer buys wine to drink, as a gift or to accrue value, what words does (s)he associate with it? “Enjoyable” (25%) is cited more than “sociable” (18%), “gastronomy” (11%), “meal” and “terroir” (8%), but only 7% of responses associated wine with “tasting”. (Source: Décision Boissons)

Rosé wine sales in UK have grown by 30% to reach a 10% market share, worth €567 million. The market share of rosé wine was only 4.9% in 2006 then 8% in 2007. (Source: VSB)

With 27,000 hectares (66,700 acres) of producing vines, the Burgundy wine growing area is four times smaller than all the Bordeaux appellation areas put together. However, Burgundy is extremely divided up with no less than 100 AOCs, the most recent of which was founded in 2003. Furthermore, each Burgundy AOC is broken up into 4 categories, totalling 562 first growths and 33 great growths – a record, even in France! (Source: Le Figaro)

In the 2007 – 2008 financial year, Rémy Cointreau posted its greatest organic growth (9.7%) since 2000 with turnover of €817.8 million.

All divisions reported profits: cognac sales of €362.3 million represented growth of 11.5%, liqueurs and spirits performed a little less dramatically with 4.3% growth and €211.7 million, but the real star was champagne with €142.4 million sales and growth of 15.4%. (Source: Décision Boissons)

After several years of increases, US champagne sales underwent zero growth in the first quarter of 2008, compared to the same period last year. Drops in sales began to be felt at the end of 2007 with a decrease in volumes of 6 to 7%. Since then, the trend has become firmer resulting in a 10% deficit compared to the beginning of 2008. (Source: Les Echos)

The coopers group Tonnellerie François Frères has taken over 100% of Speyside Cooperage, the leading Scottish barrel makers with turnover of €16 million euros and 50% of the Scottish market for whisky casks. This acquisition is the first instance of diversification outside wine and positions the group in the spirits market, a profitable segment whose business cycles and drivers are different from those of the wine industry. (Source: Les Echos)

Argentina is expected to return to the International Organisation of Vine and Wine (OIV) as a fully entitled member as of June this year.  Having been part of the Organisation since 1953, at the height of its economic crisis, Argentina left the OIV, which unites 43 countries as members. (Source: VSB)