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

Leithaberg, one of Austria’s newest DACs, wants to be the Burgundy of Austria.

Blossom Hill, one of the UK’s most popular wine brands, is receiving its largest ever advertising support, including £2.2m on media alone.

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

Accolade Wines has announced that it is to launch its leading Australian wine brand, Hardys into Ukraine.

Despite a strong peso, consumers are prepared to pay the price for quality Chilean wine. Christian Davis reports

UK consumers' openness to new forms of wine packaging could mean the traditional glass bottle’s stranglehold on the market is relaxed, says Wine Intelligence.

Accolade Wines has unveiled a new look for its Echo Falls Californian wine brand in key European markets, including the UK, Netherlands and Spain.

Treasury Wine Estates and Accolade Wines has announced that TWE will pack wine for Accolade in Australia with Accolade will pack wine for TWE in the UK.

Michael Cox has been installed as the 518th Master of the Worshipful Company of Vintners for the forthcoming year.

The organiser of South Africa’s famous Nederburg Auction, has announced that US economics professor and ‘wine economist’, Mike Veseth, will make a keynote speech on Saturday September 29 at Nederburg in Paarl.

The Sherry Institute of Spain has appointed Beltrán Domecq as its new president.

Chinese wine consumers prefer traditional wine labels but are open to some contemporary designs, according to Wine Intelligence.

CEO of Sogrape Vinhos, Francisco Ferreira, has ventured that the planting of further international varietals could help to attract more consumers to Portuguese wine.

The International Orgisation of Vine and Wine (OIV) is to provide definitions for for beverages obtained by dealcoholisation of wine and beverages obtained by partial dealcoholisation of wine.

Maison Lillet has released Lillet Rosé to the UK, its first apéritif launch in the market for 50 years.

Vergelegen, one of South Africa’s best wine producers, has unveiled a new wine, DNA.

Gallo Family Vineyards has partnered with Australian celebrity, Holly Valance, to publicise its newly launched Moscato wine in the UK.

The price of wine and spirits has risen by more than twice the level of inflation, according to the latest WSTA Market Report.

Global wine producer and distributor Accolade Wines has purchased Californian brand Geyser Peak and stablemates Atlas Peak and XYZin, together with their assets and inventory, from Ascentia Wine Estates. The financial details of the deal were not disclosed.

Californian wine producer E&J Gallo Winery has announced that it has purchased Washington State’s Columbia Winery and Covey Run Wine brands.

The president of Georgia has said wine exports are to the benefit of Georgia’s national security and an important element of the country's progress.

Wine journalist, Tim Atkin MW and d'Arenberg owner and winemaker Chester Osborn, were both named as recipients of the Wine Intelligence 10 for 10 Business Award.

Concha y Toro, the largest wine producer in Latin America, is committed to developing and improving the Californian wine producer, Fetzer, which it bought from Brown Forman in March 2011.

The Austrian Wine Marketing Board (AWMB) has reported that a late frost has damaged more than 10% of Austrian vineyard area.

Tetra Pak, the world leader in its eponymous packaging, has announced that wine can be packed in its cartons in the UK for the first time

Pernod Ricard UK has promoted Chris Ellis to the role of commercial director of wines, with effect from July 1, 2012. 

The South African wine industry has launched a new seal, which will guarantee that the wine has been produced in line with fair labour practices, outlined and audited by the Wine Industry Ethical Trade Association (WIETA), which was established over a decade ago.

InterLoire, the interprofessional body for Loire wines has announced that 18 wines from AOC Touraine and Vins de Pays du Val de Loire 2011 vintage have been selected as “Ambassador wines” for the Sauvignon Blanc de Loire project this year.

The Chinese wine market of the future will feature more white and sweet red wines, according to a report by Wine Intelligence.

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

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

At Drinks International we offer impartial news and analysis of the global drinks industry. Here, on Wine Watch we voice our opinions on the wines that have passed through the pages of our magazine and website.

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

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

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

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

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

Pernod Ricard UK has unveiled an initiative titled ‘Building Premium Wine Brands’, to bring growth back to the UK light wine sector.

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

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

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

Accolade has launched a new wine under the Hardys brand at ProWein, Germany.

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

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

US: Beam has expanded its Skinnygirl range to include wine, a range of flavoured vodkas and a Piña Colada.

Consumers in Australia’s top two export markets are abandoning its wines for cheaper alternatives leaving producers wondering if Asia will grow big enough to compensate for US and UK declines. By Graham Holter

Patrón Spirits International will introduce its XO Café variant to China following an agreement with the Shanghai-based Telford Wine & Spirits.