Australian wine producer Penfolds has risen two places to be named The World’s Most Admired Wine Brand 2019. Penfolds has taken the top spot from Spanish producer Torres who has fallen to second, while New Zealand’s Villa Maria has risen five places to complete the podium in third. Now in its ninth year, The World’s Most Admired Wine Brands has partnered with global wine market research company Wine Intelligence, who contributes to the voting system along with Drinks International’s global Academy of wine experts. One member of the Academy said: “Penfolds has managed (…)

French distiller Cherry Rocher was a leader in the development of absinthe when sales of the ‘green fairy’ where legalized after a decades-long ban going back to 1915. In recent years sales have taken off, backed by a package of promotional activities, explains Pascal Leclere, Sales Manager France/Export North America/Eastern Europe Q: How has the recent popularity of absinthe helped to increase sales? A: Cherry Rocher was one of the first distillers to market absinthe since its re-authorization. Beyond the development of sales, this segment is one of the priority (…)

Change in the leadership team of the Austrian Wine Marketing Board: Following Wilhelm Klinger’s announcement last December to gradually step back from his duties as Managing Director, his successor has been elected after a thorough selection process. Chris Yorke will take over the leadership of AWMB in 2020. Willi Klinger has been leading the Austrian Wine Marketing Board since 2007. His clearfocus on quality has seen the international reputation of Austrian wine grow significantly, resulting in record export numbers. Following a thorough multi-stage selection process involving more than 90 applicants, the supervisory board is pleased (…)

The Portuguese company Sogrape has acquired a majority stake in British importer Liberty Wines, while Piper and Charles Heidsieck have acquired a minority stake. Sogrape acquired an initial stake in Liberty Wines in March 2017, but this is a new investment by the owners of Piper and Charles Heidsieck, whose interests also include Biondi-Santi and Château La Verriere. Liberty Wines became Charles Heidsieck’s British and Irish agent seven years ago, recently joined by Piper-Heidsieck and Rare as well. Raquel Seabra of Sogrape and Damien Lafaurie of Champagne Heidsieck will join the board of Liberty Wines. Liberty’s co-founder, David (…)

Around 2,500 cases of the new Chinese wine from Lafite Rothschild has been elaborated from the 2017 vintage. The wines will be released on 19 September 2019, initially in China. The name of the domaine was also released: Domaine de Long Dai. Long Dai 2017 is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Marselan, and Cabernet Franc, although Syrah has also been planted. The Domaines Barons de Rothschild (DBR) took 10 years to develop this project and market the first wine from this estate, which covers nearly 25 hectares, with an additional five hectares to be added (…)

Marc Perrin – Perrin Family – has been appointed for a one-year term (from July 2019 to June 2020) as President of PRIMUM FAMILIAE VINI – 12 families that form the PFV association: Antinori, Joseph Drouhin, Egon Muller Scharzhof, Hugel Family, Familia Torres, Baron Philippe de Rothschild, Perrin Family, Tempos Vega Sicilia, Tenuta San Guido, Symington Family Estates, Pol Roger and Domaine Clarence Dillon-. Marc Perrin succeeds Hubert de Billy, Champagne Pol Roger. Marc Perrin said: “At Famille Perrin, we strongly believe that Family is sustainability and it is a great honour to have been (…)

The sprightly gin sector is set fair to continue broad-based global growth, forecasts The IWSR/Vinexpo Spirits report for the period 2017-2022. Among the plethora of new launches, German gin newcomer Knut Hansen seeks its share of international sales growth, say joint founders Martin Spieker and Kaspar Hagedorn Q: In a crowded gin market what are the major challenges for the Knut Hansen brand? A: Yes, the market is crowded – especially in Europe – but we strongly believe that a premium product with an outstanding design will always get its (…)