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AROUND THE WORLD
“standfirst”>Less is More down under, Yields low, quality high for 2007 vintage in Australia’s cool climate regions drought and frost signify small harvests this year…Carlsberg in ‘Nam, Carlsberg has gained a further interest in the brewing industry in Vietnam…
Less is More down under
Yields low, quality high for 2007 vintage in Australia’s cool climate regions drought and frost signify small harvests this year for many of Australia’s winemakers but quality throughout cool-climate regions is looking good.
Hardy Wine Company group chief winemaker Peter Dawson says that this may be the earliest vintage on record.
Winemaker Susanne Bell of Stonehaven in Coonawarra has also seen crops reduced due to severe spring frosts but remains upbeat: “Good rain in the last few days of January has freshened everything up. Despite low crops, we expect very good parcels of Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon.”
Leasingham winemaker Simon Osicka has a positive outlook on conditions in Clare Valley: “Some rainfall in late December and mid January has been a godsend and has allowed the vines to continue to function properly in tough conditions; overall the balance of vineyards does look quite exciting from a winemaker’s prospective, albeit with low tonnage.”
Barossa Valley was one of the few regions which escaped the harsh September/October frosts. Stuart Bourne of Barossa Valley Estates comments: “This looks likely to be the earliest harvest I have seen in my six years at Barossa Valley but we have healthy canopies and overall vine condition is excellent. The dry winter led to small crops and berries which, from a winemaking point of view, mean more intense flavours.”
Carlsberg in ‘Nam
Carlsberg has gained a further interest in the brewing industry in Vietnam. The brewer has acquired a 10% stake in the country’s second-largest brewery, the state-owned Habeco.
This is the third move by Carlsberg in the region. The first involvement came in 1993 with the creation of the South East Asia Brewery with Viet Ha Brewery. The Danish brewer invested in another business in the area two years later.
The recent deal with Habeco forms part of plans to privatise the brewer, which involved selling a 24% share in its operations. The new partnership provides both companies with a market-leading position in north and central Vietnam. The deal also includes aspects such as technology transfer and assistance with marketing.
Danish development minister Ulla Tørnæs commented: “This partnership means investment into Vietnam, creation of jobs, provision of quality products to the market and, not least, increased government tax revenues for other development and social purposes.”
Russian expansion for colas
Both pepsi and Coca-Cola have unveiled plans for expanded production in Russia. Russian newspaper Vedomosti confirmed that Coca-Cola will soon begin work on a major East European plant in Rostov-on-Don, an investment worth US$100 million. Coca-Cola recently promised a total investment of US$3 billion into the country in the next five to eight years. PepsiCo also announced plans for a production facility in Moscow, as well as plans to investigate further opportunities in the Rostov region in the south. The planned plant will be built in the Domodedovo district of Moscow. There is speculation Pepsi may also build a factory in Russia to produce Frito Lay snacks. Pepsi also announced a new joint venture in Russia last month. The company, called PR Beverages limited, combines the Pepsi Bottling Group and PepsiCo’s business in the area.Coca-Cola has turned its attention to international markets following declining US volume sales. The company has volume growth targets of 3% to 4% per year and revenue growth between 5% and 6%. Other regions delivering growth for Coca-Cola include the Middle East, Latin America, China, India and North and West Africa.
Bacardi’s Rum Appeal
the legal battle over the Havana Club trademark in Spain is set to continue after Bacardi appealed a recent decision made by the Madrid Provincial Court. The court ruled in favour of Havana Club International, the joint venture between Cuban company Corporation Cuba Ron and Pernod Ricard, upholding an earlier decision by the Madrid Court of First Instance.The dispute originates with the seizure of Havana Club distilleries in Cuba, then owned by the Arechabala family, during the Cuban Revolution of 1959. Havana Club International was then formed in 1993, and now exports Havana Club to 124 countries. As a Cuban product, embargoes prevent the brand being sold in the US, however. Bacardi, as part of an alliance with the Arechabalas, has since launched Havana Club in the US, whose Supreme Court has not recognised any right to the trademark by Havana Club International.In a statement following the recent decision in Madrid, Havana Club International has emphasised the fact that the Arechabalas had failed to renew the trademark in Spain, but Bacardi intends to demonstrate “that the Arechabalas had been seeking industry partners for many years in order to relaunch the brand”, according to Bacardi spokesperson Patricia Neal.Neal added that “trademarks are territorial, and civilised nations around the world do not recognise claims to ownership of trademarks based on foreign confiscation”. According to Bacardi, the Spanish court did indeed recognise that “confiscation is not a valid right to ownership”.Havana Club International CEO, Marc Beuve Mery, commented that “this new ruling confirms the indisputable rights of Havana Club Holding to the Havana Club brand”. Part of the Madrid Provincial Court’s ruling also argued that international treaties between Spain and Cuba prevent rum produced anywhere other than Cuba from being marketed using the word “Havana”.
Bacardi's appeal has already been accepted by the court, and will now go to the Supreme Court for review.
Remembering a Special Man
Bodega el portillo’s chief winemaker died in a car accident in late February near Chilecito in the province of La Rioja in Argentina. Mauricio Fogliati, who trained at the Technical School of Oenology and Viticulture in Mendoza and at the Universidad Don Bosco, was 36 years old, and is survived by his wife, as well as two children.After gaining experience in La Rioja in Spain, as well as at the La Riojana cooperative north of Mendoza, he joined Bodega El Portillo, which is a part of the Salentein Wine Group. One of Fogliati’s main achievements was his redefinition of Torrontés in a Riesling style.
Bottle Green’s wine director, Nick Butler, was a friend of Fogliati and worked with him at La Riojana. He commented: “In a world of overblown vinous egos, Mauricio’s humble open-minded warmth made him ‘selección especial’.“
India to drop duty
india has suggested that a reduction of the duty charged on imported wine and spirits is likely.Commenting in New Delhi, Kamal Nath, the country’s commerce and industry minister, explained that “India wants to avoid the matter going to the WTO dispute settlement body.” A complaint was filed by the US government last month with the WTO, requesting dispute settlement talks with India. The current duties on imported wine and spirits can amount to 550%. India has allegedly pledged to lower these tariffs to 150%.
Susan Schwab, US trade representative, explained that “with its fast-growing middle class, India could be an important export market for American wines and distilled spirits if not for these layers of duties.”
Wine Lovers Guide Online
New website lovethatwine.com is to be fronted by ex-Somerfield buyer Angela Mount and former Kumala chief Mike Paul. UK distributor Thierry’s, which initially developed the project, has divested itself of its interest and Mount, along with Rob Buckhaven, formerly of Thierry’s, are to take over the day-to-day running. “Our aim is to become the wine resource of choice for today’s wine consumer,” said Mount, “we aim to inform and inspire consumers, to deepen their involvement in wine while benefiting the wine category, producers and retailers alike.”
The ethos behind the site is based on tripadvisor.com and aims to give free and impartial guidance to the consumer while working with retailers and importers alike.
Vintage find
“talk about terroir,” said Cristina Marian-May of Castello Banfi when the remains of a five million year-old whale were discovered at the vineyard estate. The vertebrae and ribs of the Pliocene era whale are the largest and oldest discoveries of this kind in this part of Tuscany, and were found by archeologists studying the maritime soils of the vineyard. Roman and Etruscan artifacts have also been unearthed.
© db April 2007