Christian Seeley, head of AXA Millsimes, is placing the second wine from AXA's second-growth Bordeaux, Pichon Longueville Baron, with distributors around the world because the Bordeaux place, the traditional distribution route, is not very good at selling second wines'.
The first attempt to sell wines from Australia's Barossa Valley region to UK consumers en primeur' - before the wines is finally blended or bottled, as is common in Bordeaux and Burgundy - was judged a success by its organisers, DMT Wine Imports (part owned by Bordeaux Index).
Consumption patterns are becoming more fragmented and therefore more difficult to predict as people's choice of drink becomes increasingly occasion-based.
Louis Roederer is continuing its sponsorship of the International Wine Writers Awards - which it launched last year in response to Lanson's surprise decision to ends its own awards - and has decided to add a new category for 2006.
Malvern hotel The Cottage in the Wood was chosen as this year's overall winner of the Cond Nast Johansens Champagne Taittinger Wine List Award 2006.
Having made its name, and the front cover of Harpers, with the Full Monty wine trade striptease, the Women of Wine (WoW) organisation got down to more serious business last week, by debating sexism in the wine trade.
MMD has taken on the UK agency for Pio Cesare, a family-run producer of Piedmont wines.
Pio Cesare is managed by fourth generation, Pio Boffa, who commented: With our 52 hectares of vineyards in Barolo and Barbaresco, we embrace both traditional and more modern winemaking and also produce a range of single-vineyard wines from Barolo and Barbaresco.' A full range of Pio Cesare wines is now available from MMD, including Gavi, Dolcetto, Nebbiolo d'Alba, Barolo and Barbaresco.
Richard Burrows, the current joint director general of Pernod Ricard and fomer head of Irish Distillers, intends to retire in early 2006.
He will remain a member of the board as well as non-executive chairman of Irish Distillers. He will also be available to the group to carry out various projects.
After his retirement, the management of the group will be carried out by chairman and CEO Patrick Ricard, and director general Pierre Pringuet.
Leading Bulgarian producer Boyar Estates has denied rumours that it is planning to sell its Blueridge and Shumen wineries.
The company, which has 60% of Bulgaria's UK sales, has closed its London office and has transferred distribution to Ehrmanns. But Boyar CEO Margarit Todorov denied the rumours, and told Harpers that production was continuing at the two sites.
The managing director of the UK office of wine industry head-hunting firm Mondo Search is claiming that the unprecedented level of consolidation over the past 12 months' is leading to growing unrest among employees'.
Whyte & Mackay has appointed Richard Hayes to the position
of global marketing director as the company announces it is investing 100 million in relaunching its key brands worldwide. He will lead marketing for key brands Whyte & Mackay, Jura, Vladivar, The Dalmore, and Glayva.
Former Harpers deputy editor Paul Henry has landed the top job at promotional body Wine Australia following the retirement of current general manager Jonathan Scott. Henry, who currently heads up the UK office of Wine Australia, will be relocating to Australia with his family in the New Year.
The next decade could well mark a turning point for the Cognac industry. The big players and the generic body have realised that they need to update the image of their beloved spirit. More importantly, the three key markets are in growth again and bartenders are getting switched on to the product. And Cognac is a versatile product - one with great heritage and integrity. We hope that this shines through in the 2005 Harpers Cognac supplement.
Read more...PLB will represent Burgundian producer Antonin Rodet in the UK from 1 January 2006.
King Tutankhamun's tipple of choice was red wine, a team of Spanish scientists has revealed, but not just any old Egyptian plonk: it had to be the best Western River red from Year Five' made by chief vintner Khaa.
Foster's Wine Estates is to sell its Sonoma estate Geyserville to the wine company owned by film director Francis Ford Coppola.
Niebaum-Coppola is expected to take full control of the winery from February 2006.
Fresh from its summer of cricket sponsorship, Australian wine brand Wolf Blass is about to embark upon its first national UK TV advertising campaign.
First Drinks is targeting the Christmas period with a total marketing investment of 18 million', supporting both its brands and the retailers.
Michigan residents were last week granted full access to
wine from across America, when a federal court judge in Detroit lifted a 20-year ban on interstate, direct-to-consumer shipping.
Six new members were admitted to the Institute of Masters of Wine (IMW) at its Annual Reception and Awards Ceremony on 2 November, bringing the overall membership to 250.
