The BNIC’s seventh annual La Part Des Anges charity auction has raised a record €136,800/£108,500 from the sale of fine and rare cognacs.

The Cape 2012 trade exhibition, which took place last week in Cape Town, was the “best ever”, according to the chairman of Wines of South Africa (Wosa), Johann Krige.

Heineken has strenghtened its position in Asia with the US$4.3bn deal to buy Fraser & Neave’s interest in Asia Pacific Breweries (APB).

Global spirits groups and aspiring brands were present at the second annual Moscow Bar Show (MBS) this week to capitalize on Russian bartenders and distributors’ growing interest in international spirits. 

Troy Christensen, Accolade Wines' American CEO, is not a man encumbered with traditional values. Wine may traditionally come in 75cl bottles with a cork closure but what interests him is the move to pouches, bag-in-box and ready-to-serves (RTS).

A leading South African businessman has called for the Rainbow nation’s wine industry to work towards becoming the world’s number one producer.

Spain, Portugal and Italy have joined Bulgaria in objecting to Scotland’s plans to introduce minimum unit pricing for alcohol.

Drinks giants Diageo and United Spirits have confirmed they are in talks over Diageo acquiring a stake in United Spirits.

A member of the Sandeman port family has died in a skydiving accident.

Czech brewer Pilsner Urquell is launching a limited edition 1 litre bottle to commemorate its 170^th anniversary.

Morrison Bowmore has released the oldest ever Bowmore whisky, the £100,000 (US$155,000) Bowmore 1957.

US: Playboy Enterprises has launched Playboy Wine Club for US wine enthusiasts. 

Wemyss Malts has launched Lord Elcho to capitalize on the global surge in interest in blended scotch whiskies.

The Drambuie company, owners of one of the famous liqueur brands, has announced an operating profit of 9%, based on constant exchange rates for the year to June 2012.

CEO of CA Grands Crus, Thierry Budin, has predicted this year’s Bordeaux vintage could surpass that of 2011, despite an unseasonably wet July in the south west corner of France.

The Wine and Spirit Trade Association says gin and sparkling wine sales increased in the UK during the run up to the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations.

The major Australian volume wine producer, Australian Vintage (AVL) has appointed Julian Dyer to general manager UK & Europe on a permanent basis.

The Bureau National Interprofessionnel du Cognac (BNIC) has announced shipments of cognac have risen by 4.3%, with growth in Asia and North America off-setting a European decline.

Inter-Rhône is predicting the 2012 harvest to reach 1.5 million hectolitres for the Côtes du Rhône regional appellations and 3m hl for the Rhône Valley.

The Ned winemaker Brent Marris has dismissed suggestions that Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc has reached saturation point, countering that in global terms the style's journey has just begun.

Inter Beaujolais has announced that its new president is Bruno Mallet of Les Vins Aujoux.

South Africa-based liquor company, Distell is expanding its presence in China with the acquisition of a 60% share in liquor distribution company CJ Wines & Spirits.

Chivas Brothers boss Christian Porta has told journalists and analysts today that the next significant development for its scotch whisky business will be to build a new distillery.

Diageo has announced that it is submiting pre-planning applications for three potential locations for a new malt whisky distillery.

Campari is to acquire Wray & Nephew, Appleton Estate and Coruba rum brands for US$414.8m.

The Austrian Wine Marketing Board has announced that it expects a smaller harvest this year but the quality should be high.

US: Campari America has unveiled plans for a $4m visitor centre at its Wild Turkey distillery in Lawrenceburg, Kentucky.

Pernod Ricard has achieved its highest-level of growth since before the global recession, thanks to strong sales in Asia and a rallying performance in mature markets.  

Pernod Ricard has announced board changes, following the sudden death of Patrick Ricard, which sees Alexandre Ricard step up preparation to become chairman and CEO in January 2015.

London International Wine Trade Fair organiser, Brintex, has announced that the 2013 show will now start on the Monday, May 20 instead of the usual Tuesday. The three-day show will therefore finish on the Wednesday, May 22.


SAB Miller has opened its fourth brewery in Nigeria. 

Beam has hired five Irish graduates to promote its Irish whiskey brands in the US.

The Australian Advertising Standards Bureau’s ruling that brands’ Facebook pages should be treated as advertising has been branded as “strange” by Diageo’s CEO.

Diageo is looking to “get stronger” as a business by targeting women, the over 50s, emerging middle classes, and multicultural groups.

CEO of Diageo, Paul Walsh, has outlined the potential of the global baiijiu market and has stated that the company is ready for further acquisition in the category.   

Distell, South Africa’s leading wine and spirits producer, has reported a 15% growth in revenue for the year to June 2012 and a 9.9% increase in sales volumes across its portfolio of wines, spirits and RTDs in both domestic and international markets.

Russia’s accession to the World Trade Organisation (WT0), after 18 years of negotiation, has been welcomed by the Scotch Whisky Association (SWA).

Diageo has announced a 6% net sales growth and 9% increase in operating profit for the year ended June 30, 2012.

ProWein is heading to a trade show in China. The German show is to take a Tasting Zone – called ProWine - at Wine & Spirits China 2012, which takes place in Shanghai from November 14-16.

New Zealand winemankers Tiki Wines has released a 2011 Pinot Gris to the UK, Finland, Iceland, Channel Islands, Ireland and the domestic market.

Heineken has agreed a final offer for Fraser & Neave's shares in Tiger brewer Asia Pacific (APB).

Bacardi Limited, the largest privately-held spirits company in the world, has announced the appointment of Siddik Tetík as regional president of Asia Pacific.

Patrick Ricard the titular head of the Pernod Ricard family, has died. He was 67. Cause of death has not been disclosed but it is believed to be a heart attack.

Carlsberg has announced that sales advances in Russia and Asia offset difficulties in Europe during H1 of 2012.

Heineken has announced it will take the US distribution of its global-leading cider brand, Strongbow, in-house from next year.

The Obama administration has confirmed that there is a microbrewery at the White House which produces a beer called White House Honey Ale. 

The Whisky Exchange Whisky Show will take place at Vinopolis in London in October.

US craft beer grew by double digits during H1 of 2012 despite the malaise of the US beer market, says the Brewers Association.

Bureau National Interprofessionnel du Cognac (BNIC) is to auction 26 rare cognacs at the upcoming charity auction, La Part des Anges.

Consumers in the UK are drinking less wine and continuing to shun the on-trade, according to research published by Wine Intelligence.