Nobilo, New Zealand's second-largest wine producer,

has announced plans to spend 250,000 on a media and public relations campaign during 2006.

Hardys launches SMS campaign

Hardys - the UK's best-selling Australian wine brand - is launching a new marketing campaign based around SMS text messaging.

On-trade big guns sign up for Wine+

Wine+, the launch event from Fresh RM for the on-trade in London and the Home Counties, is gathering real momentum. Since its launch in February 2006, a host of leading suppliers and brand owners have confirmed they will be taking part in this Harpers-supported event.

Cloof opens UK office

South African producer Cloof - a Shiraz specialist based in the Darling region - has set up a UK office.

Dominion opens office in UK

Page steps down

Bill Page, chairman of London-based distributor Mentzendorff, is standing down from the company at the end of June. Page joined the company as managing director in 2001 and became chairman in 2004.
Arnould d'Hautefeuille, president of Societe Jacques Bollinger (one of the two major shareholders), will take on the chairmanship.

Devil's Rock Riesling goes global

German brand Devil's Rock is to expand, with a new umbrella brand called the Private Collection.

New Oz regionality range aims at 30-somethings

A new 7.99 range of Australian wines has been launched by Percy Fox, with a big emphasis on regionality.

Consternation over Paris 1976 recreation

Franois Mauss, founder-president of the Grand Jury Europen - which conducts large-scale blind tastings using an international panel - has criticised the 30th anniversary rematch of the Judgement of Paris' tasting due to take place in London and Napa on 24 May.

Consternation over Paris 1976 recreation

Franois Mauss, founder-president of the Grand Jury Europen - which conducts large-scale blind tastings using an international panel - has criticised the 30th anniversary rematch of the Judgement of Paris' tasting due to take place in London and Napa on 24 May.

Bulking up

It's taken for granted now, but there was a time when Mis en bouteille au chteau' was a badge of honour, signifying that a wine had not been sloshed around in a barrel while en route to the UK. Bottled at source and with its cork firmly in place, the quality of the wine was vouchsafed by its arrival: intact, labelled and ready for the consumer. Taken for granted, but increasingly not the case.

Western seminar scrapped

Western Wines has cancelled its proposed seminar at this year's LIWSF, following its takeover by Constellation Wines. The seminar, entitled What are the predictions for premium wine in the UK market in the 2012 Olympic year?', was due to be held from 10.30am to 11.30am on Thursday 18 May, in the LIWSF seminar arena by entrance S8 of ExCeL.

Bruichladdich profits up

Islay distillery Bruichladdich saw its profits rise 101% to 403,000 in 2005 - only four years after it was reopened. Chairman Sir John Mactaggart commented: This is another encouraging performance. Bruichladdich punches above its weight in a sector dominated by multinationals. In Russia we are the fourth-largest-selling single malt.'

Stone, Vine & Sun to run Jacquesson distribution

Following thace collapse of Mayfair Cellars (see Harpers, 28 April) wine merchant Stone, Vine & Sun is temporarily looking after the distribution of Jacquesson Champagne.

Mitchell not Hambleton

Chris Mitchell of Cube Communications and The Drinks Sampling Company would like to assure readers he has not changed his surname to Hambleton, as appeared in Harpers April 28 issue. He will continue to use Mitchell for many years to come.

Cava course

The Cava and Peneds Wine Institute is inviting applications from those involved in any aspect of the wine industry to take part in the 23nd edition of its wine course, to be held between 25 September and 1 October 2006 in Vilafranca del Peneds, near Barcelona, Spain.

Osborne moves to D&D

Osborne, the Spanish drinks group, will now distribute its selection of Toledo table wines in the UK through
Cheshire-based D&D Wines International. The wines were previously handled by Halewood International.

Roederer announces shortlist

Harpers contributing editor Neil Beckett and contributor Jamie Goode have both been nominated for the Louis Roederer Award for International Wine Writer of the Year 2006. Beckett is also nominated in the International Champagne Writer category, for his articles in the Harpers Champagne supplement.

Distribution giant teamsup with S&N

Scottish & Newcastle UK (S&N UK) has formed a joint venture with logistics firm Kuehne + Nagel to organise drinks distribution in the UK.

Paul BrownManaging director, Ivini

How did you start?
I was a management trainee at the Coconut Grove, then went on to manage the Hampton Court Brasserie, Sweeney Todd's in Northampton and The Golden Pheasant in Oxford. And then I managed a caravan park in the Lake District.