l Pernod Ricard is to keep the distribution rights for New Zealand's Framingham winery in its home market and Australia, despite selling the company. Framingham has been bought by Sogrape .

l British retailer Tesco says it could impose on its international retail operation rules on outer packaging that are being introduced into its UK stores. Tesco is asking UK suppliers to ship wine in cases and pallets with a range of features, including country of origin symbols, to make them easier to lift and open for store staff and consumers.

l Ontario's craft brewers want politicians to review the ownership structure of the Canadian province's Beer Store chain. The retailer has an 85 per cent beer market share and is owned by brewers Labatt, Molson-Coors and Sleeman.

l The Fladgate Partnership, which owns the Taylor's, Fonseca, Croft and Delaforce port houses, has bought the prestigious 50 ha Quinta da Eira Velha vineyards from the Newman family. Fladgate now has 750ha of grade A Douro vineyards.

l The Best of Wine in Ireland 2008 guide has named Liberty Wines, the International Wine Challenge's 2007 specialist merchant for Italy, as its importer of the year.

l Carlsberg is to distribute Czech brewer Budejovicky Budvar's beers in Denmark through its House of Beer subsidiary. The two businesses already co-operate in Finland, Sweden, Serbia, Bulgaria, Croatia and the Czech Republic.