Web boycott campaign targets Scotch

The release from Scotland of Lockerbie bomber Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi has prompted an internet boycott campaign targeting Scotch whisky.

Vinexpo opens with record numbers

A record number of countries have descended on Bordeaux this week for the 15th Vinexpo exhibition, which was officially opened by the French Agricultural and Fisheries minister, Michel Barnier, on Sunday, June 21.

Argento launches in USA

Wine cartons reduce ladybug taint

Cartons may be the best vessels for avoiding off-flavours in wine, according to a Canadian study.

Critics May May 22-24

What the press have to say over the May bank holiday weekend.

The second part of Natasha Hughes' marathon tasting round Argentina

Argentina, 14-22 March 2009

Amayna Moves to Alliance

Chilean winery, Amayna, has announced that Alliance wine will now handle its UK distribution.

Castel expands with new estate

France's largest wine group has continued its expansion with the acquisition of an 18th century estate, it has emerged.

Hendrix estate wins vodka trademark case

The makers of a vodka named after the rock legend Jimi Hendrix have been ordered by an American judge to withdraw it from sale and pay the musician's estate $3.2 million.

Spirits 'not recession-proof' - US trade body

A warning that the spirits industry is "recession-resistant, not recession-proof" has come from the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States (DISCUS).

Wines in the Press, December 20-21

Jancis gets busy with the fizzy, Jane finds unsold bargains, Anthony highlights independents in the Independent and Joanna experiments with a magic wand

Can you tango like that?!

Best chat up line heard in 4 gruelling days doing a stint at The World Travel Market, pushing wines of Argentina to the travel trade. Can't accuse moi of not pulling her weight.

SPI Group and William Grant sign Stolichnaya deal

Drinks company SPI Group, owner of the Stolichnaya vodka brand, has entered into an agreement with William Grant & Sons for the distribution of Stolichnaya in the United States.

A Harpers hello from down under!

Harpers' features editor Rebecca Gibb is in Mildura, judging at the Australian Alternative Varieties Wine Show this week. In between tasting more than 600 wines, Rebecca will be filling us in on her trip in a series of blogs. Here's blog number one...

Las Moras steps up marketing campaign

Argentinian wine brand Finca Las Moras is stepping up its UK marketing activity following major new listings for its wines.

Blog special from the winners of the Harpers/ Wines of Argentina competition - Part 3

In the latest installment of out blog special from the winners of the Harpers/ Wines of Argentina Steak Your Claim competition, wine business entrepreneur Dominic Crolla tells us why he's dreaming of steak. Over the next few days, each of our five winners are enjoying a tour of each of the main wine regions and visiting key producers to give them a taste of what Argentina can offer the UK, and sending back missives of their travels. Here's Dominic's blog...

Wines in the Press: Malbec, Muscadet and wines in the desert

This week Jane MacQuitty assesses the future of Oddbins, Victoria Moore goes back to her roots and Jonny Beardsall takes a trip to the Namib desert to meet a remarkable winemaker. Meanwhile Joanna Simon is surprised by the following on new website thewinegang.com.

Pancho Campo becomes first Spanish Master of Wine

Pancho Campo, president and founder of The Wine Academy of Spain joins an elite group of 278 Master of Wines (MW) across the globe.

California to stage first annual green wine summit

California is to stage its first annual green wine event in December. TextCalifornia is to stage its first annual green wine event in December.

The Green Wine Summit, being held in Santa Rosa on December 1 and 2, will feature green leadership sessions, speaker panels and a 'Green Showcase', offering attendees the chance to meet one-on-one with companies providing green services and products.

Green Wine Summit forums, led by a 'who's who' of wine industry, trade and media leaders, will be based around four themes; Best Green Practices, The Business of Green, The Green Consumer, and Green Communications. Speakers include green wine innovator Paul Dolan, and Seth Bauer, editorial director of National Geographic's Green Guide.

"From Biodynamic farming to carbon neutral wineries, the wine community has consistently been ahead of the curve when it comes to protecting our environment. Not only does sustainable, eco-friendly farming help our environment, it also produces great wines," commented congressman Mike Thompson from the California Department of Consumer Affairs (D-CA).

"The ideas and proposals that come from this summit will be viewed as a model for the rest of the country, and I'm proud to represent an area that has taken such a leading role on these important issues."

"Consumers are changing how they make their buying decisions," added Bauer. "Quality, energy consumption, and impact on the planet now factor into every choice they make. Every industry, and the ecosystem, will benefit from the shift."

US office for Wines of Chile

Wines of Chile is set to open an office in the United States this year.