New Errázuriz CEO

Viña Errázuriz’ has announced that Andrés Izquierdo is its new CEO, including its Viña Caliterra and Viña Seña subsidiaries.

ProWein fully booked

The organiser of ProWein has announced that ProWein 2014 is already fully booked, six months before the show.

Confident Kiwi wine producers

New Zealand Winegrowers says wine drinkers globally are continuing to buy New Zealand wines.

Treasury reports net profit after tax of AUS$42m

Treasury Wine Estates (TWE) has reported a net profit after tax of AUS$42.3 million for the full year. Earnings before interes and tax (EBITs) stood at $209.2m. Net sales revenue was up 1.9%.

Wiener Gemischter Satz becomes a DAC

The Wiener Gemischte Satz region has become a DAC (Districtus Austriae Controllatus).

WSET student numbers hit new record

The Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) has announced that latest figures show that worldwide student numbers for the academic year 2012/13, just finished, stand at an all-time high of 48,434, up 12% on the previous year.

London’s first ever winery

A boutique winery is being installed in west London with the intention of processing grapes from the likes of Bordeaux, Languedoc and the Roussillon and making wine from September.

Grosche switches to wine producing

Richard Grosche, joint editor-in-chief of both Meininger’s Weinwelt and Sommelier Magazin, is joining the Reichsrat von Buhl estate winery in January.

London Wine Fair reports strong interest

London Wine Fair organisers Brintex has reported a “decidedly positive response” from existing exhibitors signing up for 2014.

Treasury signs up former England cricket captains

Treasury Wine Estates  announced the signing up of former England cricket captains and Ashes legends Andrew Strauss and Michael Vaughan - on the first day of the much anticipated Ashes cricket series.

Chapel Down raises £4.3m for expansion

Chapel Down, the English winemaker, has secured more than £4.3 million in new equity funding to expand the business and help grow its reputation both at home and overseas.

Riedel and Gaja celebrate 40th anniversary

Georg Riedel and Angelo Gaja – two famous names in the wine world – are celebrating the 40th anniversary of Riedel’s Sommeliers collection in London in September.

Nomacorc unveils an oxygen analyser system

Nomacorc has announced the launch of  what it describes as a “breakthrough next generation oxygen analyser system”.

Peter Lehmann has died

Peter Lehmann, one of the founders and giants of the modern Australian wine industry has died, aged 82

New Zealand recognises Napa

The Intellectual Property Office in New Zealand has issued a Certificate of Trade Mark Registration providing consumer protection against wines illegitimately labelled as Napa Valley.

Fladgate buys Wiese & Krohn stock

The Fladgate Partnership has announced that it has purchased the brand, stocks and vineyard holdings of Wiese & Krohn in a deal that includes stocks of aged tawnies and colheitas dating back to 1863, plus Quinta do Retiro Novo in the Rio Torto Valley in the Douro. 

Zamora appoints Clamens as MD

The Diego Zamora group has appointed Thomas Clamens as its international managing director.

English & Welsh Wine of the Year competition results

The United Kingdom Vineyards Association has announced the results of this year’s English & Welsh Wine of the Year competition.

WSTA reports negativity in UK drinks sector

Total alcohol sales continue to fall according to the latest Wine and Spirit Trade Association (WSTA) market report.

New Champagne website

The Comité Champagne (the educational and promotional arm of The Champagne Houses & Growers’ Association) has launched its new official Champagne website: www.champagne.com.

Hall is Hunter Valley Winemaker of the Year.

McGuigan Wines’ senior winemaker Peter Hall is Hunter Valley Winemaker of the Year.

China recognises Champagne

The Chinese government has officially recognised Champagne as a protected geographical indication.

Treasury signs up Wolf Blass for the Ashes

Treasury Wine Estates (TWE) has announced that it has signed up its Wolf Blass brand as partners of Sky Sports broadcast of the next two Ashes cricket series between England and Australia.

India heads for London International Wine Fair

India is to host a generic pavilion at the London International Wine Fair.

Hillebrand seals five year deal with Accolade

JF Hillebrand, leading logistics provider to the global beverage market, has clinched a five year worldwide freight services contract with Accolade Wines, the world’s fourth largest wine producer.

