Low and no-alcohol wines were once horrible parodies of the real thing. not any more, writes Jamie Goode.

Beam has announced the 2013 launch of Courvoisier Le Voyage de Napoleon, an exclusive travel retail range of cognacs.

Liqueurs de France has added a Swiss absinthe to its Enigma brand range, Enigma Verte Suisse.

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.

Maxxium Travel Retail (MTR) is raising the profile of Courvoisier and aiming to demystify the cognac category with its multi-sensory experience, ‘Le Nez de Courvoisier’ in the World Duty Free store at London Heathrow Terminal 5. 

Bacardi Limited is planning a raft of activity to celebrate its 150th birthday. Besides parties and commemorative gifts, the company is to launch a $2,000 limited-edition decanter of "rare" Bacardi rum.

Rémy Martin is to introduce a new expression of its VSOP cognac for the European market. VSOP Mature Cask Finish is to replace VSOP in Europe, while the rest of the world will continue to receive the original VSOP cognac.

The major Rioja producer, Marqués de Riscal, has held a charity auction in Beijing of 100 vintages dating from 1862 to 2005.

AXA Millesimes has released the 2009 Sauternes, Les Lions de Suduiraut, to global markets.

The Bureau National Interprofessionnel de l’Armagnac (BNIA) has reported that distillation in the region – ‘La Flamme de l’Armagnac’ - commenced yesterday (October 5).

Diageo has extended the Smirnoff Nightlife Exchange Project campaign with the release of city and country-themed bottles to selected global markets.

Grupo Codorníu has extended its Raimat range of wines with the addition of Castell de Raimat Xarel.lo-Chardonnay and Castell de Raimat Chardonnay Barrica.

Liqueurs de France has rolled out the launch of its Enigma absinthe range to the UK, in a bid to change consumer perceptions of the spirit.

A de Fussigny cognac has released XO 24 Carats Grand Champagne to North America, Europe, Asia and duty free.

Lanson International has launched a website to educate trade and consumers about champagne, called L‟Académie de Lanson.

Spanish wine group Baron de Ley-El Coto has announced the purchase of winery Carbonera-Bergasa as part of a €5m investment in Rioja white wines.

Drinks International Travel Retail Awards trophy winners were announced during the Tax Free World Association exhibition in Cannes this week (October 19).

Pernod Ricard has announced the disposal, by its subsidiary Domecq Bodegas, of Spanish wine brands Marqués de Arienzo and Viña Eguίa. The sale also includes the related Bodega and 358 hectares of vineyards and lands.

Chile: The Asociación de Viñas de Colchagua and the Colchagua Valley Wine Route have estimated a loss of 25 million litres of wine as a result of the earthquake.

Chile: Vinos de Chile has assessed earthquake damage and reported limited damage, though this amounts to a loss US$250 million.