Beam Global, whose brands include Courvoisier Cognac, Harveys Sherry and Cockburn's Port, has reported growth of more than 10% by value, despite almost every category being in decline in the UK.
Tawny Port will be the focus of the 2007 programme of the Instituto dos Vinhos do Douro e do Porto (IVDP).
There should be great opportunities for Portugal in the UK, but despite the fact that the country's winemakers have started to make great red wines and decent whites, it has yet to fulfil its potential. At this month's 50 Great Wines of Portugal event there was more interest than ever before - the wines had run out by 4 pm - and the event will move to a bigger venue next year.
Were you sent flowers this Valentine's Day? Maybe you ordered a present for your loved one via the Internet, or perhaps you had the ingredients for a special meal home delivered. Chances are that, even if you didn't, you have used - or will use - your computer for buying goods and services.
More than 230 wines from 45 wineries will be on offer at the annual generic Hungarian tasting next month. The off-trade is the most important sector for Hungary, selling 614,000 nine-litre cases in 2006. Although this figure was down 2.7% in volume on the previous 12 months, the two biggest UK importers of Hungarian wine - Bottle Green and Myliko - have both reported encouraging performances. Louise Hartley of Bottle Green said: Sales of total Hilltop wines are showing a strong increase on last year by almost 10% in volume.' The average bottle price is up slightly from 3.36 to 3.47 (AC Nielsen MAT to Dec 2006).
Wines of Portugal has announced that it will focus its marketing on the UK on-trade in 2007, after latest sales figures showed an increase of 32% by value.
John Trevena grew up in Santiago, Chile. He came to London to study economics, and worked as an accountant before setting up a life pensions programme with three friends. In the early 1980s he decided to follow his passion for wine and set up his own wine wholesale business. After premises in Langham Street and St Martin's Lane in London, the business moved to Pimlico and developed a retail arm, now known as Vintage Cellars, which generates about 5% of the company's turnover. Exclusive agencies include: Via Carta Vieja and Viedos TerraNoble (Chile); Riversleigh Estate (New Zealand); Eagle's Cliff (South Africa); and Domaine de la Madonne (France).
The Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) has teamed up with a number of generic bodies, including Australia, New Zealand and Chile. It will now have a stand at shows such as the Wines of Chile consumer show and the Wines of Portugal event at the end of March.
The sale of Whyte & Mackay, the leading independent whisky distiller, will be finalised this week, Harpers understands.
Chilean wine group San Pedro has parted company with Buckingham Vintners, naming Les Grands Chais de France (LGCF) as its new UK distributor. LGCF will now take responsibility for the Chilean brands 35 South and Castillo de Molina, as well as its Argentinian label Finca La Celia.
Two members of the Harpers writing team have won scholarships at the WSET Awards of Excellence for the second year running.
The famous Valpolicella house of Allegrini, run by oenologist Franco Allegrini and his marketing manager sister Marilisa, has expanded once again in Tuscany. After establishing the Poggio al Tesoro estate in Bolgheri several years ago, they have now purchased a 15-hectare property in Montalcino, in what is said to be one of the choicest sites available, half of it, it seems, already planted to Brunello. It is rumoured that Leonardo Locascio, head of Allegrini's US importers Winebow, is also involved.
Read more...After Puglia, Piemonte and Sicily, Lamberto Edoardo and Massimiliano Vallarino Gancia have chosen Tuscany as the next location for their expansion programme.
The co-operative cantine of Friuli Venezia Giulia will bottle the whole of their Tocai Friulano' production before 31 March, and thus will commercialise their 2006 vintage wine under the name which they claim is theirs by right'.
For the wine auction market 2006 was a vintage year, with global sales of fine and rare wines fetching $241 million. This was a whopping 45% increase on 2005, thanks to the huge revenues from the US, which at over $167m were more than four times UK sales.
New Zealand wine exports hit a record high in 2006, increasing 30% by value compared with the previous year.
Gerard Basset MW, who co-founded the Hotel du Vin restaurant chain, is to open a new hotel in the New Forest, Hampshire.
California producer Fetzer, which regularly highlights its organic and sustainable side, has been named a 2007 Brand With A Conscience.
California producer E&J Gallo had the fastest-growing wine sales of any company in the UK last year, achieving 23.9% growth.
Florence Boube-Legrand is the new export manager of generic body Inter Rhne, following the departure of Franois Drounau last month. Her role will include looking after the UK market, and the promotion and communication of Ctes du Rhne wines. Boube-Legrand has worked at Inter Rhne for three years, and has covered central and northern European markets, as well as parts of Asia, and will continue to do so in her new role. She said: It is very exciting to have the opportunity to work on a mature market such as the UK, where Ctes du Rhne wines are already established and successful. Ctes du Rhne is currently the number one AOC in the off-trade and I'm looking forward to the challenge of maintaining and strengthening this position in 2007.'
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