Slovenia becomes the eighth member of the European Confederation of Independent Winegrowers (CEVI), joining Spain, France, UK, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Portugal and Hungary. (Source: VSB)

The governing body for Navarra wines will allow a number of international grape varieties. Winemakers will be allowed to plant and produce wines made with syrah, pinot noir and sauvignon blanc, although it has yet to decide whether these varieties will eventually be allowed to come under the DO system. (Source: Harpers)

With a booming demand from a new generation of wine amateurs and the rise in wine exchanges expected around Hong Kong in the Asian market, prices of Australian super premium red wines are up. 2007 has seen a growth of 20 %. In that category, prices would go up by 6 % per year over the last few years. (Source: The Daily Telegraph)

Castel, one of the France’s largest wine producers, become the First French company to start large scale vineyard plantations in Ethiopia, investing about €5.7 million. The aim is to start supplying both local and East African markets with wines of international quality and style. Castel’s first Ethiopian vintage is expected to be in 2011. (Source: Wine Business International)

Xavier de Eizaguirre was appointed as President of Vinexpo Bordeaux, the international wine and spirits exhibition, during a meeting of the Supervisory Board of the company. Xavier de Eizaguirre, General Manager and Member of the Management Board of Baron Philippe de Rothschild SA, takes over from Jean-Marie Chadronnier, director of CVBG Dourthe Kressmann, who presided over the exhibition during the three Vinexpos in Bordeaux in 2003, 2005 and 2007. (Source: Vinexpo)

The American wine critic has awarded only three wines up to 100 points- all of them white. Among the reds, only four achieved up to a potential 95. (Source: Decanter.com)

Non-Scotch whisky, comprising Irish, America, Canadian, Indian and Japanese whiskies, is one of the fastest growth areas of the wine and spirits industry. In 2006, this collective category reached 134.7m cases, a rise of 5.6% on 2005, and growth rates are accelerating. Preliminary figures for 2007 suggest the category added a further 8.7% to reach 146.m cases. (Source: IWSR)