Argentina will be the largest southern hemisphere wine producer in 2008 with 15.25 million hectolitres (compared to 15.04 in 2007), according to the International Vine and Wine Organisation. Argentina, which also boasts the largest winegrowing area equivalent to 230,000 hectares, is also the biggest consumer, drinking 11.16 million hectolitres. (Source: VSB)

The wine growers of the Alsace region in northeast France are trying to boost sales by promoting the combination of their mostly white wines with cheese. Yselise Sciard of the Alsace wine growers association said that “usually when cheeses arrive on the table a bottle of red wine is opened, but in fact 80% of cheeses marry very well with whites”. Of the 1.2 million hectolitres of Alsace wines –more than 160 million bottles – 91% are white… (Source: Reuters)

The recent decision taken by Hong Kong to discontinue import duty on wine could provoke a knock-on effect in Macao, where the duty is at 15%, and particularly in continental China. (Source: VSB)

While still wine sales in French super- and hypermarkets fell in 2007, representing no more than 1.8% of total purchases in volume and value, sales of foreign sparkling wines grew both in volume (up 7.5%) and value (up 12.5%). Representing 5.39 million bottles worth €16.82 million, these wines’ market share has reached 3.3% in volume and 1.5% in value. (Source: VSB)

The Spanish group Osborne has signed a strategic partnership with The Wine Group in America, the third largest wine company in the world, for the latter to distribute Osborne brands and launch new products on the North American market. (Source: VSB)

Several dozen bottles 15 metres have been placed underwater in northern France to find out if the Champagne tastes better if it is kept in cold sea and rocked by currents than in a cellar. A cellarman came up with the idea after realising that the water temperature in the bay of Mont Saint-Michel, a constant 10 degrees Celsius, was ideal for ageing Champagne. (Source: Reuters)

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)