United they stand

Robin Fedden, travelling in Syria and Lebanon at the end of the Second World War, offers this advice to thirsty travellers in his travel book Syria and Lebanon: Quite good wine is made in certain parts of the Lebanon, particularly in the Bk'aa [sic] Valley, in the neighbourhood of Chtaura. It is relatively cheap. On the other hand, most of the wine in the out-of-the-way villages is hardly recognisable as such, and is best avoided.'

THE INTERVIEW - VINCENT LABEYRIE

Vincent Labeyrie, Wine buyer, Le Cercle, London. Interview: Josie Butchart

NOT DROWNING BUT WAVING

Though the headline figure for the global surplus looks likely to decline for the third year in succession, the problem of over-supply continues to threaten the existence of wine producers of all kinds all over the world. In his latest update, Neil Beckett assesses the size, colour and increasing quality of the world wine lake

THE TANNAT COUNTRY

Uruguay produces wine on a much smaller scale than its larger neighbours in South America. But as Christian Davis discovers, it is fighting bravely to make itself heard

DRINK ARGENTINA

The Falklands, football, Evita, tango, gauchos... Everyone knows something about Argentina, but how many people know about its wines? Many more soon will, if Wines of Argentina's latest campaign is successful. Christian Davis reports

SUNSHINE AND SHOWERS

Europeans often fall into the trap of thinking that Southern Hemisphere summers are as consistent as ours are fickle. But the 2002 vintage confounded that notion, with Australia experiencing its coldest-ever summer in some areas, and the south of Chile one of its wettest. Harpers reviews the mixed harvest in key New World countries

On the move

In 2000, the big news for Argentina in the UK was the establishment of a new generic office. A year on, market share has not increased greatly and the country remains in the shadow of its neighbour over the Andes. Charlotte Hey asks the trade what Argentina should do now

NO GOING BACK

Embroiled in economic turmoil, winemakers in Argentina are dealing with ever-increasing problems of supply, labour, distribution and revenue. So are they choosing to slash their output, prices or marketing budget, or is there a confidence and determination to battle through the crisis? Tim Atkin travels to Argentina to find out

ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT

Argentina has been plunged into financial and political disarray. With its fifth president in six weeks, the country is in dire need of stability and an economic rescue package. Monty Waldin, who was in Buenos Aires as the crisis escalated, reports on the threat to Argentina's wine industry, at home and abroad

RED RIBAND

Despite differences in classifications and hierarchies between the Old and New World, there's one list that every Cabernet Sauvignon producer would love to be on. Anthony Rose presents his top 20 Cabernets from around the world

WINES AND MISDEMEANOURS

Counterfeit trading has plagued the wine and spirits industry for decades. Now, increasingly brand-precious wine producers are finally getting to grips with this multi-million dollar rip-off. Maggie Rosen reports on the fight against fakes

Fighting for Facings

Once derided as the epitome of naff, branded wines are enjoying an Australian-led renaissance, as Tim Atkin reports

Up for Clicks and Grabs

Auction markets are becoming as fragmented and as global as any other sector of the trade. What is the scale of the threat to UK auction houses from US auction houses and dotcoms, and from the thousands of individuals bringing down the hammer remotely? Is the auction market being divided or expanded, and what lessons are there for the rest of the trade? Neil Beckett concludes a two-part investigation

CHEVAL DES ANDES STEPS OUT

By Neil Beckett

ARGENTINA TO OPEN UK OFFICE IN 2005

By Jack Hibberd

FARR BORDEAUX AUCTION FIRST

CHANGES AT CHATEAUX D'YQUEM AND PALMER

CHATONNET'S ALTAIR LEADS SOUTH AMERICA'S ULTRA-PREMIUM PARADE

By Jack Hibberd

UK REMAINS CHAMPAGNE'S NO. 1

BUOYANT 2000 BORDEAUX AUCTION