According to the Conseil Interprofessionel du Vin de Bordeaux (CIVB), exports of claret were up 9% in 2007 to an historic high of €1.39bn. Volume was also up 7%. Much of that growth was due to increased sales of wines in the €4.50 to €15 price range. (Source: Wine Business International)

Mongolia’s largest producer of alcoholic drinks announced it would seek to introduce its two Mongolian vodkas to international markets. Strategy expansion plan is based on two main factors: the first being the rapid sales growth of white spirits and vodka in the world with the trendy culture to drink cocktails. (Source: Mongolia Web News)

French wine exports to Germany grew by 6.5% in volume last year. A total of €624m worth of wine crossed the border. Among the wines of appellation, Bordeaux (+2% to 32.7 m litres) and the Rhône (+4% to 4.4 m litre) were the two winners. (Source: Wine Business International)

Statistics from the government’s National Wine Institute show that in the first two months of 2008 wine exports rose 40% over last year in value and 27% in volume. In February alone, exports grew 52% in dollar value. (Source: Decanter.com)

In the first quarter of 2008, Campari Group posted sales of €190.9 million, a decrease of 2.9%. This is made up of a 7.2% drop in the spirits division, while wines increased by 3.3%. (Source: VSB)

Having reached 20 million cases in 2006, Tequila consumption had grown by 24% from 1998. This is a very concentrated market with the ten leading consumer countries drinking 92% of the world total. The two leaders are the US with its high numbers of Mexican immigrants accounting for 50% of consumption and the home of Tequila, Mexico, with 35%. (Source: Revue Vinicole Internationale / The IWSR)

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