In 2007, sales of Alsace wines, all AOCs combined, reached 1 122 570 hl (149.7 million bottles): this was an increase of 0.8% compared to 2006. This rise in volume was due to strengthened export sales (+2.1% in overseas markets against +0.4% on the domestic market) and to increased sales of Crémant d'Alsace both on the French and export markets (+ 8.4% overall from one year to the other). (Source: Harpers)

More and more rosé is being made in the French winegrowing areas. 2007 should beat all the records. In Provence, where they are clear favourites, rosés are powerful and heady, but the Provencal leader is being challenged by the Loire region with its rosé d’Anjou (up 9%) and its cabernet d’Anjou (up 18%). Bordeaux also intends to take advantage of the current trend to sell large volumes derived from running off red wines. (Source: La Revue du Vin de France)

Still light wine has been growing uninterrupted for years in the Czech Republic; a trend that continued in 2007, with the market recording a rise of 3.8% to around 13m nine-litre cases. Imported wines now account for almost 60% of the still light wine market, compared to mere 10% in the early 1990s. (Source: IWSR)

Wine company Constellation Brands said it sold certain US wine assets to Eight Estates Fine Wines, LLC, for $209 million in cash. The company said it could receive up to another $25 million if certain objectives are achieved by Eight Estates. (Source: CNN Money.com)

In Virginia, especially thanks to the increasing of the acreage between 2001 and 2007 from 1 700 acres to 2 790, the wine grape production jumped by 35% in the same time from 4 200 tons to 5 600. Last year, Virginia’s wine grape crop was valued at $7.8 million. There are 130 wineries in Virginia, which is the USA’s fifth-largest producer. (Source: Dailypresss.com)

Egypt had the best year for spirits since the beginning of the century. Increasing tourism and economic growth are driving consumption up. In 2007, total spirits sales in Egypt rose by 8.4% to around 880 000 nine-litre cases. (Source: IWSR)

Margaret Duckhorn of Duckhorn Vineyards has been elected chair for the year 2008-2009 of the Wine Institute which represents some 1,100 wineries in California and it says account for 95% of the state's production and 85% of US production. (Decanter.com)