Australian wine exports to Asia showed value growth in the year, increasing by 6% to €149m, according to the Australian Wine and Brandy Corporation. In particular, growth in China (+17%), Hong Kong (+24%) and South Korea (+10%) was very strong. (Source: Wine Business International.com)

An increase in a fatal vine disease known as “maladie du bois” in Bordeaux, Cognac and Gascony, has led to calls for an area of southwest France to be declared in state of emergency. The disease attacks the wood part of the vine plant, and the rate of infection depends very much on the region and the grape variety, but globally the disease is progressing due to the wetter weather. (Source: Wine Business International.com)

Despite a decline of 1% in volume to 200m litres, exports of German wines rose by 2% in value to €398m in the 12 months through June 2008, according to statistics released by the Deutsches Wine Institute (DWI). Announcing the figures, Monika Reule, the managing director of the DWI, declared herself satisfied with the results, adding: “Turnover of all German wine exports has increased by 43% since 2000. Given the limited size of Germany’s vineyard area, we are more interested in value than volume”. (Source: Wine Business International.com)

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)