Lovers of champagne, snorkeling and scuba diving will be interested in Louis Roederer's latest experiment.

The Champagne house has submerged several dozen bottles of its Brut Premier in 15 m of water off the Saint Malo coast , to test the suitability for storing wine.

== Laphroaig Live - the biggest online tasting in the world? ==

== Marqués de la Concordia Reserva 2001 ==

l 1001 Wines You Must Try Before You Die

Neil Beckett is one of the unsung top wine writers in the UK. As editor of The World of Fine Wine, he and his team have trawled the world of wine to come up with this hypothetical 1,001 wines. Despite the title, if you're interested in wine, anything by Beckett is going to be worth checking out.

Published by Cassell Illustrated

Price: £20

West Eleven has launched a range of prepared cocktails - Classic Mojito, Passionfruit Mai Tai, Pomegranate Cosmo, Elderflower Collins and Blueberry Bramble. The authentic tasting mixes are made from "the finest ingredients and natural fruit" including Jamaican and Cuban rums blended by the company themselves. (UK on-trade £5.99 for a 25cl bottle)

To celebrate Nelson Mandela's 90th birthday, the head barman at a London hotel created cocktail 46664 - after the great man's inmate number while he was imprisoned between 1964 and 1990. After a concert in London's Hyde Park last month, Robert Gaggl at the Cavendish Hotel in nearby Jermyn Street decided to create the cocktail, with 50 per cent of the proceeds going to Mandela's 46664 charity.

The recipe was inspired by South African oranges and sugar cane, combin ing Cointreau with fresh orange juice, Hennessy VS Cognac and Harvey s Bristol Cream.

Nelson Mandela 46664 cocktail

20 ml Hennessy VS Cognac

10 ml Cointreau

5 ml Harveys Bristol Cream

5 ml sugar syrup

15 ml orange juice

10 ml honey

Method: Shake ingredients on ice using a Boston shaker. Add 10ml honey to a Martini glass and using a strainer, serve straight up. Add a piece of twisted orange peel to garnish.

The Galvin Cup, the mixology competition sponsored by Rémy Martin and Piper Heidsieck, has been won by Marco Ercolano (pictured left) from the Milestone Hotel in London.

Second and third were: Mirko Falconi from London's Lanesborough hotel and Stefano Cossio of the Dorchester.

Ercolano's prize -winning cocktail:

The Milestone

40ml Rémy Martin VSOP

1 0ml butterscotch schnapps

2 5 ml figs crème

1 0ml lime juice

1 spoon of homemade chestnut honey

Garnish: half a fig

Glass: old fashioned

Method: shake.

The relaunched Galliano is pulling out all the stops to get bartenders to back the famous brand.

Owner Lucas Bols claims to have taken the brand back to its roots with a new recipe w hich gives more complexity and returns it to its original strength of 42.3 per cent. It is being positioned as the "Italian artisan of liqueurs".

To back the introduction of Galliano L'Autentico, it is going to:

l publish Galliano Guida, a guide to bartenders

l make available Galliano Scatola Degli Aromas - luxury Italian leather sensory tool kits, said to be worth E3,000

l stag e cocktails - a new way of presenting cocktails, developed by Galliano brand ambassador, Ago Peronne.He sees it as akin to presenting haute cuisine, cocktails should appear like a work of art

l launch a new website - galliano.com

l host regional aperitivo events with Perrrone in the UK

It is ambitious to liken the "guida" to the Michelin Guide as it only contains 16 bartenders, most of whom are London-based, but the plan is to expand it. Production at the moment is limited to 500 which will be distributed to "key bartenders and industry figures internationally".

There are only 25 of the sensory tool kits, which contain Les Impitoyables tasting glasses, herbal infusions and the components of Galliano to help bartenders nose aromas and understand the complexity of flavours.

.

A ban on smoking in public places, high taxation on tobacco in all its forms, and restrictions on advertising. Where in the western world did these ideas first take hold - California? Ireland? The answer is actually Nazi Germany.

Hitler's passionate anti-smoking stance was fuelled not just by his own personal dislike of tobacco, but by the increasing medical evidence presented to him by his scientists. A link with lung cancer was established and during the war years the f ührer became concerned about the high mortality rate, due to heart disease, among the heavy smokers in the armed forces.

The Nazis passed several laws banning smoking from government buildings and public transport, outlawed the sale of cigarettes to women in cafes and restaurants, and curtailed tobacco rations for service personnel. The propaganda machine portrayed smoking as a threat to the Reich, though it was some years before the campaign achieved its goals. By that time, a defeated Germany was in ruins, so it was questionable whether the decline in tobacco use was due to the health campaign or a crippled economy.

It was almost 60 years before a major western legislature considered any similar controls on tobacco usage - Singapore first introduced smoking restrictions in 1970 - when in 1998 California extended a workplace smoking ban, introduced four years earlier, to bars and restaurants. The state remained in splendid isolation for a while, until in 2004 Ireland became the first nation to prohibit smoking in all enclosed public spaces.

The floodgates began to open. Norway and New Zealand followed suit the same year. Other US states, as well as Italy, the UK, Estonia, Portugal, France, Spain, the Netherlands, Sweden and Romania, all now operate some form of public ban on smoking. Even Germany is back in the fold, to the horror of many smokers who know their history.

Spain is probably the most outward looking of the so called Old World or European wine-producing countries and Rioja in northern Spain produces the best-known wine in the most export-oriented region. With 70 per cent of its production consumed domestically, the region is looking to export even more as its economy falters.

" Rioja has had its ear to the ground," declared Tom Perry, managing director of the Rioja Wine Exporters' group. He was speaking at a round table discussion in London in May, convened by Drinks International's sister publication, Wine & Spirit. He added: "Traditionally, the Old World has made wines that wineries like, while the New World (Australia, California, Chile, New Zealand, South Africa, et al) has concentrated on making wines that consumers want to drink."

Also at the discussion, James Griswood, a buyer with Tesco, noted that loyalty to Rioja is very high among discerning wine drinkers.

Robert McIntosh of Dinastía Vivanco described the wines as: "quite commercially aware and adaptable". And Adrian Atkinson, wine development director of Pernod Ricard UK, noted the importance of brands such as his own company's Campo Viejo, along with Faustino (not forgetting Marqués de Cáceres, Marqués de Riscal and Marqués de Griñón).

While nearly everything in the Riojan vineyard looks healthy, if not rosy, the round table expressed a few concerns. First was the ability to keep pace with demand. For example, in the UK, Rioja's number-one export market, accounting for nearly 40 per cent of export, sales are up 13.5 per cent, and with the BRIC countries (Brazil, Russia, India and China) only beginning to register significant sales, supply is a long-term concern.

Secondly, there is the cost of buying in oak barrels and the management of inventory when the trend and marketing thrust is towards the more premium styles, Reserva and Gran Reserva (see statistics panel). Thirdly, Spain's best-known wine is seeing challenges from other Spanish regions, notably Navarra (or Navarre), Ribera del Duero, Toro, Priorat and Rias Baixas.

However, both Perry and Ricardo Aguiriano San Vicente, director of marketing and communication for the Consejo Regulador DOCa Rioja, play down those fears.

Perry says that, despite concerns about sales in the south-west of the country, Rioja has 40 per cent of Spain's on- and off-trade, with Navarra next at seven per cent. Perry dismisses growers' concerns that indiscriminate plantings to meet demand may mean the end of the region (as a premium wine producer), as "mumbo jumbo".

Aguiriano (San Vicente) insists that most plantings in Rioja are on the plateau, but that there are "good opportunities in the foothills and oenologists are studying soil types and day and night (diurnal) temperature variations to find new sites. Despite so many years of growing grapes, growers and producers are still trying to understand the different soil types - this represents a new opportunity."

Fed by an apparently unquenchable thirst for tequila in the US, the iconic Mexican spirit is the fastest -growing spirits category with the super-premium segment of the market leading the way.

Total tequila sales grew by US$147 million in 2007 to a total of US$1.6 billion. Total US case volume was up by 4.2 per cent to 10.5 million, according to numbers from the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States .

The super-premiums grew almost 15 per cent to US$78 million in sales, according to David Ozgo, chief economist at DISCUS. "The tequila segment should maintain its strength ," he says. "It's very mixable - the margarita is still the most popular cocktail in the US, and premium growth has been strong for several years in a row." He adds : "Tequila marketers have done an excellent job."

He would get no argument from Matt Carroll, chief marketing officer for Patrón Spirits Company. Carroll expects continued growth, not only for Patrón, the second best -selling tequila after Jose Cuervo, but for the overall market. "Many people still remember a bad experience they've had with tequila in the past, but they are coming to realise that 100 per cent agave spirits like Patrón are sophisticated, versatile, premium spirits that can be enjoyed in a cocktail or simply sipped over ice."

There is also some evidence that tequila drinkers, who tend to be younger than other spirits drinkers, are sticking with tequila as they get older and are buying into the premium and super-premium categories.

Another sign of the strength of the market is that the US is now consuming more tequila than Mexico. This is partly due to a trade agreement reached in 2006 allowing unrestricted bulk shipments of tequila into the US and to the growing Hispanic population of the US that regard tequila as a source of national pride.

Of the total 10.5 million -case global tequila market, brand leader Jose Cuervo accounted for over half with sales of 5.6 million cases of full -strength tequila, according to Gerry Reid, managing director of Jose Cuervo International. Cuervo also sold 2 million cases of its ready-to-serve Golden Margarita, a very successful brand extension.

