NEWS FETCH – APRIL 24, 2012

TOP NEWS

• Wine Executive News: Barrel Stop, Blackstone, American Wine Distr., WineGavel
• Wine: Washington, “Fine, California, “Jug”
• EU Imports Poised To Kick U.S. Wine Biz Butt?
• Wine’s Future: Tighten Up
• So are wine prices going up, down, or what?
• World Wine Trade Increases 11% on Chinese Demand
• Westpac forecasts brief fall in $A
• Top 10 wine consuming countries 2014
• Russian Court Invalidates Cristal Trademark
• James Suckling: Quebec payments were ‘not for tastings’
• Shannon Ridge Acquires High Valley Vineyard
• Sustainability is Good Business

MATTERS OF TASTE

• Is Wine Expertise Genetic?
• Master Sommelier Unlocks Hidden Code of Wine Tasting
• The Food Science of Wine and Chocolate
• Is the US Palate Changing?

AG, GROWER & CELLAR NEWS

• Rising alcohol not nature’s fault
• Influence of Geographical Location on Volatile Composition of Spanish Oak
• A bung for all seasons

PUBLIC COMPANIES, INVESTING & AUCTIONS

• Rémy Cointreau fortifies growth
• Diageo Remains Neutral
• Wine Packaging Maverick Rejects Investors
• Beam’s Vodka Shot Sobers M&A Speculation
• Acker Merrall: 2nd 2010 Auction: $3.6 Million, 97.5% Sold

U.S. REGIONAL WINE NEWS

• Banfi Appoints RNDC Distributor in FL, SC
• AL: Legislature 2012: Winery assn addresses wine bill worries
• AZ: Yavapai College seeks volunteers to plant vineyard
• CT: Wine Nation Store Opens in Norwalk
• OH: Warren County winery-brewery to add distillery
• VA: Farmers first, winemakers second
• VA: Tareq Salahi sued by Virginia AG over winery-tour business, calls it a ‘witch hunt”
• VA: State sues White House crasher over wine tours
• WA: Heat provides a boost for Yakima Valley crops
• WA: Walla Walla winemaker is wrangling different terroir
• WA: Walter Clore wine center about 17 months away from opening

EUROPE

• Bordeaux wine: is it worth the money?
• Abrau-Durso to release still wine
• Spanish wine trader eyes Chinese market
• New winery for Smith Haut Lafitte’s second wine
• Do EU organic rules for wine leave glass half empty?
• Rioja star’s rebel heart

THE UK

• Australian wine exports to UK slide
• British demand for cheap wine pushes down prices
• UK: D&D Wines enters administration
• Demon Drink: Exhibition to focus on UK temperance movement
• Don’t Call It A Malbec: Europe Sours On British Winery’s Plan

AUSTRALIA

• Global superstores a threat to Hunter Valley wine industry
• Vinomofo Triples after Being Acquired by Catch of the Day
• Barossa wary of urban sprawl protection

ASIA & PACIFIC RIM

• India’s drinks market lucrative
• China continues love affair with Burgundy at auction
• Increasing number of Australian imported wine to Ningbo

AROUND THE GLOBE

• Malbec: from Cinderella in the 1980´s to Queen of the ball in 2000
• Israeli Vintage milestones

NOT JUST FOR THE TRADE

• 6 Family-Friendly Wineries