Low prices for agricultural land and high customs duties on wine are encouraging Russian entrepreneurs to invest in local vineyards. While ten years ago the wine regions of southern Russia looked deserted, a growing number of premium local brands from this region are now on the market. In five years Russia will celebrate the 400th anniversary of the first vineyards planted. (Source: Wine Business International.com)

Burgundy, the French region that exports the largest percentage of its wine, had a record-breaking year in 2007, but has been hit by dollar weakness in the first part of 2008. Export values for 2007 were up 21% on 2006. The total sales value for the year was €718m, for a volume of 110m bottles. The main buyers of Burgundy are the US and the UK, but there is a growing demand from Sweden, Finland and Norway, as well as Asia, notably Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore and South Korea. (Source: Wine Business International.com)

Pernod Ricard plans to invest €7 million in Graffigna over the next three years to make it the number one selling brand in the UK. In the next 12 months, the San Juan-based winery aims to increase UK sales from 60.000 to 100.000 none-litre cases. The winery is located 100 miles north of Mendoza, an area that has traditionally been seen as a quantity rather than quality producing area, but Pernod Ricard has spent €5.6 million in the past five years improving technology in the winery. (Source: Harpers.com)

Bacardi Limited has appointed Seamus McBride, 53, as its new president and CEO, effective September 1, 2008. Andreas Gembler, has led the company since 2005. “During each year of Andrea’s tenure, Bacardi produced record sales and earnings. He set the company on a transformative path that will serve us well into the future”, said Bacardi Ltd chairman. (Source: Impact)

The French wine sector has accused the French government of ‘legal injustice’ over the banning of alcohol promotion on the Internet. Wine producer unions from across the country have written a strong letter of protest to the government. The letter accuses the Ministers of Health and Agriculture of taking no decision regarding ‘this catastrophic legal deadlock’. (Wine Business International.com)

International sales of the exceptional Bordeaux 2005 vintage have saved French wine export figures for the first half of 2008. If exports from the more expensive Bordeaux region fell by 1.52% in volume, exports rose by a significant 42.5% in value. (Source: Wine Business International.com)

Canadian Ministry of Industry figures point to a decrease in the market share of French wines in Canada from 32% to 26% between 2002 and 2006. France stills holds on to the lead, but is closely followed by Australia with a 20% share. French wine imports grew by 16% in the period from 2002 to 2006, while Australian imports increased by 209% and Argentinean sales grew by 394%. (Source: Le Figaro.fr)