He is bullish on the overall tequila market. "I do think tequila has a bright future. From the standpoint of on-premise sales, tequila does not have the exposure that many other spirits do. Outside a few parts of the US, notably California, very few bars anywhere have more than two tequilas behind the bar. There is the possibility of huge growth there," Reid says.

Looking at the global picture, Reid says he believes Cuervo is "on the right track now" in the UK. "We are at about 90,000 cases and growing nicely at about 15-20 per cent. We have focused our marketing programmes there on popularising the margarita. Selling shots is not a growth engine," Reid says.

He admits they were a little slow off the mark making the move on margaritas. "It seemed like such an American cocktail that we weren't sure how it would play."

How about other cocktails?

'We've done a lot of work in the area of cocktail culture. It isn't that hard to come up with new drinks, but getting the consumer to accept them is a different story," he says. People don't tend to opt for tequila in a cocktail because of the "organaleptic qualities, it simply isn't as flexible as vodka ." Reid says there had been some success with the introduction of Jose Cuervo Black, an anejo tequila designed to be compatible with cola.

One of the remarkable tequila stories of the past few years has been the success of Patrón - the 100 per cent blue agave tequila. In 2007, Patrón edged ahead of Sauza to become the second best-selling tequila. Patrón's compound annual growth rate from 2002 through 2007 was about 50 per cent, compared with the overall tequila category growth of about 7.5 per cent in the same period.

Who is buying all that Patrón? Carroll says the brand appeals to a broad cross-section of consumers, male and female, in every age group. "Patrón is an affordable luxury - so even if people can't necessarily go out and buy a new Rolex watch, they can still spend a few extra dollars on a good drink. And because high-quality tequila like Patrón is so versatile, we're finding that a lot of people who drink other white spirits, such as vodka, gin and rum, are also drinking Patrón."

The UK is the top market for Patrón outside the US. Carroll says there is also strong growth in Japan, Australia and France. "The duty -free sector is growing quickly, especially in major international hubs such as Heathrow, Gatwick and Singapore."

Patrón is in no hurry to rush brand extensions to the market. Last year the company introduced an añejo called Gran Patrón Burdeos, a limited- production añejo racked in French Bordeaux barrels. "While we are always working to develop new offerings, products like this take years to perfect," Carroll says.

Patrón will continue its Simply Perfect print, broadcast, online and outdoor brand campaign which was launched in 2006.

Cazadores is a 100 per cent blue agave tequila with a solid reputation in Mexico among those who know their tequilas.

The brand came into the European market a bit over a

year ago when it launched a new -look package and global ad campaign in the UK. Guy Lawrence, global brand director, says the aim of the campaign is to educate consumers on the premium tequila category.

"In key European cities the trend for trading up has spread across all the spirit categories . This trend has been helping to increase demand for Cazadores ," Lawrence

says. "The focus is very much on the top-end

of the on-trade; the very best bars and restaurants.

"We are nurturing these markets by running a bartender -training programme, which helps raise awareness and develop an appreciation of how a premium 100 per cent agave tequila is created and how it is best served."

Cazadores entered the US market about six months before breaking into Europe. Early concentration was on California, Texas and Illinois but, with a new advertising campaign, the brand is now in national distribution.

Casco Viejo is another fairly new player in the international market. José Sandoval, international sales director for the brand, says it is now in over 20 countries and is especially strong in duty -free. Overall, it is the fifth -largest brand by volume, according to trade sources.

Sandoval g ives credit to the marketing clout of the big brands for driving growth in the category. "Even though they are promoting their brands, they are also building the category - as they are pulling consumers in at an entry level. Later on, those consumers will be looking for something more authentic and sophisticated," he says, referring to the growth of the premium 100 per cent blue agave market.

However, brands have to be able to take advantage of the growing market and many small brands, what some call the boutiques, simply don't have the capital to compete, especially in the US market where spirits distribution is controlled by a few giant firms.

Brands like Fortaleza, 7 Leguas, Arette and 4 Copas (an organic tequila) may be served at a few bars that specialise in super-premium tequila, but it is difficult for them to break out of the boutique category and every bottle is virtually a hand sell.

The other side of that particular coin is that many of the smaller producers have no desire to grow beyond their present production limits. What they do accomplish is ensuring the quality bar is set high, which, given the growth of the super-premium market, is a good thing all around for the tequila category.

It's an immense and growing category, accounting for around one fifth of all spirits drunk globally. The vodka world - ever more crowded, with fierce battles for market share - is becoming increasingly tough . Never short on innovation, brand owners, producers and distributors are having to fight harder to maintain and grow their chunk of business, and this typically translates into ever more off-beat and original ways to stimulate interest in brands.

For the biggest names, this can mean huge global spends. But for smaller, niche and self-styled super- and ultra-premium products, clever use of technology to enhance and spread the word about music and lifestyle tie-ins, along with innovative twists to the range, are typical of the action taken. A dazzling array of designers, fashion icons, artists, socialites, charity tie-ins and now almost old-fashioned seeming sessions of mixological skills maintain this category's reputation as one of the most vibrant areas of life in terms of the marketing of alcoholic drinks.

This summer Finlandia has targeted Britain with its biggest UK marketing push, aimed at focusing on and extending the brand's UK reach by communicating a brand essence of "natural purity".

A through-the-line campaign aimed at the 25 to 39-year-old audience includes outdoor, on-line, print, experiential and PR activities, including what is described as 'a full takeover' of Euston Station in London, with corridors and escalators swathed in Finlandia imagery.

The main activity began in June and continues throughout July, with support from a campaign in the Independent newspaper and a series of on- and off-trade promotions throughout the summer, including on-pack giveaways such as cocktail books and muddlers.

"The premium vodka market is becoming ever more cluttered and competitive," commented marketing manager Claire Westlake. "For Finlandia to continue its track record of growth in the UK we need to communicate our distinctive brand positioning of natural purity in innovative and impactful ways."

Once the final details are thrashed out , Pernod Ricard will have acquired the 11 million 9-litre case Absolut brand in a deal with the Swedish government to acquire the state monopoly Vin & Sprit.

Absolut sales grew by 9 per cent in 2006-07, representing a slight slowdown in the face of tough competition from other premium vodkas, but two new campaigns are rolling out to boost its position through 2008.

For the 30th anniversary of the creation of the rainbow flag, Absolut will be targeting gay communities with a new global initiative, Absolut Colors, of a pack containing a second-skin rainbow bottle and a drinks book, backed by an on-line campaign targeting the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community.

In addition, another recently launched series within the ongoing In An Absolut World global campaign stresses the natural ingredients and attention to detail in the vodka-making process that underlies the taste and mixability of Absolut vodka and Absolut flavours.

The Vin & Sprit acquisition will push Pernod Ricard to second position in the global US$200 billion booze business and boosts its bid to become No1.

Created from a recipe based on one Dmitri Mendeleev's formulation for the Czars, Russian Standard is now a fast-growing modern-day brand with its eye on further penetration in foreign markets. Sales grew 40 per cent in the year 2006-07, boosting the brand from 1.4 million to 1.9 million 9-litre cases globally.

With its platform of three labels - Russian Standard Original, Russian Standard Platinum and super-premium Imperia vodka - plus the backing of owner Russian Standard Corporation, the company aims to take itself beyond the 50 markets it is so far represented in.

Western Europe is a priority for what the company describes as "significant expansion" in 2008, with a launch in Ireland in May and further launches planned for Austria and Spain in the autumn. Further focus will fall on Latin America later this year, with the launch of Russian Standard in Mexico and Chile, while the company has also recently opened a dedicated office in China.

Stoli Blakberi is the latest variant in the stable of flavoured vodkas , launched in the US in May and backed by a multi-million dollar marketing strategy .

Russian vodka Stoli first ventured into flavour s in 1962 with Pertsovka, a pepper vodka, for the then premier Nikita Khrushchev and was the first brand to export commercially produced flavoured vodkas to the US in the '70s. Blakberi joins a portfolio that includes Razberi, Cranberi, Strasberi, Citros, Vanil, Ohranj, Peachik and Blueberi and as such remains a flavoured market leader with its range of variants.

One of Ukraine's big two brands, Nemiroff currently exports to 55 countries, with Russia and Russian Federation countries providing major overseas markets. However, the brand now has its sights firmly focused on growing exports into European markets and fast-emerging global super-economies, including China and India. In addition, the company has recently opened a new production facility in Russia to keep pace with demand.

Nemiroff has taken the innovative step of implementing a high-profile campaign to back Ukrainian cinema and has already sponsored this year's foray to the Cannes Film Festival with further sponsorship earmarked for other high-profile film festivals including those in Paris, Moscow, Rome and Venice.

Diageo powerhouse brand Smirnoff continues its season of Smirnoff Experience events with music producer du jour Mark Ronson collaborating with Duran Duran on a partnership that will form the centrepiece of Smirnoff Experience Paris at La Cigale early this month.

This live, invite-only gig will showcase reworked versions of the band's classic hits along with material from their latest album Red Carpet, plus elements from Ronson's live show .

Smirnoff Experience Paris is the third in a series of four global Smirnoff events aimed at celebrating the heritage and originality of the brand.

Moscow, Shanghai and, later, New York City are the venues chosen as being most relevant to the history of the brand, with original music collaborations fused with interactive entertainment at the core of these events.

