Andrew Firth, Managing director, Playford Ros, North Yorkshire

Brown Brothers honours Patricia

A new range from Australian wine producer Brown Brothers has been named in honour of the company's matriarch'.

Primeur Penfolds

Penfolds is offering two special-release 2004 vintage wines en primeur': a Penfolds Block 42 Cabernet Sauvignon and Bin 60A, a homage to the legendary Bin 60A.

New MD at Goedhuis

After 24 years as managing director of Goedhuis & Company, Johnny Goedhuis is stepping down.

Record numbers at LIWSF

LIWSF organiser Brintex is claiming its most successful event to date with a gross visitor attendance of 19,024.

Bruichladdich posts profit

Bruichladdich, the single malt whisky producer formed in 2001, has announced an inaugural profit of 200,000 in 2004 . The profits were based on an export-led sales increase of 38%.

Southern French generics pull together

A new strategy from the Conseil Interprofessionnel des Vins du Languedoc (CIVL) and Oc Wines sees the generic activity for the UK market linked by a joint export campaign: South of France Wines.

Foster's secures Southcorp UPDATE

Four months after first tableing a bid, the Foster's Group is now just a week away from assuming total control of Southcorp, having announced this week that it has acquired 92% of its Australian rival's shares.

Playing the yield

If you think that in 2004 Champagne produced a maximum of 12,000kg/ha, or even 14,000kg/ha if the blocage is included (as it will be one day when, hey presto, it becomes AOC Champagne), then think again, because it was 23,000kg/ha (146.6hl/ha) according to press-house records.

Constellation's Emu

Constellation Europe is launching a new brand from South Australia on the UK market, Four Emus.

First MW of 2005 as Institute moves

The Institute of Masters of Wine (IMW) has named the first new MW of the year and has also announced that it has secured a new home.

Threshers vindicated by Harpers debate research

Thresher Group's decision to concentrate on three-for-two discounts was vindicated last week after research produced for the Harpers debate at the LIWSF showed it is consumers' preferred discount mechanic.

Midori on TV

Midori melon liqueur is running a TV advertising campaign for the first time in 15 years.

Clarion Wines formed

A trio of John Armit employees has joined forces to set up a new independent wine merchant, Clarion Wines, selling to private, corporate and institutional buyers.

Closure giants come face to face

The cork versus screwcap debate intensified at the LIWSF during
a Skalli & Rein-organised industry briefing titled New packaging opportunities for the wine industry'.

Vinum bags Ferrari

Vinum, the Italian specialist, has taken the exclusive agency of Ferrari, Italy's most prestigious producer of metodo classico sparkling wine'.

Bonnie boom

With a population of just 5 million, Scotland has at least two million fewer potential wine drinkers than the bustling streets of Greater London, and 45 million less than England as a whole. But despite the relatively small consumer base, its wine industry is thriving.

Masterminding a Kiwi coup

Following an introduction by Harpers editor Christian Davis, Sam Harrop MW kicked off the Harpers New Zealand Pinot Noir Seminar by posing a question that has been vexing many in the wine industry.

The Interview - Roberto Della Pietra, Head sommelier, Roussillon, London

What is the main theme of your list?
The first criterion for the list is that the wines make sense with the food that we serve here. The head chef, Alexis [Gauthier], is really into southern French cuisine. His food is fairly close in style to classic French cooking, but with a Mediterranean influence and an emphasis on vegetables. The wines that tend to work best with the food are the more unusual wines from the regions in the south of France, and obviously wines from Roussillon play a big role. About 80% of the list is French, and about 30% of the wines are sourced from the core regions of Roussillon, Languedoc, south-west France, Jura and Savoie. We have very few wines from Burgundy or Bordeaux, although we do have quite a few from the Loire and the Rhne Valley. There is also a good selection from Italy and Spain, because they work well with the Mediterranean elements in the food.

Harpers Debate: Part 1

For the second year in a row, Harpers teamed up with leading industry research group Wine Intelligence, which released original research prepared especially for the debate.