On the hills surrounding Krakow, a few pioneers are proving that Poland can be a wine producer. Since 2005, Poland has been part of Winegrowing Area A in the European Union. Poland has now been authorised to produce wine, and “it would even be possible to plant vines all over Poland, but the weather and the market reduce the possibilities”, says the head of the wine department at the Polish Agricultural Ministry. (Source: 20 minutes)

Chancellor of the Exchequer Alistair Darling has announced he will raise alcohol excise duty again, just in time for the crucial Christmas trading period. While he is temporarily cutting VAT to 15% from 1 December, he is simultaneously increasing excise duty rates by 8%.
The overall effect will be an increase in the cost of wines and spirits. (Source: Decanter.com)

Bacardi-Martini highlights its products on its new website cocktailattitude.com with a list of cocktails for all its brands aimed at professionals and consumers. A great opportunity to remind people how to make a really good Mojito or a Bloody Mary and to give ideas of more uncommon mixes. (Source: Rayon Boissons)

Active in China since 1998, Castel Group, France’s largest wine producer, saw its sales volume reach 5.5m bottles in 2008, double that of 2007. The Company expects a further rise of 18%, or 6.5m bottles, in 2009. "The results have shown a sharp progression over the past two years, but it's a result of  10 years' hard work. We are also well placed to continue our sucess even the fianancial crisis affects China next year", Castel's marketing director said. (Source: Decanter.com)

A European Commission ruling has removed restrictions on the sale within the EU of reduced alcohol wine produced.

According to Jeremy Beadles, Wine & Spirit Trade Association (WSTA) Chief Executive,  “The main purpose in pressing for the removal of the restrictions has been two-fold: to allow consumers a wider range of wines and to give a level playing field to producers by removing these restrictions,” he says. (Source: Wine Business International.com)

UK wine drinkers are cutting the amount they spend on a bottle, with price now the most important factor in buying wine.

A WineIntelligence poll of 1,000 wine drinkers found that the number of people willing to spend €6 - €7 on a bottle of wine had dropped by 5% in the past three months. There has been a corresponding increase in those paying less than €6 for a bottle. Pub and restaurants have also registered a downturn in sales of more expensive wines.

The study, commissioned by the Wine & Spirit Trade Association (WSTA), also found that grape variety had been overtaken by price as the most important factor for consumers in choosing wines. (Source: Decanter.com)

Having integrated Absolut into its portfolio, Ricard has abandoned not only the distribution of Stolichnaya, but also Wyborowa, which joins Zubrowka in the Pernod range.

The second Pernod Ricard subsidiary has thus created a Polish vodka business. (Source: Décision Boissons)