Since Moscow lifted the embargo on wine exported from Moldavia, the Russian market has accounted for 30% of the country’s wine exports, equivalent to 18.6 million dollars. Total exports of Moldavian wine and brandy from January to April 2008 amounted to $63 million dollars, two and a half times more than for the same period in 2007. (Source: RIA Novosti)

The university and India’s largest winemaker, Champagne Indage, have signed a memorandum of understanding to set up the Indian Institute of Vine and Wine. Set on north of India’s wine production of Pune, the project has received a €15 million investment. Projections suggest that the Indian wine industry will require 10,000 viticulturists, 5000 winery operators, 1000 wine makers, 2500 wine marketing executives and 500 wine experts over the next five years. (Source: Foodweek.com)

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)