Since customs duties on wines have no longer been levied in Hong Kong, the consequences have been encouraging for all players in the wine market here. The clear winner is the consumer, who is paying significantly lower retail prices between 15% and 20% less. Producers have also benefited from greater, more diverse demand, and finally the government itself is spared of the considerable expense in time and money spent collecting the duty. (Source: Revue Vinicole Internationale)

“I can no longer find the Bordeaux of my youth: the taste of Bordeaux wines has changed, the wine making has changed and the ways they are sold have also changed. The Bordeaux area today is less friendly and less open, but it is a source of ideas, experiences and ambitions.

The Bordeaux of my youth was conservative, today’s Bordeaux exhausts me and excites me, because I’m always meeting new people here and I’m finding new places and new flavours.” Oz Clarke, one of the best wine specialists in the world. (Source: Vinexpo)

Chantal Saint-Pierre, Director of Markets of the Quebec Alcohol Corporation, has announced there will be a special section for the wines of south-west France in the Quebec state liquor stores. This decision will be implemented from 1st January 2009 and should enable consistent overall promotional campaigns to be carried out for all the appellations, while helping the Canadian consumer to identify the French “Sud-Ouest” as a fully-fledged wine growing region in its own right. (Source: Décision Boissons)

In a country where most people drink rum or beer, being a sommelier can be thankless job. Due to an handful wine importers, there just isn’t much wine available to sell, and tasting is even more difficult for the country’s sommeliers, who make most of their living from tips.

Zudlay Nápoles, Havana’s best sommelier says that most of her wine knowledge has come from books and magazines, and internet (when she can gain access). She declared her dream were one day to taste a 100-point Bordeaux. (Source: Wine Spectator)

While ten years ago, there were very few women in the wine world, today they have clearly conquered it.

As seasoned consumers, they assert their tastes and are no longer shy about buying wine or ordering it in a restaurant. As professionals, they head up high profile companies, direct winegrowers’ associations and are experienced “sommeliers”.

All the press - national, specialised, general and women’s - is full of it: wine is also a feminine domain. Without doubt, women are passionate about wine and the world is interested in what enflames them so.

Vinexpo already commissioned the first international study on “Women and Wine” in 2000, and is now preparing a new study with 5 partners in Japan, UK, USA, Germany and France to gauge how much has changed in this quiet revolution.

Perhaps this new study will show that women are the future of wine … (Source: Vinexpo)

The International Organisation of Vine and Wine (OIV) may welcome China to its ranks in 2011, when the country is offering to organise the OIV congress. Since the event can only be held in a member country, negotiations are speeding up to enable China to join the Organisation shortly. (Source: VSB)

As part of its preparations to host the 2010 World Soccer Cup, South Africa is planning to train 2010 waiters to become sommeliers for the event. Support is being sought in this venture from Wine of South Africa, the organisation that promotes South African wines throughout the world.  These “young sommeliers” will have to become knowledgeable in wine to be able to talk about wines to tourists. Another more long-term goal is to anchor wine firmly within South African culture. (Source: VSB)