From the Poznan distillery in Poland, Pernod Ricard's Wyborowa continues on its remarkable sales curve with its claim to be the fastest-growing international spirit brand in 2007 (Millionaires 2008, p12).

This translates as a 52 per cent increase in sales last year, bringing the brand to 1.8 million 9-litre cases globally, of which 1 million are drunk in the domestic market, with France, Italy, Canada, UK, China, Australia and Germany its strongest overseas markets.

2008 sees a new communication platform, There Is No V In Wodka, which will roll out in countries including the UK, France and Mexico through various media outlets and interactive activities, plus support from the website, wodka.com.

In addition, Wyborowa continues to extend ICE (International Cocktail Experience), run by professional bartenders for other bartenders, and is also looking for 100 per cent growth from its Super Premium Exquisite brand. This single estate vodka with its striking Frank Gehry-designed packaging is already available in 40 markets.

A niche player maybe, but the distinctively-flavoured Zubrowka Bison Grass has been steadily growing its presence in more than 30 markets globally, with China, Switzerland, Iceland, Slovenia, Portugal and United Arab Emirates recent additions to its territories. Its 1 million case sales in 2007 earned it a place in the Drinks International Millionaires 2008.

Campaigns are often independently tailored to individual markets, so while Bulgarians are being encouraged to Switch To Green via a catchy billboard campaign, Belgians are being encouraged to spice up their palates via a media campaign based on an Adam & Eva theme.

In the UK - an important market - Zubrowka continues to strengthen its on-trade presence and has made significant moves into national distribution through all of the UK's national wholesale groups, with listings in a number of national multiple on-trade groups. A travel retail push has also resulted in increased Zubrowka visibility in UK airports.

Created by self-made billionaire Sidney Frank and sold to Bacardi for US$2.4 billion in 2004, Grey Goose vodka hit the market in style with ingredients such as alpine water from the Massif Central and winter wheat from south of Paris continuously distilled in the Cognac region of France.

Initially aimed primarily at the US market, this super-premium brand is also now aiming to up the ante in the UK by building on its Grey Goose Character & Cocktail parties through a celebrity-fuelled initiative during 2008.

Grey Goose is joining forces with David Furnish and leading celebrities to create "dream home bars" and cocktails to benefit Elton John's AIDS foundation. Celebrity guests from the worlds of fashion, art, design and jewellery - including David Furnish, Patrick Cox, Theo Fennel, Giles Deacon and Gavin Turk - have been tasked with designing a home bar and cocktail which reflects their individual style and tastes. Inspirations apparently running from dripping diamonds to Bollywood spice will be unveiled in October.

Each celebrity designer is being teamed with acclaimed bar icons, gurus and mixologists, with partners including Simon Difford of Difford's Guides, and bar fraternity leading lights Alessandro Palazzi, Jason Fendick, Chris Edwards and Toni Conigliari.

Moët Hennessy's ultra-premium Belvedere vodka is stepping into rock 'n' roll territory with its latest campaign featuring the photography of Terry Richardson, a seductive Jade Jagger and an ice-pick.

Backed by a multi-million dollar spend, Belvedere has used Richardson's controversial photography to depict luxury and decadence in party scenarios in downtown New York City, loosely tying in with a mix of print ad and outside billboard execution in its UK and European markets.

Part of the campaign features Sir Mick's daughter wielding a Jagger Dagger - an upmarket, limited-edition designer ice pick that can be purchased by VIP lounges for between £2,000 and £5,000, to be used in an ice cracking ritual for customers buying a magnum of Belvedere.

Cities including Mumbai and LA will also be targeted this year by Belvedere.

Fifteen years after hitting the market with its striking cobalt blue bottle, super-premium north American producer Skyy Spirits has unveiled a new, taller, sleeker bottle design for its Skyy vodka, aimed at making the brand more prominent on the back bar and making it easier to handle.

This is the first design tweak to the US super-premium market leader since the 2.9 million 9-litre case brand - now owned by Gruppo Campari - was introduced in 1992, and it also ties in with the recent launch of Skyy Infusions.

Launched in five flavours - Citrus, Cherry, Passion Fruit, Raspberry and Grape - the Infusion variants are being backed by a US-wide national campaign stressing an "all natural, true to fruit" vodka experience that Skyy believes will resonate with modern consumers and the desire for all-natural products.

This year Skyy also developed five cocktails to tie in with the global premier of the Sex And The City movie release in May. The cocktails - all variations on classic martini and mojito style drinks - are named after the franchise's main characters: Carrie, Miranda, Charlotte, Samantha and Mr Big.

Spain's leading native brand, the single grain,

five-times distilled Evolution vodka, is using strong music, dj and clubbing tie-ins with the aim of leapfrogging the brand beyond its Spanish heartland to a more global audience of drinkers.

Brand activity has majored on sponsorship of Spanish music festivals with an international theme, including the Infinita Gay Festival in Madrid, which attracts upwards of 2 million people for a weekend of unrivalled revelry.

Evolution has also established close ties with Clubbers Day music festivals, attended by up to 40,000 people and, since sponsoring the opening of Space, the biggest party venue in Ibiza and also the world, has grown to dominate the island vodka scene.

Evolution also claims a first in TV, streaming the parties and clubs it sponsors so that friends around the globe can download real-time images of their friends partying it up, while of course sipping Evolution vodka.

It was a challenge for the mixologists taking part, but their professionalism shone through. They created perfect cocktails in a packed auditorium, away from the familiarity of their own bars and in front of an esteemed panel of judges.

Throughout the day, the Ambassadors Suite in the Distil exhibition hall in London's ExCel was filled with visitors and brand-owners.

In this competition, the cocktail is being judged, not the person mixing it. The recipes are entered by the base spirit brand-owner and mixed accordingly by Drinks International's choice of independent bartenders.

This year, the qualifying round was mixed by the team at Perfectserve, headed by Ed McAvoy at The Training School - and a shortlist drawn up by the judges (see DI May issue). The shortlisted entrants were then asked to supply their own bartenders to mix and present their cocktails at the finals, where the scoring was done by a fresh panel of judges.

A trophy, a gold and a silver medal was awarded in each category (White Spirits, Brown Spirits, Liqueurs & Specialities), as well as a number of Highly Commended accreditations.

From a record entry of over 70 cocktails, 32 qualified for the finals. The classification this year was After Dinner; perhaps as was to be expected, the Brown Spirits category proved to be the hottest, with the largest number of entries and cocktails scoring the highest marks.

The category Trophy winners were: in the Brown Spirits category - Tyger Tyger, a Santa Teresa Claro rum-based cocktail mixed by Jim Wrigley; White Spirits - Entente Cordiale, a Beefeater Gin-based cocktail mixed by Dan Warner; and in Liqueurs & Specialities - Walders Great Godfather, based on Walders Creamy Liqueur and created by Adam Dolman.

These three trophy-winning cocktails go forward to be mixed in a grand final to find the Drinks International Cocktail Champion for 2008, to be held at the Drinks International Bartenders Challenge at The Hide Bar in Bermondsey Street, London SE1, on July 2.

The Cocktail Champion and the other two category trophy winners will be presented with their awards at the International Spirits Challenge Awards Dinner on September 30 at prestigious London hotel, Claridge's.

What is it about the phenomenon of celebrity? Grown women become simpering teenagers again. Men try to look disinterested and tough but you can see they are dying to talk to him or her . And autographs. What's in a squiggle on a piece of paper - proof that, "no s***", you met this demi-god of the screen or pitch.

And so to the London International Wine Fair, held in London in May. The International Wine Challenge releases the results of this year's competition. A rosé wine from Provence gets a silver medal. So what? Nothing earth-shattering about that. But there is because, lo and behold, the heart-throb French footballer David Ginola has his name on it.

The rosé category is growing fast as consumers find it suits quick, easy food and Asian-influenced flavours, and it has particular appeal to younger drinkers and women, who are increasingly making the household wine buying choices.

Market researcher Euromonitor International says that in the period 2002-2007: "Rosé is the major success story in still, light grape wine, with volumes up by 12 per cent over the review period."

The UK, France and Netherlands accounted for 76 per cent of global volume gains in rosé over that time, but the category is growing across the globe. Euromonitor forecasts rosé growth to continue at 3 per cent CAGR for the 2007-2012 period.

Navarra is Spain's stronghold in rosé, traditionally using the Garnacha grape, but Provence in France remains the world's only specialist rosé wine producing region, also using mainly Grenache.

The CIVP represents three regions producing 95 per cent of AOC volumes in Provence: Côtes de Provence, Coteaux d'Aix-en-Provence and Coteaux Varois en Provence. In 2005/6 total Provence AOC rosé production was 1.25 million hectolitres - 42.2 per cent of total French AOC rosé production for that year, and estimated at 8 per cent of total global rosé production by CIVP director François Millo.

CIVP figures for 2006-7 show that the traditional markets for dry rosé - Switzerland, Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands - accounted for nearly 75 per cent of total exports of about 70,000hl.

Report: David Longfield

International grape varieties help build the average consumer's confidence in choice, which helps grow overall sales and the number of consumers. On the other hand, we risk losing the unique character of local varieties and the range of wine flavours available. The good news is that the local varieties, which make good wine, are usually "rediscovered ". Some of the indigenous varieties don't make very good wine and are likely to become only a curiosity. No one wants to force people to drive cars made in the fifties by local car producers, do they?

