According to OIV, the total wine harvest in the southern hemisphere should not exceed 50,000 hectolitres in 2009, down 6.1% compared to 2008.

Of the 4 leading producer countries – Chile, Argentina, Australia and South Africa, who account for more than 85% of the total volume – only Chile increased its volume to 8,800 hectolitres, a 1.3% rise. (Source: Décision Boissons)

The Argentine wine company Argento are about to launch their brand from Mendoza into the US through Lion Nathan USA.

Next month’s launch comes on the back of recent distribution expansion into countries such as China, Poland, Argentina and Australia and takes the number of countries in which Argento is available globally to 46.(Source: Harpers.com)

Since April, The Edrington Group has opened two direct distribution subsidiaries for its products in Taiwan and in Korea, which replace Maxxium. Edrington has also initiated a similar trend in Europe by opening distribution subsidiaries in Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Finland, while joining forces with Beam Global Spirits & Wine to distribute both partners’ products in 18 other countries in Europe and Asia Pacific. (Source: VSB)

The debate has raged on for weeks now; winegrower trade unions, and wine producers all over France have appealed to the public to express its opposition to the proposed plan by Brussels to authorise the production of rosé through the process of blending to produce table wines without any specific geographic origin. The latter represents around 10% of rosé wine production in France and overall the production of rosé wine makes up 10 to 12% of French wine production. The issue could have been seen to be minor it has, however, created a heated public debate. On Monday 8th June Marianne Fischer-Boel announced the European Commission’s decision to maintain the ban on making rosé wine by blending red and white wine together to make wines without a specific geographic origin. The European commissioner for Agriculture commented, “It is important to listen to our wine producers when they are worried about changes in EU regulations. It was clear from what we have seen over these last few weeks that the majority of our wine-producing sector thought that to put an end to the ban on blending would taint the traditional image of the rosé wine.” (Source: WineAlley.com)

Pierre-Henry Gagey, President of the Bureau Interprofessionnel des Vins de Bourgogne (BIVB), announced last week that Burgundy export wine sales fell by 30% in the first quarter of 2009, while the French market remained stable.
In 2008, Burgundy wine sales on all markets were slightly lower than in 2007, which was an “exceptional” year. 194 million bottles were sold last year, a 5.1% decrease, generating sales of about €1.1 billion.

The US and UK, which account for 45% of Burgundy exports, both posted 25% decreases in volume in 2008, which are explained by the economic crisis and unfavourable exchange rates.
In 2008, Burgundy sales remained stable in France, but 2009 is expected “to be more difficult”, according to Michel Baldassini, Deputy President of the BIVB. (Source: AFP)

The Japanese version of the Burgundy Wine Bureau’s website has just been launched. Japanese consumers and trade professionals will find on it all the information they need to really understand Burgundy wines.

Japan is the 3^rd largest export market for Burgundy wines. (Source: VSB)

Since 2005, OIV has had figures enabling the observation of trends in Turkish vineyards, which decreased in overall surface area from 555,000 hectares (1.359 million acres) to 500,000 hectares (1.236 million acres) by 2008. (Source: La Revue Vinicole Internationale)