Arnold Schwarzenegger, Governor of California, has taken part in a national advertising spot on Californian wines, its gastronomy and tourist industry. This campaign, which has been run for the last five years by a partnership between the Wine Institute and the Californian Travel and Tourism Council, designated September as “Wine Month”, organising tastings, visits, concerts and bottle signing events at the state’s wineries, restaurants, wine stores and supermarkets. (Source: VSB)

Norm Wesley, Chairman of Fortune Brands has announced his intention to retire after two decades spent managing the spirits group. He has been succeeded since 1st October 2008 by Bruce Carbonari, the former General Manager. (Source: VSB)

Concha y Toro, the leading Chilean wine growing group, which is the third largest in the world, is building its own distribution network in Finland, Norway and Sweden, which should be operational in 2009. This year, Concha y Toro forecasts sales of €22 million in the Nordic countries. With offices in 121 countries  generating sales of €251 million in 2007, Concha y Toro accounted for 40% of Chilean wine exports. (Source: VSB)

Koreans drank 320,000 hectolitres of wine in 2007, 40% more than in 2006. These excellent results are a consequence of the growing involvement of Korean super- and hypermarkets in this new market, which are expected to account for more than 50% of all sales in terms of volume in 2008, compared to one third 4 years ago. (Source: VSB)

Rémy Cointreau and William Grant & Sons have signed a distribution agreement concerning several European markets. In France, a new joint venture has been set up with a 50 - 50 share between the two family groups, to run Lixir, currently owned by Maxxium and Grant. (Source: Décision Boissons)

With deliveries down 5.5%, only just clearing the 150 million bottle mark over the 12 months up to the end of August, the Cognac market’s downward trend is lasting. The only exception to the trend is the Far East with a rise of 7.1% to reach 41.4 million bottles. This growth is principally attributable to increases in China, up 15.1%, in Singapore, up 16.9%, as well as Taiwan, up 31.5% and Malaysia, up 5.6%. (Source: Décision Boissons)

German group Henkell & Söhnlein has concluded a joint venture with the Indian group Allied Blenders & Distillers, one of the first spirits producers in India, in order to make and sell its vodka on the sub-continent. (Source: VSB)