To boost sales and broaden perceptions of Vinho Verde, producers are focusing on what they see as an increasingly trendy style. Consequently, the Vinho Verde region of Portugal is shifting more and more towards rosé production.
Now rosé, a style that was practically non-existent four years ago, now accounts for 5% of total production. White wine accounts for 80% and red 15%. (Source: Decanter.com)

Italian wine exports fell by 9.1% to 3.9m hectolitres in the first quarter of 2008. Over the same period, value rose by 7.7% to €798m because the average price of wine soared by 18.6%. (Source: Wine Business International)

Growth of Irish whisky is accelerating at an impressive rate. In 2006, it reached a volume of 3.7m cases, a rise of 9.5% on 2005. Volumes in 2007 are expected to have risen by a comparable amount, which will lift volumes to 4.1m cases. Irish whisky has displayed extraordinary success in a handful of markets, but especially in the USA. (Source: IWSR)

French wine professionals are pointing to an urgent need for legal guidelines to govern wine promotion and sales on Internet. According to the President of the Bordeaux merchants union, “If we apply the letter of the law, we should not be promoting wine at all and should close all websites. But everyone continues to trade, relying on the responsibility of all players and the sense of what is ethically acceptable of all concerned.” (Source: AFP)

The city of Mainz, a renowned German wine centre has been introduced as a new member of the Global Great Wine Capitals (GWC) Network.

The GWC is an organisation that spans both the northern and southern hemispheres, and exists to encourage wine tourism, education and business exchanges between the internationally-renowned wine centres of Bordeaux, Cape Town, Florence, Mendoza, Melbourne, Porto, Bilbao (Rioja) and San Francisco (Napa Valley) and now Mainz. (Source: Wine Business International)

Production of Us whisky volumes has risen by 10.3% between 2002 and 2006 to reach 26.6m cases. Preliminary figures suggest that volumes again increased, adding a further 1.9% to reach over 29m cases for the first time. (Source : IWSR)

Australia could be forced to give up its place among the world's biggest wine exporters within 50 years and become a niche player. According to a report, hotter temperatures and water shortages will spell the end of mass wine production in Australia. (Source: Heraldsun.com.au)