Italian wine becomes Scandinavia's favourite

Scandinavians are now drinking more Italian wine then wine from any other country, according to Wine Intelligence.

Williams Martini Racing forms

Martini and Williams have today announced a multi-year partnership to create the new Formula One team Williams Martini Racing.

Chandon Argentina to launch in the UK

Moët Hennessy is rolling out its Chandon sparkling wine concept to the UK from May.

Inaugural AfrAsia Bank Cape Wine Auction

The inaugural AfrAsia Bank Cape Wine Auction 2014 (AfrABCWA), regarded by the organisers as possibly the most extraordinary international wine event ever seen in South Africa, will set a local philanthropic precedent.

Michael Cox memorial service – April 10

The date and timings of the memorial service to celebrate the life of Michael Cox, the former European head of Wines of Chile who died on March 20, will take place on April 10.

California wine exports reach 
all-time high

US wine exports, 90% from California, reached a record high $1.55 billion in winery revenues in 2013, up 16.4% compared to the previous year, according to the Wine Institute of California.

Napa auction raises US$5.9m

The Napa Valley Vintners' (NVV) 18th annual Premiere Napa Valley made history by bringing in a total of $5.9 million, nearly doubling the previous record of $3.1m raised in 2012.

Cono Sur sponsors Tour de France

Chilean wine producer Vina Cono Sur is to be the solo wine sponsor at the Tour de France 2014 for its 3 opening stages in the UK.

Michael Cox has died

Michael Cox, a well known figure in the UK wine and spirits trade and latterly European director at Wines of Chile, has died.

Rioja reports record-breaking sales

The Consejo Regulador of Rioja (Wines from Rioja) has announced that Rioja sales have reached 277 million litres in 2013, surpassing the all-time record set before the global economic downturn.

French Canadians more open to domestic wine

French-speaking Canadians are becoming more open-minded about drinking their country’s domestic wines, according to Wine Intelligence research.

Prosecco consortium launches website in Chinese

The Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore Docg consortium has launched its website in Chinese.

Marian Kopp joins Lauffener Weingärtner

Marian Kopp has been recruited by German wine cooperative Lauffener Weingärtner as its president and managing director

Villa Maria buys prime vineyard in Hawkes Bay

The New Zealand owned winery has bought a 41-hectare property in the sought-after Gimblett Gravels sub-region in Hawkes Bay.

World's 50 Best Bars Brands Report: Champagne

For the latest instalment of the Brands Report, we quizzed the class of 2013 on the Champagne brands moving through their bars.

Vinexpo to become wine industry’s “glamour” show

Vinexpo Bordeaux “should be the Cannes Film Festival of the drinks world”, according to the wine show’s CEO Guillaume Deglise.

China is the world’s leading red wine market

China, including Hong Kong, is now the largest market for red wine, according to a survey commissioned by Vinexpo the Bordeaux-based exhibition company.

New Burgundian chiefs

Claude Chevalier and Louis-Fabrice Latour are the new president and co-president of the Bourgogne Wine Board (BIVB), the generic body representing the Burgundy wine region.

WSET wine educators of the year

The Wine & Spirit Education Trust's international Wine Educator of the Year is the Asia Wine Service & Education Centre, Hong Kong (AWSEC).

Sam Neill buys Desert Heart

Two Paddocks, the New Zealand wine producer owned by actor, Sam Neill, has bought a fourth vineyard, this one in Bannockburn.

Espaco Porto Cruz wins wine tourism award

Espaco Porto Cruz, the multimedia exhibition for contemporary Portuguese culture by young artists, has won the Best of Wine Tourism Award for the area of Porto, Portugal.

Napa secures recognition from Australia and Taiwan

The Napa Valley Vintners (NVV) has announced that it has secured certification mark protection for the Napa valley wine region in both Australia and Taiwan.

John Ratcliffe to head up Accolade

John Ratcliffe, the former head of Seagram UK and a driving force behind the once innovative specialist UK off licence chain, Oddbins, has been appointed CEO of Accolade Wines.

Global warming to turn sparkling wine upside down

Global warming will “turn the sparkling wine world upside down”, turning the style from a northern to a southern hemisphere product, according to Dr Richard Smart.

Champagne discounting a bilateral challenge

Champagne houses and supermarkets must take equal responsibility for overly discounted Champagne in the UK, according to Nicolas Feuillatte's commercial director.

Wine Vision: Opportunity and frustration in India

The Indian wine market is “bewildering” “frustrating” and “political” but also a “huge opportunity” for wine producers, says a panel of leading experts.

Wine Vision: China uncovered

Wine sales growth in China can be found if the country's drinking culture, diverse regions and consumer groups are better understood and if e-commerce is utilised, according to Chinese industry professionals.

Wine Vision: Black consumers key to South Africa's potential

Opportunities for wine sales in South Africa will be limited until black consumers start to drink more wine, according to a panel of South African wine industry experts.

Concha y Toro excels at climate change awards

Viña Concha y Toro, Chile’s leading wine producer, was named as one of the top three organisations contributing to managing climate change at the annual Chilean ‘Leading Companies in Climate Change Management Awards’. 

US West Coast wine regions join up

The US West Coast wine regions of California, Oregon and Washington State are to collaborate in 2014 for their UK annual tastings. 

Accolade Wines to buy NZ's Mud House and Waipara Hills

Accolade Wines has announced it will buy New Zealand brands Mud House and Waipara Hills from the Mud House Wine Group.

Piper-Heidsieck 2006 unveiled in London

Piper-Heidsieck unveiled its 2006 vintage to the UK market yesterday.

Wine Tourism Awards 2014 launches

Drinks International has launched the third edition of the Wine Tourism Awards, the global competition that recognises excellence, innovation and creativity in the booming wine tourism sector.

Fat Duck sommelier wins world title

The Fat Duck’s Loic Avril has been named Chaîne des Rôtisseurs 2013 International Young Sommelier of the Year.

Wild Boar and rain take bite out of Roussillon vintage

Winemakers in parts of the Roussillon are facing up to a diminished 2013 vintage after wild boar and Spring-time deluges took a large bite out of their grape yield.

Deglise replaces Beynat at Vinexpo apex

Guillaume Deglise has been appointed CEO of Vinexpo, replacing the show’s founder Robert Beynat.

Jackson Estate: Marlborough to surpass Central Otago Pinot

Jackson Estate’s founder John Stichbury and winemaker Matt Patterson Green have claimed Marlborough will emerge as New Zealand’s premier Pinot Noir region, on par, or even ahead of Central Otago.

London Cru rejects French grapes

London’s first ever winery has announced that it has rejected seven tonnes of French grapes due to their poor condition.

SPI looks to expand more into wine

The SPI Group has announced that that it is looking to grow its global wine portfolio.

Dearie leaves Treasury

Treasury Wine Estates (TWE) has announced that CEO David Dearie, has left.

Two new buyers at Laithwaite’s

Laithwaite’s, the UK subsidiary of global mail order wine business Direct Wines, has two new wine buyers.

New WOSA chief

Wines of South Africa (WOSA) has announced that Siobhan Thompson, formerly Distell's global head of marketing, as its new CEO.

Tim Hall is UK Champagne Ambassador

The Champagne Bureau has announced that Tim Hall is the 2013 UK Champagne Ambassador.

New Errázuriz CEO

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