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

Australian wine producer Australian Vintage (AVL) has hailed the 2012 vintage from the Sunraysia and the Riverland wine region as ‘exceptional’ and one of the best in the past two decades.

Pernod Ricard’s CEO Piere Pringuet has spoken out about Havana Club’s flat half-year sales growth, branding its performance “disappointing”.

Diageo has delivered 3% volume growth and 7% organic net sales increase for the six months ended December 31, 2011.

Global business consultancy McKinney Rogers has appointed a former Bacardi USA president to its board.

Beam Inc, the US-based global spirits company, has reported full-year net sales increases of 8%.

Central European Distribution Corporation (CEDC) has signed a five-year exclusive agreement to distribute Beam brands in Poland.

Altia Plc is buying the Xanté Company and the Xanté spirits brand from the Swedish Tilander family.

Central European Distribution Corporation (CEDC) has signed an exclusive distribution agreement with La Martiniquaise to distribute Label 5 whisky in Russia. La Martiniquaise announced the tie-up in December 2011.

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.

Irish Distillers Pernod Ricard has confirmed it will spend €100m on the 2012 expansion of its Midleton Single Distillery, the site where Jameson is produced.

Central European spirits and liqueurs company Stock Spirits Group is gearing up to acquire new business.

The board of Alcohol Concern, the anti-alcohol lobby group in the UK, has announced a restructuring of its senior management following the loss of core funding with the role of the CEO becoming part time for a year alongside the recruitment of a full time director of fundraising and campaigning.

English wines have come of age – Georg Riedel has chosen suitable stemware for their wines.

Sobieski vodka owner Belvedere has appointed Krzysztof Trylinski as chairman and chief executive officer of the group. He aims to clear the company's debt by selling two of its brands.

Russian Standard vodka owner Roust and Rémy Cointreau have announced the expansion of their partnership in Russia which will include the distribution of additional Rémy Cointreau brands.

Pernod Ricard has announced a number of staff changes.

Owsley Brown II, former chairman and CEO of Brown-Forman has died after a brief illness. He was 69 years old.

Angostura Holdings has announced the departure of managing director and CEO Wayne Yip Choy, effective September 21, 2011.

SPI Group has agreed a new distribution deal with Velier, for the entire Stolichnaya portfolio in Italy.

A five-litre demijohn of 1985 Cognac Frapin has sold for €15,000 at a charity auction.

The Tax Free World Association’s World Exhibition in the famous French resort of Cannes opened today (Monday September 5). Christian Davis reports from Cannes. 

US-based synthetic closure brand, Nomacorc, has announced it registered 10% year-on-year growth during Q1 and Q2 of 2011.

Absolut Vodka, part of the Pernod Ricard group, has revealed that its annual sales value and volume grew by 6% during the period July 1 2010 to June 30 2011. 

The Glenmorangie Company has promoted chief operating officer Paul Skipworth to the post of president and managing director.

StarBev has announced ‘significant investments’ in its Staropramen brand, as it eyes international expansion.

Japanese brewer Kirin has bought the outstanding shares in Aleadri-Schinni Participações e Representações S.A. (“Aleadri”), a company that holds 50.45% of the outstanding shares of Schincariol Participações e Representações SA (Brazil; CEO: Adriano Schincariol: “Schincariol”).

Constellation Brands has added Keith Wandell, president and chief executive officer of Harley- Davidson to its board.

Owners of traditional products such as champagne and cognac need to show some humility in their dealings with new emerging markets, according to the president and CEO of Groupe Renaud Cointreau.

South Africa: The KWV board has announced that CEO Thys Loubser (pictured) has resigned as company CEO with immediate effect.

Carlos Santana has become joint owner of Casa Noble tequila in Mexico.

Foster's Group has announced the appointment of Andy Gibson to the role of chief marketing officer. Andy is expected to start in the role on November 1.

Irish Distillers CEO Alexandre Ricard (pictured) is to leave his post to join Pernod’s group general management team in Paris.

Drinks International’s Hamish Smith catches up with Vinexpo CEO Robert Beynat at 2011 show.

The CEO of the Fladgate Partnership has called for the quality standard of rosé port to be raised.

Drambuie has announced the appointment of Michael Kennedy as future CEO and added Brendan O’Neill and Jonathan Brown to its board of directors.

Heinemann Asia Pacific, a subsidiary of Germany-based duty free retailer and distributor Gebr Heinemann, has appointed Paul Topping to the role of director.

Cork producer Amorim recorded double-digit volume growth in 2010.

US distributors Glazer’s has appointed Robert Swartz as chief operating officer and Phil Meacham as executive vice president malt beverages.

Diageo has struck an agreement to acquire Turkey's "leading" spirits company, Mey Içki.

Irish Distillers Pernod Ricard has launched two new whiskeys.

New Zealand: An organic wine group has set a goal for 20% of New Zealand vineyards to be organic by 2020.

Czech beer Budvar bucked a 12% decline in Czech beer exports in 2010 to record growth of 4%.

Jameson has reached three million nine litre case sales (MAT ending October 31). According to the brand, growth in the US, Jameson’s largest export market, contributed to its milestone success, with one million cases sold.

First Cape Wines has announced it will sponsor the British and Irish Lions rugby tour of Australia in 2013.

Central European Distribution Corporation (CEDC) is to purchase the global rights for Kauffman vodka.

Elitemarket.com has created a virtual cellar for online shoppers to view, research and buy single malt scotch whiskies.

Diageo chief executive Paul Walsh has been selected by the UK prime minister David Cameron to advise on business and economic issues.

LVMH has appointed a new CEO for Maison Moet et Chandon.

Estonian alcohol producer AS Liviko has acquired 50% of a Japanese alcohol import and distribution company.