There is enough room for branded international grape varieties as well as tiny volumes of indigenous, unusual varieties. There's more choice available than ever before. As producers, we have to embrace the fact that a lot of wine consumers are not remotely interested in the product. It just has to be drinkable and good value. I think it's very positive if consumers can differentiate. Some mainstream consumers will become interested in wine and will start to look for more unusual varieties, but the classic varieties provide a global benchmark.

The temptation is to say "yes ", but to do this is to misunderstand mainstream consumers. Most do not have in-depth knowledge and grape varieties act as signposts.

To learn a new system for wine is confusing and inhibits both experimentation and the kind of self-assured choice which they exhibit elsewhere in the store.

While this can seem patronising, much can also be done in terms of packaging to ensure that the customer knows what to expect. This is probably done better in

own-label offerings than in many branded/supplier-labelled wines.

In countries such as France and Italy [importance of international varieties ] is limited because they have regional histories. New World producers with no regional history use grape varieties and this is exactly the right attitude. Consumers have an expectation of Cabernet or Chardonnay. The first choice (for wine) is colour and the next is grape variety. The international varieties help in blending so you put a well -known variety with, say, Sangiovese or Tempranillo , or Chardonnay with Verdelho. It helps to introduce other varieties.

In recent times, Chardonnay, Cabernet, Merlot and Shiraz have become brands in the minds of buyers and consumers. Will this lead to a lack of diversity of wine?

The other day I was asked by an organisation called Alcohol in Moderation (AIM) to speak at an industry forum where AIM posed this question to speakers: "Can you develop product innovation, market creatively and increase sales in a responsible manner?"

An interesting topic and, given the number of column inches in the media these days about the significant effects of alcohol misuse, a topical one, too. The forum gave our industry an opportunity to debate whether there was any potential incompatibility between marketing drinks brands responsibly while still growing volumes and building businesses.

As I prepared my presentation I realised that the words "social responsibility", herewith shortened to SR, are oft spouted by CEOs and senior executives of the major drinks companies. In fact, you would be hard-pressed to find a published statement on a corporate website or in an annual report that didn't pontificate about the company's commitment to marketing their brands responsibly. That said, do some quick research on well-known corporate websites, and you'll find a few that don't.

So if you posed that question asked by AIM to those at the top of their organisations, the immediate response would be, "but of course".

Then I started to wonder how that message of SR was being 'pushed down' within companies.

Certainly, these days, major alcohol beverage companies have codes of conduct and adopt "dos and don'ts" for their marketing staff regarding responsible marketing.

Many of them, including my own former company, Brown-Forman, also invest significantly to help and support organisations such as the Drinkaware Trust, the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States (DISCUS), Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET), plus groups devoted to promoting responsible consumption such the Portman Group, the Century Council and the European Fund for Responsible Drinking (EFRD).

However, is this sentiment and commitment adopted by all the staff in drinks companies? I am thinking of medium-sized and smaller agency or distribution companies that still market and sell a huge volume of wines, spirits, beers and ciders.

The brand managers and marketing folk certainly know what to put and what not to put on their ads or POS material, but are they just ticking the responsibility box?

And what of sales teams, brand ambassadors, account managers and customer service people? Do internal communications within such companies ensure that everyone is on-message'?

I am not so sure, and it's here that some say there might be an inherent tension between meeting sales targets and fulfilling SR.

We must never forget that our primary concern is building brands and creating consumer choice. As a result, some say that we should all be going much further than just responsible marketing. I agree.

A step change is required where we go from responsible drinks marketing to actively marketing responsible drinking in the entire brand messaging that we send out when selling and marketing our alcohol brands.

This can be summed up by saying that we must move from asking, "what can I get away with?" to, "how can I make a difference?"

This is key because consumers are changing. Just as we have seen consumers adopt a more ethical and environmentally-aware approach to purchasing, opting for Fairtrade, organic and free-range goods, we will also start to see them appreciating and supporting

brand-owners who take an active stand on responsible consumption.

The payoff should be that such consumers become loyal to companies and brands that really seek to make a difference and try to help bring about a behavioural change in society to tackle the negative impact of alcohol abuse.

Without sounding glib, such a change in the way people behave is vital if we, as an industry, are to help the government, NGOs and society in general.

This sort of transformation in attitudes to alcohol consumption will only occur if all of us, at every level of our organisations, start to embrace the concept of marketing responsible drinking, as opposed to just responsible drinks marketing. The distinction may be fine, but is heavily significant.

This approach must be hard-wired into the corporate DNA, ethos and mission statements of companies, so that we are able to move from a culture of "box ticking" to active involvement in "being responsible in everything we do".

Is it possible for the Yellow Tail wine brand, the biggest-selling imported wine in the US, to grow any more? To put that question into perspective, last year, Casella Wines accounted for 9 per cent of the Australian vintage. This year, it's 10 per cent.

Managing director John Casella does not regard his task as a complicated one. He makes wine that people like drinking and sells it at prices they can afford. The rest is detail. The critics have never warmed to Yellow Tail, most bewailing its residual sugar levels, but the softly-spoken Casella points out that "100 million Americans can't be wrong".

The stellar growth Yellow Tail has achieved in the US has inevitably slowed, to around 3 per cent annually, and Casella has been busy conquering other markets. Canada is the number two export territory, and the UK is now in third place after years of relative under-achievement ("we've sold five times the wine this year that we did last year"). Asia looks promising, particularly Japan, while China remains an unknown quantity.

Casella takes a conservative approach, preferring to stick to a winning formula than tinker with the portfolio, but there has been a small flurry of NPD, including the launch of a sparkling rosé. "We're looking at producing lower-alcohol wines," he says. "We need to work out how we brand and market those, but the important thing is that the low alcohol needs to be a bonus rather than the roots of the wine.

"There's no point doing it without delivering the right product. I've tasted a few of the low-alcohol products and I can't see them getting anywhere because you can't enjoy drinking them."

He is generally cautious about brand extensions. "There's a lot of potential for different regions and different-priced products. But we've got to be very careful that we stay focused on Yellow Tail and, more importantly, think about the impact of marketing and developing completely new labels on the business overall. We could work very hard to sell 200,000 cartons. Is that going to change our business as much as putting the same effort into Yellow Tail?

"With Yellow Tail, you can increase the volume without any issues. When it comes to these premiums, if you get it wrong and it doesn't sell the way you expected, you find yourself with expensive surplus wine. That can impact on your business fairly heavily."

Brand integrity

Casella rules out the idea of following the Lindemans example of creating a global brand, using fruit from outside of Australia. "It did occur to us earlier on when we thought there wasn't going to be any water," he admits. "If we don't have the volume, do we let it fall off the shelf and bring it back in three years' time when it rains again? Or do we substitute it with products from other regions and countries?

"I had a good think about it and really, Yellow Tail is a certain standard of wine responding to a certain expectation from the consumer, and I know we'd have huge issues in delivering that with products from other countries. So if it didn't rain, we'd let it roll off the shelf and relaunch it when the rains came back. We wouldn't release wines from other countries under the Yellow Tail banner."

Casella is wary of talk of premiumisation and marketing Australia on its regions. "For us to move price points doesn't mean everyone is going to follow us," he insists. "At the end of the day, if consumers have £5 to spend, they'll spend £5. If you put it at £6, they'll avoid you. There are plenty of wines that deliver at lower-price points.

"The Australian industry wants to build on regionality and get people to spend more, but you've got to deliver more. You can't just expect people to pay more because it comes from Australia. How are we going to deliver more? More of what? More flavour? We've been successful because we've delivered style-wise and quality-wise. The ideal thing is to get people to spend more, but I don't know how you do it."

Yellow Tail has avoided the extreme sales tactics of some of its rivals, which many (including Casella) believe has led to a deterioration in quality.

"You've got a lot of £6 wines that are really £4 wines," he says. "You can't really blame the producer for putting less and less in there because he's not getting the return. We won't ever do that - we'd rather lose sales at some point than keep the volume up by reducing the cost."

Yellow Tail may have taken the US by storm, but 42 per cent of wine drinkers there haven't even heard of it, Casella reports. But given his drive and focus, losing sales seems a long way off for this most successful and dynamic of wine brands.

A typical dinner in Chengdu - a city of 12 million and the capital of Sichuan province in southwestern China - starts with the clink of shot glasses filled with baijiu and "Ganbei!" (the Chinese for "Cheers!"). The "firewater" hits the stomach with a punch.

Dubbed "the fountainhead of baijiu", the region produces almost all of China's premium baijiu brands - partly because of its unique water quality and millennia-old brewing techniques.

Similar in taste and appearance to vodka, baijiu is one of the oldest spirits on earth, as its history can be traced back to the Bronze Age. Yet in the 21st century, it still dominates Chinese dinner tables, be it in Chengdu or the rest of China.

Statistically, baijiu's popularity is unrivalled. According to Vin & Sprit, the global international spirit company, behind Absolut vodka, baijiu is the largest spirits category in the world, with annual sales of more than 520 million 9-litre cases. Vodka, the runner-up, sells 497 million cases.

However, baijiu's exceptionally high alcohol content - usually around 53 per cent abv, with the strongest up to 70 per cent abv - might have delayed its spread to the rest of the world. Exports in 2005 were a negligible 0.06 per cent of total sales, according to the National Bureau of Statistics of China.

