October, 26, 2010 Italian coffee brand takes up Brunello wine

(Reuters)- Coffee, tea, chocolate or wine? Italy's illycaffe has branched out from coffee beans, tea leaves and cocoa to produce some of the country's most iconic wines. Riccardo Illy, 55-year-old chairman of Gruppo illy S.p.A., is a former ski instructor, politician and author. Two years ago, ju...

October, 26, 2010 FRANCE: Muscadet wine crisis descends into vandalism

Vandals have laid waste to hundreds of thousands of litres of Muscadet wine as the French region faces one of the toughest periods in its recent history. Nine vats of Muscadet have been deliberately emptied at a production plant run by the Caves de la Nantaise co-operative in Le Pallet, near Nantes,...

October, 26, 2010 Lafite '08 bottles to feature Chinese symbol

Chateau Lafite Rothschild's 2008 bottle is to feature the Chinese symbol for the figure eight in celebration of the First Growth's new vineyard venture in China. The symbol, which is considered especially lucky in China, will be on every bottle and magnum of Lafite 2008. A spokesperson for Lafite...

October, 26, 2010 LVMH Hermes stake fuels Diageo sale rumours

Rumours that UK drinks colossus Diageo might buy Moët Hennessy have been reignited after parent company LVMH took a stake in luxury goods business Hermès. Speculation has resurfaced that the French company could look to offload its €12bn drinks division – which has brands including Moët, Krug...

October, 26, 2010 60 growers file for bankruptcy amid Muscadet 'meltdown'

Up to one-third of Muscadet's wine growers are facing financial ruin thanks to a 'meltdown' in export markets amid unsustainable pricing levels.According to Loire Valley wine broker Charles Sydney, around 60 Muscadet vignerons have filed for bankruptcy since this year’s harvest. A total of 150-...

October, 25, 2010 Foster's: no further talks with private equity on wine unit

(Reuters) - Australian brewer Foster's (FGL.AX) has held no further discussions with the private equity suitor that made an up to $2.5 billion offer for its wine business in September, Chairman David Crawford told reporters on Tuesday. Crawford added there have been no talks about the wine busine...

October, 25, 2010 Iowa Wine Industry is Growing

From 13 wineries and just two vineyards a decade ago, to more than 85 state-licensed wineries and more than 413 vineyards covering more than 1,200 acres this year, the Iowa wine industry is growing quickly, due, in part, to the help of Iowa State University. There are vineyards in 95 counties and...

October, 25, 2010 Olympic ski champion Bode Miller sees future as a wine-maker

(Reuters) - Olympic ski champion Bode Miller, who once confessed to racing with a hangover, is now thinking of a future steeped in the business of drinking. The larger-than-life American has no immediate thoughts of quitting top level alpine racing -- he is having too much fun -- but said he planned...