India’s major wine producing state, Maharashtra, has produced a record vintage with 21m litres of wine produced, as compared to 13m litres last year. The increase is due to new acreage at India’s existing wineries, plus the emergence of several new wineries. While production is growing, sales have not kept pace, and even with the projected tripling of current consumption over three years, there is still likely to be excess wine in the system. (Source: Wine Business International)

According to an American study, labels with a simple design are associated by consumers with sincere wines that are good quality, sophisticated and often expensive. A more solidly designed label with greater depth and more visual impact, however, is perceived to represent wines of lesser quality that are plain, less well-made, but also cheaper. (Source: Findawine.com)

A practical guide on Burgundy wines has been sent to wine professionals in China. This book written in simplified Chinese, which can be read and understood in all China’s provinces, explains the basics about Burgundy wines: their history, the grape varieties, the terroirs, the appellations and how to serve them, etc. About forty pages help importers and traders better explain the subtleties and variety of Burgundy wines to their customers. (Source: Bureau Interprofessionnel des Vins de Bourgogne)

With a growth at around 18% per annum to reach around 70m cases in 2007, Indian whisky is one of the most dynamic non-scotch whiskies. (Source: IWSR)

Heirs of two thousands years of tradition, coopers have always fully contributed to the universe of wine and spirits, even if only 2% of total world production is matured in barrels. Vital element in this universe: time. From the moment an oak tree is formed to the moment of tasting a fine wine passed 200 years! (Source: Sommeliers International)

Although harvest volumes were down 9.5% because of bad weather, professionals are hailing an excellent year for the country’s emblematic Malbec variety. (Source: VSB)

Having achieved 5% growth compared to the period 1998-2006, rum is the second most consumed spirit in the world. The rum market is very concentrated in that the top 10 consumer countries drink 85% of the total. Brazil represents 45% of these volumes, even though its consumption has receded by 10%, followed by India, whose consumption grew very considerably over the same period. (Source: Revue Vinicole Internationale -IWSR)