Brand owner Oposit Wines & Spirits

Produced in France

Sizes 5cl, 70cl, 75cl, 1 litre, 1.75 litre

Price £24, E20, US$33

Abv 40

Markets worldwide and travel retail

Contact sebastien.folloppe@

oposit-wines-spirits.com

This new gin in its striking packaging won a Gold medal at last month's Drinks International Gin Challenge. Launched at the Duty-Free Show of the Americas earlier this year and at the London Distil event in May, Blue Ribbon will see a global roll-out following the start of industrial bottling this month.

Export manager Sébastien Folloppe says orders have been placed in Abu Dhabi, Argentina, Uruguay, Colombia and Iceland, and the company is in negotiation with distributors in the US, Canada, Russia, UK, Ireland, Japan and Spain.

Blue Ribbon, a London Dry Gin distillation containing 14 botanicals, is said to be "a new breed of gin with a delicate and subtle bouquet of thyme, juniper, lime and Jamaican pepper".

The DI Gin Challenge judges noted: "fantastic anise and citrus nose, oily rich and complex"; "spicy, ginger, quince and cand ied peel, complex, rich and long", and "exotic spices, fruits and herbs on the nose, nice balance of flavours and persistent length of finish."

Brand owner William Grant & Sons

Produced in Speyside, Scotland

Size 70cl, 75cl (US)

Price £400, f600, US$799

Abv 53.8

Markets worldwide

Contact info@thebalvenie.com

William Grant, the family-owned Speyside distillery, has created a new vintage from casks laid down in 1976.

Malt master David Stewart says: "The vintage is created from just two casks singled out for their characteristic Balvenie honey notes and rich, fruity, vanilla sweetness. From the first cask comes fruit and oak, followed by delicate notes of vanilla, while the second cask adds a complex, fruity aroma with distinct citrus notes and hints of summer blossom.

"The result of this union is a perfect balance of characteristic rich and fruity notes, deliciously enveloped in the Balvenie's trademark honeyed character."

Brand owner Morrison Bowmore

Produced in Lowlands, Scotland

Size 70cl

Price £21

ABV: 40

Markets worldwide

Contact sales@cellartrends.co.uk

Auchentoshan has given its premium range of malt whiskies a major packaging revamp and introduced two new products - the Classic (above) and 18 Year Old (£50) - which join the 12 Year Old (£25), Three Wood (£35), and 21 Year Old (£70) expressions.

Karen Murray, marketing manager for Auchentoshan, says: "We've made bold changes to the packaging design and introduced some new expressions to widen our market appeal. It was important for us to consider existing single malt enthusiasts while creating a look that would appeal to first- time malt drinkers."

The Auchentoshan distillery near Glasgow produces Scotland's only triple-distilled single malt whisky.

Brand owner C&C International

Produced in Ireland

Size 70cl

Price US$35

Abv 40

Markets US, Europe

Contact C&C +353 1 616 1100

The Tullamore Dew Irish whiskey range has been extended to include a 10 Year Old Reserve blend for limited distribution only.

It is a triple distilled, smooth and well- balanced blend that has been aged in Spanish and American Oak casks for a minimum of 10 years. Its nose is fresh, malty and woody with citrus notes, while the whiskey itself is medium-bodied with balanced flavours of malt and spice, wood and vanilla. The new product is positioned between the company's standard Tullamore Dew, now the world's second largest Irish whiskey brand, and multiple award-winning 12 Year Old.

"With the huge growth in appreciation of Irish whiskey, there is a real aged blend trend being driven by consumers looking to trade up," says C&C International's marketing manager, Ann O'Leary.

Stocks of the new 10 Year Old Reserve are being rolled out in the US and a select number of European markets.

Brand owner Campeny Distilleries

Produced in Spain

Size 70cl

Price £11.50, F9.10, US$16.9

Abv 17

Markets worldwide

Contact sclavell@melody.es

After the launch of Tolón-Tolón "leche merengada" (cream liqueur based on cinnamon and lemon), the family-run Barcelona-based distillery is driving forward with a range of three new flavours: macadamia nut, whisky, and chocolate with hazelnut and vanilla.

The liqueurs combine cream with real macadamia nuts - known for their creamy texture and exquisite taste - whisky, cocoa from the cocoa tree Theobroma cacao, and hazelnut with vanilla. Each bottle is presented in a gift pack with two small "chupitos" glasses.

Campeny Distilleries has been a pioneer in the production of Catalan cream liqueurs and its Tolón-Tolón brand is gaining recognition and awards in world markets.

Brand owner Bacardi Global Brands

Produced in France

Size 75cl

Price F8.50, in France

Abv 18

Markets worldwide

Contact sereynolds@bacardi.com



This iconic French apéritif has seen the most dramatic redesign in its 200-year history. But the statuesque new bottle manages to retain the core elements of the historic label design, while the bottle's curvaceous shape has a classic, yet contemporary feel.

Guy Lawrence, global marketing director says: "Noilly Prat is revered by some of the most respected figures in the drinks industry and now the striking new bottle design gives it the physical presence on shelf to reflect its stature in the world of food and drink."

Noilly Prat vermouth is aged outdoors in oak casks exposed to the Mediterranean sun, sea and wind for four seasons before being infused with an aromatic blend of 20 herbs and spices.

In France, it is drunk as an apéritif and globally, it is popular with mixologists for many cocktail recipes.

Brand owner Hanschell Inniss

Produced in Barbados

Sizes 70cl, 75cl, 1litre

Price £12.99, F15, US$15.95

Markets worldwide

Contact dave_cockspur@yahoo.com


Cockspur Fine Rum has been given a face-lift with a new label design, timed to coincide with the launch of a generic campaign by the West Indies Rum and Spirits Producers Association promoting the Authentic Caribbean Rum marque. It also coincides with the start of the English cricket season, which sees both South Africa and New Zealand play England in a series of test matches from May to August.

Known in its home of Barbados as "the cricketer's rum", Cockspur is to become the "official spirit" at all UK test match grounds from this summer in a three-year sponsorship deal worth over £3 million.

"Cricket is international, and with South Africa, New Zealand and Australia visiting over the next three years, Cockspur will also be visible in these markets via the sponsorship," says David Smith, Cockspur Rum global brand director. "At the same time, Cockspur is investing in other markets such as Italy and Spain to complement existing business in the US, Canada, Bermuda and Barbados."

Brand owner CL World Brands

Produced in France

Size: 70cl

Prices £195, E350-370, US$360

Abv 40

Markets worldwide

Contact cmeunier@hine.fr

Thomas Hine, the Cognac house owned by CL World Brands, has released a 1798 "early landed and Jarnac-matured vintage Cognac".

Bernard Hine, from the original family, describes the 30-year-old Cognac as "rich and harmonious". Most Cognacs are blends from different years, as well as areas and barrels, without any age statement. Hine is one of the few to develop a portfolio of vintage Cognacs.

The term "early landed" comes from the tradition of shipping Cognacs to Bristol, in cask, within two years of distillation, where they are aged in bonded cellars. The atmosphere in the English west country port is more humid and cooler than Jarnac, so the Cognacs develop differently.

Brand owner Ian Macleod Distillers

Produced in Highlands, Scotland

Size 70cl & 75cl

Price £60+, E75, US$120

Abv 48

Markets worldwide

Contact iain@ianmacloed.com

Ian Macleod Distillers has decided to put its Glengoyne single malt Scotch whisky in casks that have been used in Australia's Hunter Valley to age Glenguin wines.

Lord Robin Tedder is the third baron of Glenguin, which was the original name of distillery - changed 100 years ago to the more phonetic Glengoyne. The first baron got the title after a distinguished war career, having served under Eisenhower as deputy supreme commander in the second world war. His father was a customs & excise officer at Glenguin from 1889 to 1893. The use of the casks celebrates the Tedder link.

The Scotch is described as "malty, with subtle oakiness; spicy, yet honeyed. It has a pepperiness with hints of vanilla and dark berry fruits".

Brand owner Constellation Brands

Produced in South Africa

Size 75cl

Price £6, E6-9 Can$13.50

Abv 13-14.5

Markets worldwide

Trade contact: +44 1275 890 294

Constellation has relaunched the Fish Hoek single grape varietal range of premium South African wines. The brand came as part of the deal whereby the world's largest wine company bought Bruce Jack's business, including his

well-known Flagstone wine.

Launched around the London Wine Trade Fair in May, it is already available in Japan and the company is looking for listings in Australia. Constellation says it is putting significant resources behind the brand.

The wine, which comes from the Swartland region, is made by Jack and ranges from Sauvignon Blanc and Chenin Blanc to Pinotage. In the UK it will be positioned around the £5 price point, putting it between Kumala, the country's best-selling wine brand, which Constellation also acquired when it bought Vincor in an earlier deal, and premium Flagstone.

Brand owner Guy Anderson Wines

Produced in Italy

Size 75cl

Price £6.99, E10, US$15

Abv 13.5

Markets worldwide, starting in the UK

Contact [http://www.guyandersonwines.co.uk]

This new Italian range from Guy Anderson Wines (GAW) has been launched through Waitrose in the UK. GAW hopes to encourage consumers to look beyond the ubiquitous big names from Europe's great wine producing countries and enjoy some of Italy's more esoteric wines.

Simon Bradbury, sales director (Italy), believes that Via Collina will help guide consumers towards wines "they might otherwise have missed out on."

The first in the range is a Dolcetto di Diano d'Alba from the Langhe area of Piedmont. The vineyards are between the Belbo and Tanaro rivers, an area famous for Barolo and Barbaresco, which also produces outstanding Dolcetto.

