March, 17, 2011 AUS: Foster's demerger lifts takeover chance

The proposed demerger of the wine and beer units of global beverages firm Foster's Group Ltd is in shareholders' best interests, partly because it increases the chances of a takeover, an independent expert says. "Foster's shareholders are ultimately likely to be better off if the proposed demerge...

March, 17, 2011 US: Harris Teeter and E&J Gallo Winery put off plans for wine club

Harris Teeter and E&J Gallo Winery have tabled plans to partner and bring Harris Teeter shoppers a digital wine club. This week, the companies withdrew their request for an exemption to state alcohol laws that would have cleared the way for the club. The sticking point: a state law that prohib...

March, 16, 2011 US: Anger over Walmart selling drunken leprechaun wine for St.Patrick's Day

Walmart is marketing drunken leprechaun wine to their customers this St.Patrick’s Day. The white wine bottles replete with a drunken leprechaun ready to swig from the bottle are on sale in their stores. This photograph was taken in Albuquerque New Mexico by Trish Meyer, originally from Dublin. ...

March, 16, 2011 France: Piper-Heidsieck and Charles Heidsieck sold to EPI

Champagne Piper-Heidsieck and Charles Heidsieck have been bought by French company Societe Europeenne de Participations Industrielles (EPI), Decanter.com can confirm. No details have yet been given but Decanter.com can confirm that EPI will not split the company, and there will be no major staff cha...

March, 16, 2011 France: Château Latour Owner Purchases Château-Grillet

French billionaire François Pinault has purchased Château-Grillet, adding a small gem in France’s Northern Rhône Valley to his Group Artemis, which includes the first-growth Château Latour in Pauillac and Domaine d’Eugenie in Burgundy. The price of the deal was undisclosed. Château-Grill...

March, 15, 2011 U.S. Passes France for First Time as World's Biggest Wine-Consuming Nation

The U.S. passed France as the world’s largest wine-consuming nation for the first time, lifted by its larger population and an interest in wine-and-cheese culture among young Americans. Wine shipments to the U.S. climbed 2 percent to 329.7 million cases last year, according to Gomberg, Fredrikson ...

March, 15, 2011 US: Acker Merrall & Condit Internet Wine Auction Tops $1 Million for Second Straight Month

(BUSINESS WIRE)--Reflecting both the growing worldwide interest in fine wine and the rebounding global economy, pre-eminent wine merchant Acker Merrall & Condit said that sales at its March internet wine auction topped $1 million. This is the firm’s second consecutive monthly internet auction to g...

March, 15, 2011 Argentine winemakers set sights on Asian markets

(Reuters) - Winemakers in Mendoza, where prized Malbec vines grow beneath Andean peaks, celebrated the end of grape-picking this month with a traditional parade of harvest queens and floats laden with flowers. But with festivities over for another year, Argentine vineyards have turned their atten...