The two American distributors, Southern Wine & Spirits and Glazer’s have formed a joint-venture together to cover 38 states, which represent 80% of all wine and spirits consumption in the US. (Source: Décision Boissons)

“Functional” wines enhanced with added resveratrol are being sold on trial in Australia and could be available in UK stores next year. But Pendarves Estate REW Ltd which produces the wine must first convince the European Commission to include its special vinification process on the new statute as part of the wine regime reform.

This “Wine Doctor” contains 100mg of the antioxidant per litre, compared to a typical amount of 1mg per litre in whites and 3.6 mg per litre in reds. (Source: Harpers)

“The Coalition’s next struggle will be against the 100% ad valorem tax on spirits, which will be mainly based on alcohol content rather than the value of the spirits, which has the effect of reducing the variety and quality of the products on offer.”

Watch this space when the Government puts the next budget to the vote in March 2009… (Source: Revue Vinicole Internationale)

This year French winegrowers have almost doubled the number of vine hectares they want to uproot, with the Languedoc Roussillon asking for 65% of the total area requested. This year the total area comes to 22,700 hectares. Winegrowers are compensated by the European Union for the hectares they uproot. The aim is to reduce the number of non-profitable vineyards by subsidising producers. (Source: Wine Business International.com)

Every year, Robert Beynat, General Manager of Vinexpo, meets the leading industry Directors of each major producing country. He has just met the CEOs of the largest Californian companies as well as the Directors of the Wine Institute and the Napa Valley Vintners’ Association.

These players, who will take part in Vinexpo next June, have confirmed their confidence in the growth of the international markets and especially that of North America. (Source: Vinexpo)

“Choosing a bottle is a moment of intense enjoyment involving speculation, hesitation and questions. The high-point, tasting, then follows and is always in three steps: the eye scrutinises the robe and its tints, the nose takes in the aromas, the palate assesses the wine’s flavours, its strength, balance and length. (…) But the ultimate pleasure is perhaps the best of all, that of talking about the wine in question.”

Albert Frère, owner of Château Cheval Blanc. (Source: Le Figaro)

Jointek Fine Wines is planning to move its headquarters to Hong Kong to take advantage of the city’s decision to scrap all duties on wine. Jointek also hopes to benefit from better logistics in Hong Kong. The company’s current base is Guangzhou. (Source: The drinks business)