In order to add vitality to its image, Boisset intends to bottle all the Beaujolais Nouveau it sends to the US in extra light PET bottles. This decision will reduce the weight of the consignments by more than 40% and associated greenhouse gases by more than 50%. (Source: Décision Boissons - VSB)

The Quebec Alcohol Corporation (SAQ) achieved sales of €333 million, representing growth of 4.5% in the first quarter of its 2008-2009 year. While spirits sales remained stable at 4.1 million litres, volumes of wine sold increased from 29 million litres to 30.1 million. (Source : VSB)

Vietnam is a communist country that’s developing some very capitalist habits and tastes. Among its 86m population is an emerging middle class that is engaging with wine for the first time. According to one of the biggest wholesaler, based in Saigon, “Wine is a status symbol. If you are drinking wine or champagne, it shows you are definitely somebody.” (Source: Wine Business International)

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)