Winemaker Daniele Ponzo, of leading producer Terre del Barolo, selected the hand-picked fruit from some of his favourite old vineyards. Fermentation was in stainless steel for 7-8 days, with

micro-oxygenation employed to soften tannins and intensify aromas. The wine was then bottled without barrel-ageing.

Brand Owner: Tomatin Distillery

Produced in Scotland

Size 70cl

Price £150, E200, US$285

Abv 46

Markets worldwide

Contact [http://www.hmwsa.com]

This limited edition blend of single malt and grain whiskies was bottled in October 2007 to commemorate the 150-year anniversary of the distillery founded by John and William Hardie.

Described as "sweet and mellow with a hint of citrus" The Antiquary 1977 is a blend of predominantly Speyside malts and is based on the original Hardie Brother recipe. The traditional bottle shape and old-fashioned labelling has been chosen to "accentuate and pay homage to the brand's heritage".

The bottling has been limited to just 1,148.

Distribution worldwide is being handled by Harvey-Miller Wine & Spirits Agencies.

Brand owner Cooley Distillery

Produced in Ireland

Sizes 70cl and 75cl

Price £50, E80, US$99

Abv 40

Markets worldwide and travel retail

Contact jack@cooleywhiskey.com

Cooley, the independent Irish whiskey distillery, has released a 15 Year Old small batch (just 5,000 bottles) of Greenore. It claims to be the world's oldest bottling of Irish grain whiskey to be released. Single grain whiskeys are rare, as most grain whiskey is used in blends. The addition of this 15 Year Old to the Cooley collection follows the success of the 8 Year Old Greenore, which is a permanent offering.

The new release is bottled from a small batch of casks. Aged in single use bourbon oak casks and matured in the 200-year old granite warehouses of the Old Kilbeggan distillery in county Westmeath, the whiskey is complex and robust "with new depths and layers of flavours".

Brand owner Pernod Ricard

Produced in Speyside, Scotland

Size 70cl

Price E255 (duty-free)

Abv 48.9

Markets travel retail, France

Contact [http://www.pernodricard.com]

Bottled from a single cask, there are only 96 individually numbered bottles available of this limited edition single malt whisky. They are on sale exclusively in Aelia stores in Paris (Charles de Gaulle) and Nice airports in France, Aberlour's number one domestic market.

France is currently the biggest whisky market in Europe and the largest European market for single malt whisky. Worldwide, France is the second largest single malt whisky market behind the US.

An American oak cask (no 4581) was filled with the malt on May 29 1975, then matured for 31 years to develop a "rich, multi-layered character".

l DFS Group is set to retain its contract to sell wine at Singapore Changi airport's Terminal Two after it transpired it was the only bidder for the concession when it came up for tender last month.

l Bacardi Global Travel Retail Division (BGTRD) has given two members of its sales team enhanced roles . Former regional manager UK/Ireland Leigh Irvine becomes travel-retail regional director for western Europe, and Hauke Marquardt, formerly regional manager for central, eastern Europe and Turkey, becomes travel-retail regional director for central, eastern Europe and the Middle East.

l Germany's largest independent regional carrier Cirrus Airlines has listed Russian Standard vodka. The three products in the family - Russian Standard Original, Russian Standard Platinum and Imperia - will be the only vodkas served on Cirrus flights and in the airline's VIP lounges.

l Chairman of Indian drinks giant The UB Group Dr Vijay Mallya will be the keynote speaker at the TFWA World Exhibition in Cannes in October. Mallya will speak on the conference theme, 'Challenge the Future.'

l Diageo has promoted Phil Humphreys, formerly European sales and commercial director, to managing director of its Global Travel and Middle East division while his predecessor, Ron Anderson, is leaving GTME to take up a new role as Diageo's chief customer officer in which he will be the "voice of the customer at the most senior level in the company".

Ireland's duty-free liquor in-dustry has narrowly escaped the costly repercussions of new government legislation aimed at curbing alcohol consumption among the country's under-age drinkers.

The proposed Liquor/Public Order Act 2008 re-quires that retailers locate their wine and spirit offer separately from other product categories by means of a "solid wall or some other similar barrier". If space limitations make this unfeasible, then liquor can only be sold over the counter.

Irish airport operator Aer Rianta International, with the assistance of the European Travel Retail Council (ETRC), successfully lobbied the Irish government to insert a derogation that exempted the country's duty-free shops from all the provisions of the bill, which could be brought into force by the end of the summer.

"This is great news for the duty-free and travel-retail liquor business," said ETRC spokesperson John Hume.

"The provisions would have been prohibitively costly to introduce and would have meant retailers looking to other product categories to fill the gap.

"It would have also created a dangerous international precedent, so we are glad we were able to persuade the powers that be that the highly regulated and controlled nature of the industry entitled us to an exemption."

Duty-free liquor sales at re-gional European airports are under serious threat after the publication of a new Excise Duty Directive by the Euro-pean Commission .

Currently, passengers de-parting from European Union airports on flights transiting within the EU, are able to buy duty-free goods at either their originating or transfer airports, provided their final destination lies outside the EU.

Virgin Atlantic has chosen Croatian vodka Akvinta to be its pouring vodka at its flagship Clubhouse at London Heathrow airport.

To celebrate the high-profile listing, Akvinta is running a competition with Clubhouse staff to create a new cocktail called Stoic Virgin, which will be served exclusively to Virgin passengers.

Pavel Ryabov, chief executive of Akvinta brand owner Adriatic Distillers, said the Virgin clubhouse listing was a "major milestone" in the history of Akvinta.

"I believe the philosophy of the two brands is in perfect synergy, as both represent great taste and a passion to deliver the highest standards," he said.

Akvinta vodka will also be introduced to Virgin's onboard shopping selection later on in the year.

Gebr Heinemann, duty-free liquor retailer at Copenhagen Kastrup airport, hopes to change costly tax regulations relating to bottle labelling.

Under the existing rules, Heinemann has to sell liquor products in differently-label-led bottles to passengers who are travelling within or outside the European Union.

Travellers bound for destinations within the EU are charged duty-paid prices, while customers travelling outside the EU can buy at duty-free prices.

However, Heinemann and Copenhagen airport have been lobbying the Danish government to change the rules, arguing that the technology exists to sell a product with the same label to both sets of customers and establish whether duty is or isn't payable at point of sale.

Gebr Heinemann ApS general manager Palle Linaa Petersen said: "This would make a huge difference with administration and logistics, as well as with costs."

Petersen is encouraged that a few Danish regional tax authorities have started to allow taxation at the POS rather than at the point of production. "This makes us confident that we will be able to change this rule," he added.

Beam Global Spirits & Wine and Maxxium Global Travel Retail (MGTR) staged a Jim Beam bourbon face painting promotion at two German airports last month, which was timed to coincide with the UEFA Euro 2008 football championships.

The promotion ran at Gebr Heinemann's shops at Frank-furt and Munich airports and involved in-store promoters tempting travellers to have their faces painted with their respective national flags. An on-pack face-painting kit was also part of the initiative, along with in-store visuals and tastings of both the standard Jim Beam White and the premium Jim Beam Black.

Amy Neville-Eliot, Beam marketing manager for Eur-ope, explained: "The aim of the promotion was to differentiate ourselves from the competition by being more innovative and visible to consumers during the busy period surrounding the Euro 2008 championships."

Italian retail and catering giant Autogrill has revealed details of its plans to integrate its recent purchases of three of the world's biggest duty-free and travel-retail operators - Aldeasa, Alpha Retail and World Duty Free (WDF).

The two UK businesses, Alpha Retail and WDF, are to be merged to create a single UK airport retailer with an-nual sales of £565m. It will be led by experienced WDF chief executive Mark Riches.

Alpha will continue to run its many domestic and international in-flight retail and catering contracts.

Alpha's overseas airport contracts, which extend to the US, the Indian subcontinent and Middle East, will be handled by Spanish airport retailer Aldeasa, boosting annual revenues to more than £800m.

Autogrill hopes the integration of the three businesses will garner cost savings of e40m a year by 2011.

A global purchasing team has also been set up as part of the plan, which will be led by Aldeasa Group commercial director Eugenio Andrades, WDF commercial director Jo O'Connor and Alpha Retail international director Martin Petchey.

Camus, the Cognac house, has made changes to its Asia-Pacific operations. Richard Ferne will remain in Hong Kong with the following markets: Indonesia, Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Korea and some multinational duty-free operators. Michael Beamish will handle Japan, Australia and New Zealand, in addition to managing the Asia-Pacific team, and president Cyril Camus will manage both the duty -free and domestic teams dedicated to China.

Dante Cecchini is the new UK brand ambassador for premium Tuscan producer, Castello Banfi. He had been based at the estate in Montalcino, but will now relocate to London.

Peter Swinburn is Molson Coors' new president and chief executive officer, with Stewart Glendinning named as global chief financial officer. The SABMiller-Coors joint venture came about at the end of last month (June). David Heede moves from strategy director at Coors Brewers to finance director.

The Australian Wine & Brandy Corporation has five new appointments. Josephine Rozman, a marketing consultant, Kate Thompson, Pernod Ricard Pacific's legal counsel and company secretary, Natalie Toohey, Foster's Group director, Kevin McLintock, McWilliam's Wines deputy chairman and Dr Tony Jordan, chief executive of three wineries.

First Drinks has made John Hyman its new UK sales director. he was previously with Diary Crest, Danone and Heinz.

