French scientists, from a unit of France’s National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS) based in Bordeaux, have developed tests involving particle accelerators that can authenticate a wine bottle’s age and sniff out counterfeits. Testing wine to determine its age is problematic, so the scientist decided to analyse the composition of the bottles instead.

As concerns about counterfeiting grow, wineries, retailers and auction houses are looking for ways to guarantee authenticity. (Source: Wine Spectator)

In June 2008, airline Air France-KLM reported a 4.1% decrease compared to 2007 in its overall air traffic and cited the reason that there were no Vinexpo or le Bourget exhibitions that year. Vinexpo 2009 will soon be here and it will be June in no time, so remember to book your tickets right away. (Source: Vinexpo – AFP – Air France)

Sam Holmes, the chief executive of the recently formed Barossa Grape and Wine Association (BGWA), began his tenure by drawing attention to some of the dangers facing the Australian wine industry. His key concern was the oversupply of grapes resulting from the massive increase in plantings over recent years.

The BGWA was formed to bring together all the region’s grapegrowers and winemakers to enable more successful promotions offshore. (Source: Wine Business International.com)

La Martiniquaise has recently acquired the Scottish distillery Glen Moray, which produces the fifth largest brand of malt whisky on the British market. La Martiniquaise will also eventually produce its own grain whisky after the inauguration of stills in its Bathgate facility near Edinburgh. (Source: Rayon Boissons)

According to the largest web-based community of travellers  TripAdvisor Media Network, which claims to have 7 million members, Bordeaux is a Top 10 destination for wine tourism ahead of the Napa Valley, Tuscany, Champagne, the Barossa Valley, Rioja and the vineyards of Chile, South Africa and New Zealand.

In the first half of 2008, 14,000 tourists visited the Bordeaux vineyards and tasted their wines, an increase of 21% compared to the same period in 2007. (Source: Objectif Aquitaine)

The revision of the Champagne production area from 33,000 to 37,000 hectares should result in 10 to 15% more bottles being brought to market. The change will not however take place before 2018. (Source: Rayon Boissons)

US group Constellation Wines has announced that it is going to install a solar energy system at its Gonzales Winery site in California. The project, which should be finished by the end of the year, will cover 170,000 sq. m of roofs and will be the largest installation of its type ever implemented on a winegrowing estate. (Source: VSB)