Sauvignon Blanc Day is May 17

This Friday, May 17, is the fourth annual Sauvignon Blanc Day.

South Africa expecting record vintage

The 2013 South African wine grape harvest season exceeded the expectations, according to Vinpro a service organisation for 3,600 South African wine producers.

McGuigan calls for new duty band

Neil McGuigan, recently voted the ‘World’s Best Winemaker (IWSC), wants the UK government to change the banding under which duty on wine is set.

Jancis Robinson receives freedom of the City of London

Master of wine, Jancis Robinson, has been made a ‘Freeman of the City of London’ and an ‘honorary Freeman’ of the Worshipful Company of Vintners.

Valparaiso/Casablanca becomes a great wine capital

Chilean city and wine region,Valparaiso and the Casablanca valley have been voted into the Great Wine Capitals Global Network.

Treasury’s EMEA appointments

Treasury Wine Estates (TWE) has announced two appointments to its EMEA senior management team.

Jacob’s Creek launches wine for Japanese food

Jacob’s Creek, the Pernod Ricard-owned Australian wine brand, has launched a wine specifically designed to complement Japanese cuisine.

Jacob’s Creek launches wine for Japanese food

Jacob’s Creek, the Pernod Ricard-owned Australian wine brand, has launched a wine specifically designed to complement Japanese cuisine.

US: Wine shipped direct to consumer is on the up

The value of direct-to-consumer shipments from American wineries increased to $1.46 Billion in 2012, and was greater than the total value of US wine exports, according to the 2013 Direct Shipping Report released by Ship Compliant and Wines & Vines.

Rioja to spend eight million Euros on promotion

The generic body representing the famous Rioja win-producing region in north west Spain has announced that it is to spend  8 million Euros on promoting its wines this year.

Riverina harvest close to record

The 2013 harvest in the Riverina region of Australia, at 300,000 tonnes, is just 8,000 short of the 308,000 2009 all time record, according to the Riverina Winemakers Association.

First Cape wine heads to Ireland

South African wine brand First Cape has launched in Ireland. 

Henri Krug dies aged 76

Henri Krug, the former head of Champagne Krug, has died, it has been announced.

English wine producers go to ProWein

English Wine Producers, the generic body representing English wine producers, is to exhibit at Prowein for the first time.

US Millennials take to wine

Young professional Americans in the Millennial generation are taking a real interest in wine, according to a leading US wine producer.

Champagne exports 3.4% up by value

The Comité Champagne, which represents Champagne producers, has announced that world exports are 3.4% up by value despite a 4 million drop is shipped bottles.

Champagne exports up 3.4%, UK leads the way

The Comite Champagne, the generic body for Champagne producers, has announced today (March 13) that the world exports have risen 3.4% by value, despite a 4 million drop in shipped bottles.

Austrian vintage down

The Austrian Wine Marketing Board has announced that the total volume of Austria's 2012 wine vintage is 2,154,800 hectoliters, which is well below the long term average.

Laithwaite’s is top English fizz

An English sparkling wine made by the wife and co-founder of Direct Wines*, the world's largest independent wine merchant, has been voted the best English sparkling wine.

Beringer extends PGA to UK

Beringer, the official wine of the PGA golf tour, has extended the sponsorship to include the UK.

Two new WSET trustees

The Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) has announced two new trustees - Mentzendorff managing director Andrew Hawes and Jonathan Driver who, after leaving Diageo in 2006, has become a global consultant.

Anivin de France hits 88

Anivin de France, the organisation responsible for promoting Vin de France, has announce that 88 wines have been selected to represent the category in 2013.

Maximilian to become Riedel Crystal president

Maximilian J. Riedel is to become president of Riedel Crystal, from July 1.

Lower-alcohol Wines: The Lowdown

There is increasing awareness and demand for low and lower-alcohol wines. Christian Davis checks on who’s doing what

Independent South African wineries highlight quality

Premium Independent Wineries of South Africa (PIWOSA) is the name of a new grouping of like-minded, independent producers which aims to highlight the quality and diversity of South Africa’s premium wines has been launched to raise the profile of Premium South African wine.