DISCUS (the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States) has named Danielle Eddy as its new public relations director. As a media relations professional, she has worked for Diageo, WJ Deutsch and E&J Gallo.

Castle Brands has made William Boykin its regional manager for the south east of the US.

U'Luvka vodka has made PJ Jaurre its sales representative for London bars and clubs .

The Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America has made Jerry Brown its new vice president for communica tions and public affairs and Robert Wiggans its membership director.

The Wine & Spirit Education Trust has made Antony Moss research and development director. He has worked for Sainsbury's and the Thresher group previously.

Amanda Walker is the new marketing manager at PLB Wines . She replaces Claire Summersby.

Harviestoun has appointed Patrick Green as its business development director. He was with Black Sheep and the Daleside Brewery.

What has been your greatest achievement?

My family. They are quite literally my

life's work (and joy).

What is your greatest strength?

Discipline. Six years in the Atlantic submarine fleet of the US Navy gave me tremendous focus and perseverance.

What concerns you most about the drinks industry?

Promoting on price. There is debate about whether it's socially responsible, but it never connotes quality nor supports long-term industry sustainability.

Is there a trend you think is important but that has perhaps been overlooked?

We could devot e more media and marketing attention to the personalities and communities producing our products. Consumers respond to people more dynamically than they do to production parameters (soil, climate, etc). The success of Fairtrade is only a glimpse of the potential on this front.

What is your main priority at the Washington Wine Commission?

I've only just started in my role here, so I expect to do a lot of listening. But ultimately I want to develop a coherent and compelling communications plan for the region.

Will Washington State be able to supply the demand that arises from your efforts to raise its profile?

Absolutely. The industry has tripled in scale during recent years and that pace shows no sign of slowing.

You have extensive knowledge of wine and spirits. How did you come by it?

Yes, and that came courtesy of several years as a UK-based drinks journalist - in the wake of all the usual WSET courses.

What do you like to drink?

Among wines, I have a weakness for crisp whites including dry Riesling, mineral-laced Chardonnay and lively Sauvignon Blanc at the greener end of the spectrum.

What do you do to relax?

Not enough, at least in the conventional sense. Work and family life are all-consuming, but I can't imagine anything else.

l Hong Kong International Wine Expo

August 14-16

Hong Kong Convention Centre

hkwineexpo.com

l World Sauvignon Congress

August 26-29

Graz, Austria

worldsauvignon.com

l Brussels Beer Weekend

September 5-7

Grand'Place, Brussels, Belgium

weekenddelabiere.be

l Oktoberfest

September 20-October 5

The Wiesn, Munich, Germany

oktoberfest.de

l Wine & Spirits Australia

September 22-25

Melbourne, Australia

wineandspirits.com.au

l Cape Wine

September 23-25

Cape Town , South Africa

wosa.co.za

l IBA Congress & World Cocktail

October 5-10

Old San Juan, Puerto Rico

iba-world.com/english/congress

l TFWA World Exhibition

October 27-31

Cannes, France

tfwa.com

l Vinitaly US tour

October 27-30

Chicago, New York,

Washington DC

vinitaly.com

l The Pub Show

October 28-29

Sydney Exhibition Centre, Australia

pubshow.com.au

l India International

Wine Fair

December 11-13

Grand Hyatt, Mumbai, India

iiw-fair.com

l Millésime Bio

January 26-28 2009

Perpignan, France

millesime-bio.com

l Bleu Wine Expo

January 26-27 2009

Palais du Pharo, Marseille, France

bleuwinexpo.com

, the governor of California and Hollywood movie star, steps up to exchange accords with Chilean president Michelle Bachelet . This will lead to the South American country's wine research organisations conducting joint studies with University of California Davis's world -reno wned department of viticulture and oenology.

They will be looking at sustainability, energy efficiency, wine flavours and phenolics, as well as the economics of the industry.

Rene Merino, president of Wines of Chile, said: " This partnership will produce important knowledge and help to address some of the most critical issues facing the wine industry ."

l Domaine Carneros, the Taittinger -owned sparkling wine producer in California, claims to be the first sparkling wine to receive organic certification for all its estate vineyards.

l South African wine producer The Company of Wine People has won the JF Hillebrand Supply Chain Partner of the Year award.

l Heaven Hill Distilleries has opened its newly expanded Bernheim distillery. It will increase capacity by

40 per cent to cope with planned growth over the

next five years.

l Fratelli Martini, the Piedmonte-based wine producer and owner of the Canti Italian wine brand, has parted with its UK importer, D&D Wines, which remains one of the largest importers

of Italian wines into the UK.

l The Napa Valley Vintners' auction in California raised US$10.35 mi llion for the area's charities, a 5 per cent increase on 2007.

l Pernod Ricard's Montana New Zealand wine brand has taken the supreme award at the inaugural Discover Pinot Noir awards in New Zealand, with its Terraces Marlborough 2006 Pinot Noir. It beat more than 60 other wines, of which six received gold medals.

l Hankey Bannister 40 Year Old has been voted the World's Best Blended Scotch Whisky at the World Whisky Awards. Owners Inver House Distillers only made enough to fill 1,917 crystal decanters.

l Jägermeister, the herbal liqueur, has appointed interactive advertising agency Syzygy and its sister agency, Hi-Res, to create a global internet platform and "brand experience" for the brand which can be adapted for local market needs.

New Zealand Winegrowers has reported a 2008 vintage of 285,000 tonnes of grapes harvested, up 39 per cent on last year.

The increase is mainly as a result of the rise in Sauvignon Blanc production. There were also increases in Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris, while Chardonnay was down on 2007.

New Zealand's key winegrowing region, Marlborough, produced 195,000 tonnes, up 61 per cent , but Gisborne and Hawke's Bay were down 8 and 18 per cent respectively, due to frosts and cooler weather at flowering.

Central Otago, best known for Pinot Noir, was up 177 per cent, Waiarapa up 111 per cent, Waipara up 304 per cent, Canterbury up 304 per cent and Nelson up 35 per cent.

The growers point out that the high figures are due to a "rebound" from the weather affected 2007 vintage.

NZWG chief executive Philip Gregan said: "The increased harvest is an opportunity to grow sales in new and existing export markets towards our target of NZ$1 billion in exports by 2010."

At the same time, the larger harvest will present a challenge to winery sales and marketing efforts to ensure that New Zealand's premium image continues to go from strength to strength.

The Tanqueray Guild is said to be a global collective of the world's leading bartenders, established to celebrate the art of the cocktail, their craft and the authentic, original gin martini, according to brand owner Diageo.

Aligned with the Tanqueray No Ten brand, the 10 bartenders, from 10 bars in 10 cities - Athens, Barcelona, London, Miami, Milan, Mexico City, New York, Paris, Shanghai and Tokyo - met in London last month.

The chosen 10 are supposed to return home to become master of their own guild of 10 master bartenders.

The founding bartenders are: Colin Field of the Hemingway Bar, Ritz, Paris; Gi uliano Morandin, The Dorchester, London; Jos é María Gotarda, Ideal cocktail Bar, Barcelona; Yiannis Tsiros, Galaxy Bar, Athens ; Luca Pirola, Tearose Café, Milan ; Yukiyo Kurihara, Mandarin Oriental , Tokyo ; Alex Xian, Bar Rouge, Shanghai ; Brian Miller, Death & Co, New York ; Philip Nott , Setai Bar, Miami and Admunsen Eguía Lis Perez, the Whiskey, Mexico City.

A ll believe the perfect martini cocktail is made with Tanqueray No Ten and stirred, never shaken .

Tourists may have been cursing the skies, but Spain's cava producers are toasting a month of rain that has saved their harvest - as long as it stops soon.

More than a third of the Catalan region's annual rainfall has arrived in the last month, ending a prolonged dry spell that had many wineries concerned.

Philip Rowles, international wine manager for major cava group Freixenet, told Drinks International the drought had been "nightmarish" for producers.

"The drought was threatening to knock the vintage on the head. Now we've got enough water, it's just how we manage it. The rivers are as full as I have ever seen them."

In preparation for the reality of climate change, an EC funded research project is underway in the cava region. The Demeter project includes experimenting with different grape varieties, soils and, with government permission, water reservoirs and irrigation systems linked to a weather centre by computer controlled cameras and sensors.

However, so much rain has fallen in the last month that producers' main challenge is now to prevent rot in the vineyards.

Ahead of national governments, beer consumer groups from 13 countries have taken the initiative to sign up to a constitution to fight the threats posed by globalisation in the beer sector.

The initiative comes as InBev, already the world's largest brewer, gears up to mount a massive takeover of the US brewing giant, Anheuser-Busch, which would give the new company a

25 per cent share of the world beer market.

The main objective of the 18 -year-old European Beer Consumers' Union , which claims to represent some 130,000 beer drinkers across Europe, is to promote the image and culture of beer, traditional beer styles, and to encourage diversity and choice for the consumer.

The EBCU states its priorities are: competition and choice in the European market; taxation and empowering the consumer.

EBCU president Terry Lock told Drinks International: "It is essential that Europe's beer drinkers come together to fight the threats posed by globalisation in the beer market.

"The member organisations of EBCU have shown that beer drinkers can reach agreement to enable the consumer's voice to be heard in the corridors of Brussels and Strasbourg.

"Perhaps a pint or two of quality craft-produced beer could aid national governments to come to a similar accord," he said.

Beer consumer organisations from the following countries are EBCU members: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Sweden, Switzerland and the UK.

