The eight winegrowing areas listed by Unesco, representing 6 European countries, are working together to preserve and highlight the European winegrowing culture. They point out that “behind the most prestigious names of European wines, there are areas where the inhabitants are keen to preserve their expertise.” (Source: AFP)

According to the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States, tequila imports into the USA have increased by 46% since 2002. This Mexican spirit has taken on the image of a sophisticated beverage in America, which is no longer drunk just in shots by young people with salt and a slice of lemon, but by working people who are prepared to pay up to $200 dollars (€130) per glass to experience a “super premium” tequila. (Source: Vinexpo)

On their own, cherries have sweet, aromatic, slightly tart flavours. When used in desserts, Enrico Bernado suggests marrying them with medium sweet wines made from the grenache variety, which are both round and powerful, sweet and velvety, intense and long. (Source: Le Figaro)

Those mouth-watering king prawns with their ocean-fresh taste, so smooth and fleshy, according to Enrico Bernardo, are best with pure, young, dashing wines that are attractively sappy. So we stay away from the Bordeaux and Burgundy whites that have been so patiently aged, and go more for the dry whites of Alsace, the Loire or Provence, or even the Mediterranean rosés. (Source: Le Figaro)

The Best Sommelier in the World in 2004, Enrico Bernardo, suggests matching dry or medium sweet muscat with strawberries, depending on how they are prepared. In general terms, white wines should be preferred that are aromatically rich, light, pure and quite young, because their simplicity and spontaneity marries perfectly with the intense flavours of the fruit. (Source: Le Figaro)

A survey commissioned by a marriage guidance company reveals that a wine cellar is now one of the top ten items the most sought after by young Korean married couples moving into their new home. This appears to be logically symptomatic of the enormous growth in the South Korean wine market. (Source: VSB)

Having sold 1 million bottles and with 170 hectares (420 acres) run by 32 producers, organic Champagne has tripled in size over the last 5 years. (Source: VSB)