Paul Medder, Wine Intelligence's country manager for Brazil, offers the latest on plans to introduce protectionism in the burgeoning Brazilian wine market.

Jancis Robinson MW has been awarded the Commendador do Ordem do Mérito Empresarial – Classe do Mérito Agricola - for services to Portuguese Wine at a private event hosted by the Portuguese ambassador at his residence in London.

UK alcohol charity Drinkaware has appointed Elaine Hindal as its new chief executive. She succeeds Chris Sorek, who returned to the US earlier in the year. Hindal is to take up the post in January 2013.

The Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) has called for further sanctions on producers and distributors of imitation scotch in China.

SABMiller has announced that chairman and managing director of The South African Breweries (Pty) Limited, Norman Adami, will become the new chairman, SABMiller Beverages South Africa.

Chivas Brothers, the scotch whisky and premium gin business of Pernod Ricard, intends to build a new malt whisky distillery and has begun the planning process for a site in Speyside.

Stock Spirits Group has sold orange liqueur brand Gran Gala to its US importer Sazerac Company, for an undisclosed sum.

The Italia del Vino Consortium has called on the entire Italian wine sector to work together to construct and enact a national strategy to attack emerging markets for wine.

Diageo has announced that it has applied for planning permission to double the capacity of Glen Ord, a Highland malt whisky distillery near Inverness.

The People's Republic of China has recognised Napa Valley's Geographic Indication (GI) status.  

English Wine Producers has announced that harvesting of varieties for sparkling wine production for the 2012 vintage is now underway.

Wine producers looking for growth opportunities in Europe should be thinking about Finland, Norway and Sweden, according to a report from Wine Intelligence.

Pernod Ricard has announced that Paul Duffy has been appointed chairman & CEO of Absolut.

A series of actions designed to strengthen and expand existing efforts to reduce the harmful use of alcohol, have been agreed by the world’s leading producers of beer, wine and spirits.

The 28^th Nedbank Cape Winemakers’ Guild Auction recorded the highest turnover ever of R5,739,000*, excluding VAT, with a sellout of all the wines.

William Grant & Sons, the independent family distiller which owns Glenfiddich has topped the £1 billion turnover mark for the first time.

Guala Closures, a leading maker of aluminium closures for spirits and wines, has bought the Metal Closures division of South African company, MCG Industries.

The Napa Valley Vintners Association (NVVA) has announced that Brazil has recognised the famous Californian wine producing region has Geographical Indication (GI) status.

Maison Sichel, the Bordeaux-based producer and negociant, has announced the appointment of the 23-year-old son of Sichel’s current president and managing director to the business

The Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) has announced that scotch whisky exports have increased in value by 12% in the 12 months to the end of June 2012.

Steve Gerrard has been appointed managing director of UK wine agency Barwell & Jones with immediate effect.

The BNIC’s seventh annual La Part Des Anges charity auction has raised a record €136,800/£108,500 from the sale of fine and rare cognacs.

The Cape 2012 trade exhibition, which took place last week in Cape Town, was the “best ever”, according to the chairman of Wines of South Africa (Wosa), Johann Krige.

Heineken has strenghtened its position in Asia with the US$4.3bn deal to buy Fraser & Neave’s interest in Asia Pacific Breweries (APB).

Global spirits groups and aspiring brands were present at the second annual Moscow Bar Show (MBS) this week to capitalize on Russian bartenders and distributors’ growing interest in international spirits. 

Troy Christensen, Accolade Wines' American CEO, is not a man encumbered with traditional values. Wine may traditionally come in 75cl bottles with a cork closure but what interests him is the move to pouches, bag-in-box and ready-to-serves (RTS).

A leading South African businessman has called for the Rainbow nation’s wine industry to work towards becoming the world’s number one producer.

Spain, Portugal and Italy have joined Bulgaria in objecting to Scotland’s plans to introduce minimum unit pricing for alcohol.

Drinks giants Diageo and United Spirits have confirmed they are in talks over Diageo acquiring a stake in United Spirits.

A member of the Sandeman port family has died in a skydiving accident.

Czech brewer Pilsner Urquell is launching a limited edition 1 litre bottle to commemorate its 170^th anniversary.

Morrison Bowmore has released the oldest ever Bowmore whisky, the £100,000 (US$155,000) Bowmore 1957.

US: Playboy Enterprises has launched Playboy Wine Club for US wine enthusiasts. 

Wemyss Malts has launched Lord Elcho to capitalize on the global surge in interest in blended scotch whiskies.

The Drambuie company, owners of one of the famous liqueur brands, has announced an operating profit of 9%, based on constant exchange rates for the year to June 2012.

CEO of CA Grands Crus, Thierry Budin, has predicted this year’s Bordeaux vintage could surpass that of 2011, despite an unseasonably wet July in the south west corner of France.

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.

The major Australian volume wine producer, Australian Vintage (AVL) has appointed Julian Dyer to general manager UK & Europe on a permanent basis.

The Bureau National Interprofessionnel du Cognac (BNIC) has announced shipments of cognac have risen by 4.3%, with growth in Asia and North America off-setting a European decline.

Inter-Rhône is predicting the 2012 harvest to reach 1.5 million hectolitres for the Côtes du Rhône regional appellations and 3m hl for the Rhône Valley.

The Ned winemaker Brent Marris has dismissed suggestions that Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc has reached saturation point, countering that in global terms the style's journey has just begun.

Inter Beaujolais has announced that its new president is Bruno Mallet of Les Vins Aujoux.

South Africa-based liquor company, Distell is expanding its presence in China with the acquisition of a 60% share in liquor distribution company CJ Wines & Spirits.

Chivas Brothers boss Christian Porta has told journalists and analysts today that the next significant development for its scotch whisky business will be to build a new distillery.

Diageo has announced that it is submiting pre-planning applications for three potential locations for a new malt whisky distillery.

Campari is to acquire Wray & Nephew, Appleton Estate and Coruba rum brands for US$414.8m.

The Austrian Wine Marketing Board has announced that it expects a smaller harvest this year but the quality should be high.

US: Campari America has unveiled plans for a $4m visitor centre at its Wild Turkey distillery in Lawrenceburg, Kentucky.

Pernod Ricard has achieved its highest-level of growth since before the global recession, thanks to strong sales in Asia and a rallying performance in mature markets.  

Pernod Ricard has announced board changes, following the sudden death of Patrick Ricard, which sees Alexandre Ricard step up preparation to become chairman and CEO in January 2015.