The McLaren Vale Grape, Wine and Tourism Association (MVGWTA), the generic body that represents growers in the premium wine producing region in south-east Australia, has announced the appointment of a new chief executive officer.

Pierre Ferrand Cognac's orange liqueur, Pierre Ferrand Dry Curaçao - created in collaboration with cocktail historian David Wondrich - has been rolled out to the US.

Guy Wilkes, best known for his time with fine-wine merchant Negociants UK, has died aged 49.

SPI Group has appointed Nigel Bath as Asia Pacific regional director.

Molson Coors is to purchase Staropramen brewer StarBev for €2.65 billion ($3.54 billion). 

Emerging markets will continue to drive alcoholic drinks volume and value growth in 2012, according to Euromonitor International.

Events firm Brintex has voiced optimism ahead of this year’s London International Wine Fair (LIWF) and Distil despite the absences of Pernod Ricard, Percy Fox (Diageo’s UK wine division) and PLB.

Edinburgh-based Scotch Whisky Experience has opened the doors to its whisky shop, following a £1million refurbishment.

William Grant & Sons has announced a €35m plan to take the production of Tullamore Dew back to its former home in Tullamore.

The scotch whisky category belied global economic instability in 2011 by growing sales value 23% to a record £4.2billion.

SPI Group has signed a five-year agreement with Telford International Company for the distribution of its Stolichnaya portfolio in China.

Campari America has joined the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States (DISCUS).

Paul Medder, Wine Intelligence's country manager for Brazil, offers his analysis of the effects of protectionism in the burgeoning Brazilian wine market.

The UK government has pledged to introduce a minimum alcohol price of 40p per unit and the ban of by-one-get-one-free deals in a bid to counter binge drinking.

Stock Spirits Group (SSG) registered profit growth but revenue decline in 2011, having been influenced by “a challenging market backdrop”.

UK: The Chancellor has added another 41p to a bottle of spirits and 11p to a bottle of wine in the latest Budget.

China: Diageo has been given the go-ahead to make an offer for the remaining shares of ShuiJingFang. The maximum offer stands at GBP630m.

Central European Distribution Corporation (CEDC) has extended its links with Gallo Vineyards to include the distribution of Barefoot wines in Poland.

Berry Bros. & Rudd Spirits has announced Cask Liquid Marketing will assume UK distribution for The King’s Ginger liqueur and The Pink Pigeon vanilla-infused rum.

The Wine and Spirit Trade Association, the lead body for the UK wine and spirits sectors, has announced the appointment of Miles Beale as its new chief executive.

Pernod Ricard has announced the launch of Malibu Sunshine, a citrus edition of the rum and coconut liqueur.

As the third consecutive "great" Beaujolais vintage readies for market and glasses, the talk in the region has turned to another newcomer, the newly formed appellation of Coteaux Bourguignon.

The Champagne Bureau has reported increased shipments in 2011. Total shipments worldwide rose from 319.5 million bottles in 2010 to 323 million in 2011.

Henkell & Co Sektkellerei has acquired cava producer Cavas Hill.

Italian drinks company Davide Campari-Milano has reported a group net profit for 2011 of €159.2m, up from €156.2m in 2010.

Bacardi has appointed a new CEO, following the retirement of Séamus McBride.

Berry Bros & Rudd. one of the world's oldest and most famous wine merchants,  has bought Richards Walford & Co, the independent shippers based in Stamford, Lincolnshire, subject to contract.

The trade wine fair ProWein attracted over 40,000 visitors, according to its organisers Messe Düsseldorf.

Su Birch, CEO of Wines of South Africa (WoSA) is the winner of Wine Intelligence’s inaugural ‘10 for 10 Business Award’.

Gifting remains the driving force behind wine sales growth in China, according to research by Wine Intelligence.

The Diego Zamora group has reported that its Licor 43 brand finished 2011 with sales of 500 000 cases worldwide, 4.2 million liters, which represents an increase of more than 25% over 2010.

Wine merchant Laithwaites Wine has concluded the purchase of Chateau du Bois, a vineyard near the village of Castillon in Bordeaux, France.

Altia, the wine and spirits group that focuses on the Nordic countries, has announced a 7.6% net sales increase to €524.8 million for the year January to December 2011.

French spirits group La Martiniquaise has finalised negotiations to take over Quartier Français Spiritueux. The financial details of the acquisition have not been disclosed. La Martiniquaise first announced their intention to acquire the company in early 2011. 

Chivas Brothers has launched two 17-year old Ballantine’s expressions under the new line, Signature Distillery Editions.

Gruppo Campari plans to build a US$44m bottling facility at the Wild Turkey distillery in Kentucky, US.

Johnnie Walker has taken first place in Brands by Value, a list of the world’s 50 most valuable drinks brands.

Pernod Ricard’s CEO Piere Pringuet has spoken out about Havana Club’s flat half-year sales growth, branding its performance “disappointing”.

Heineken has announced net profits of €1.5 billion before one-off items, an increase of 9.2%.

The European Forum for Responsible Drinking (EFRD) has launched a web-campaign to promote responsible marketing practices for alcoholic beverages. The objective is to explain in plain language how EU-wide codes of advertising should be applied.

SAB Miller’s group chief brewer is to retire. Professor Barry Axcell will step down at the end of July 2012.

Diageo has delivered 3% volume growth and 7% organic net sales increase for the six months ended December 31, 2011.

Exports of Austrian wine by value have exceeded estimates as a result of higher prices and a decline in bulk wine.

The Scotch Whisky Association has launched a report, which outlines the number of jobs supported by the scotch whisky industry. 

Heineken USA has appointed Brian Fried as regional vice president sales, western region, effective immediately.

Global business consultancy McKinney Rogers has appointed a former Bacardi USA president to its board.

Beam Inc, the US-based global spirits company, has reported full-year net sales increases of 8%.

Annual sales of cognac are worth €2 billion thanks to a surge in XO and VSOP sales in the Far East, says the Cognac Bureau (BNIC).

Pernod Ricard USA has announced the appointment of Southern Wine & Spirits of America as its spirits and wine distributor in the state of Washington.

First Drinks will be the new UK distributor of CEDC brands Zubrówka Bison Grass Vodka and Green Mark - the world's fourth largest vodka.