SABMiller is to buy the Russian brewer LLC Vladpivo, the largest brewer in the Russian far east Primor ye region, located near the city of Vladivostok.

It has an annual capacity of 1 million h l and the value of the gross assets is said to be approximately US$69 million.

SABMiller says the Russian far east represents around 7.6 per cent of the Russian beer market and is projected to grow faster than the beer market in Russia as a whole between 2007 and 2013.

Vladpivo will become SABMiller's third production facility in the country, adding to its main brewery in Kaluga and the site in Ulyanovsk which is under construction and expected to be commissioned in 2009.

l SABMiller is launching its recently acquired Dutch beer brand Grolsch in South Africa.

Both formats - its distinctive 45 cl "swingtop " bottle and the 33 cl flat-sided crown top, will be imported from the Grolsch brewery in the Netherlands in non-returnable packaging.

Scandal-hit Italian wine region Brunello di Montalcino has elected a new president as it looks to implement new quality controls.

Montalcino native Patrizio Cencioni will head the new Brunello producers' association. His task will be to help the Tuscan wine enclave to emerge from the shadow of fraud allegations, dubbed "Brunellogate ".

In a speech to association members, Cencioni said: "One of my main objectives is to keep the producers united in order to work together - to support and enhance the fame and reputation this prestigious wine has acquired in Italy and throughout the world over the last few decades."

Italian police were still investigating several Brunello producers for using grapes other than the designated Sangiovese in their wines.

The Brunello board and Italian ministers have spent the last week attempting to re assure a team of US trade officials that steps are being taken. A quarter of Brunello is exported across the Atlantic.

Cencioni, who is fifth-generation producer, as well as a relative of one of the association's founding members, called on winemakers to collaborate with a new quality guarantee board backed by the Italian government.

His predecessor, Francesco Marone Cinzano, admitted there were "a few bad apples" in Brunello. He resigned on Monday, following the

creation of the new guarantee board.

Constellation has moved to slim down its wine portfolio by selling off brands to Eight Estates Fine Wines for US$209 million.

The cash-only deal represents around 1 million cases of wine, and Constellation will use the proceeds to reduce debts.

The Sonoma-based Eight Estates will gain several brands, including wines acquired from Fortune as recently as December 2007.

Constellation chief executive Rob Sands said: " The sale of these assets will aid in streamlining Constellation's US wine portfolio by eliminating brand duplication and excess production capacity."

The group predicted it would still report a pre-tax loss of US$23 million for its full year.

The brands sold are, in California: Geyser Peak, Buena Vista, Gary Farrell, Atlas Peak and XYZin, which were acquired from Fortune Brands in December 2007 ; and - originally acquired in 2001 from Corus Brands - Columbia Winery and Covey Run (including Sunnyside winery) in Washington state, and Ste Chapelle in Idaho.

The Australian vintage is better than expected both in quantity and quality, according to the Winemakers' Federation of Australia.

The WFA's 2008 survey reveals a total of 1.83 million tonnes - double some of the early predictions.

Federation chief executive, Stephen Strachan, said: "The figure of 1.83 million tonnes represents a resounding success in a challenging year and is testament to the resilience and adaptive nature of our regional growers . "

Red grapes accounted for 53 per cent of the total intake, a rise of 45 per cent over 2007. White grapes were only 18 per cent up. Aromatic varieties continue to increase in plantings, with Pinot Noir rising 63 per cent to just over 47,000 tonnes (2.6 per cent of the total crush) and Sauvignon Blanc up 74 per cent to more than 66,000 tonnes (3.6 per cent of the crush).

Strachan warned: " With pressure around water shortages, a strong Australian dollar and tough international market, we can no longer compete on price alone.

"This year most producers only purchas ed the volume of grapes needed to meet their existing requirements. This large harvest underlines the fact that structural change is required to have a sustainable future."

Suntory, the Japanese drinks giant, is to purchase a 50 per cent stake in the Austrian chocolate liqueur producer Mozart Distillerie.

Suntory said the new partnership would strengthen its position in the global alcoholic beverages market, while building further business for the Mozart brand - which is presently sold in some 70 countries around the world.

Suntory has imported and marketed Mozart chocolate liqueurs in Japan since 1990.

Suntory partners more than 40 companies and distributes more than 70 brands of imported western spirits.

The primary reason for the agreed investment is so that Suntory can use its power and distribution network to get the premium chocolate liqueurs company into emerging markets such as China, India and the so-called "tiger economies" as well as Japan and Australia.

Harald Koenig, Mozart managing director and principal shareholder, said the partnership will "revitalise" the marketing and sales efforts behind the brand.

The Osaka-based company's portfolio includes international brands such as Bowmore Scotch whisky, Midori melon liqueur, Château Lagrange and Robert Weil wines, as well as its Japanese whiskies Yamazaki and Hakushu single malts, and Hibiki, a blended malt.

Foster's chief executive Trevor O'Hoy has resigned as the Australian drinks group cut profit forecasts amid concern for its ailing wine division.

O'Hoy's resignation was accepted by the Foster's board on June 10, ending his 33 years at the group.

His departure was accompanied by a warning to the market, which saw Foster's slash its 2008 earnings forecast from an increase of 10 per cent to a rise of between 5 and 7 per cent.

A poor performance in wine has also prompted a full-scale review of the firm's global strategy for its wine division.

Surplus bulk wine that could not be sold means Foster's expects a US$70 million write-down for its full year, the group said. Wine sales have been poor in the US, hampered by an economic slowdown and a strong Australian dollar.

Chairman David Crawford admitted the firm had "paid too much" to build its wine business, especially in relation to the takeover of Southcorp in 2005.

" We did not execute the Southcorp integration as well as we expected and operating conditions are now more challenging," Crawford said.

Foster's wine division review will include "a comprehensive analysis of wine markets and segments" as well as considering the structure of the business.

At the time of going to press, InBev has launched an unprecedented US$46 billion bid to buy US beer giant Anheuser-Busch, in a move that would create the world's largest brewer.

InBev said it sought open negotiations with A-B on the offer, which is in cash and values the Budweiser owner at US$65 per share.

A deal between the two would be the largest ever in alcoholic drinks, creating one of the world's top five consumer product companies. It would also be the latest in a wave of consolidation across the brewing sector, following the buyout of Scottish & Newcastle as well as a tie-up between SABMiller and Molson Coors in the US.

Carlos Brito, InBev chief executive, said: "We view this combination as a natural next step for both companies, which already enjoy successful partnerships in the US, Canada and South Korea."

In an open letter to A-B president August Busch, Brito asserted his respect for the US group's heritage : "We would position Budweiser as our global flagship brand, leveraging our international footprint to enhance the brand's image and exposure."

InBev's minor presence on the US market means competition concerns are unlikely to block a deal completely .

A-B's board, which has previously rebuffed tentative advances from InBev, acknowledged receipt of the US$46 billion bid.

"The board of directors will evaluate the proposal carefully and in the context of all relevant factors, including Anheuser-Busch's long-term strategic plan," the group has stated.

Around 30,000 people have signed an online consumer petition in the US in an effort to keep A-B American.

Petition founder Daniel Fowler told Drinks Inter­national: "There are so many people out there who are proud of this company and hope it remains American owned . "

For the latest go to:

drinksint.com.

Drinks International comes to you this month with our annual Millionaires supplement , the research for which has this year been exclusively conducted by Euromonitor International.

The figures highlight the fastest growing sectors and brands, domestically, regionally and globally, as well as those slipping in popularity.

Among the chart toppers are two interesting new entrants to the Millionaires listing - C1 soju and Tuopai baijiu. If you thought vodka was the largest spirits category in the world you'll be surprised to learn that it's actually baijiu.

More than 520 million 9-litre cases of baijiu are sold annually (according to Vin & Sprit figures) while vodka is the runner-up at a mere 497 million cases. Baijiu is produced mainly in the Sichuan province of China, where some producers suffered losses in the recent earthquake that devastated the area (see News Analysis, page 18).

While current export sales of baijiu are negligible, who knows what will happen now some of the world's biggest brand owners ( Diageo, Vin & Sprit and LVMH) have become stakeholders in these brands?

There is a growing concern, however, that consolidation in the drinks industry is creating brand-owning giants with too much market control to the detriment of many characterful boutique brands.

On the news pages you'll read about concerned beer-drinking consumer groups in Europe regarding the move by InBev - already the world's largest brewer - to take over Anheuser-Busch, which would give the new company a 25 per cent share of the world beer market.

You can keep up to date with these and other industry developments on drinksint.com.

SABMiller, one the world’s largest brewers, has launched a website which is said to provide a comprehensive guide to alcohol - from how beer is made to how alcohol impacts on the body.

Grupo Modelo, the leading brewer in Mexico and owner of the Corona Extra beer brand, claims that it has a consent right in respect of InBev's proposed US$52bn deal to take over Anheuser-Busch.

Anheuser-Busch directors came out fighting on Monday, launching a tirade against InBev plans to get them replaced and push through a $46bn takeover.

Double the droughts and up to 10 times more heatwaves will threaten the survival of one of Australia’s key grape growing regions, says a government report.

Whyte & Mackay, the Scotch brand owned by Indian billionaire Vijay Mallya, has reportedly shown interest in buying Glen Moray from LVMH.

Double the droughts and up to 10 times more heatwaves will threaten the survival of one of Australia’s key grape growing regions, says a government report.