Christian Wölffer dies
Long Island vintner Christian Wölffer has died in a swimming accident in Brazilian waters.

Italian Sparkling wine exports blossom
Italy's sparkling wine exports registered a 29% increase in sales last year, with UK sales rising nearly 100%.

Chateau Latour for sale
Bordeaux first growth property Chateau Latour is reported to be for sale, and French mogul Bernard Magrez may be among its suitors.

Christmas wine sales: UK retailers say results are 'mixed' - or say nothing
UK retailers have said pre-Christmas wine sales have been 'mixed' – while many have declined to comment altogether.

Sebastiani sold to Foley Wine Group
Californian wine company Sebastiani Vineyards is set to be sold to US wine group Foley for an undisclosed sum, it was announced yesterday.

German scientist logs Champagne cork speed
A German scientist has managed to register the speed of a Champagne cork as it leaves the bottle.

Riunite & CIV buys Gruppo Italiano Vini
Italian co-operative Riunite & CIV has bought Italy's largest wine firm, Gruppo Italiano Vini (GIV).

Demoted St-Emilion chateaux return to 2006 classification
The French Senate has allowed the eight St-Emilion chateaux demoted in the region's classification to return to their 2006 status.

Fischer Boel: no more Aussie champagne but reverse osmosis OK
Australia has agreed to stop using terms such as Champagne, Sherry, Port and Chablis as part of a new EU-Australia Wine Agreement. In exchange, the EU will allow imports of reduced alcohol Australian wine made via reverse osmosis.

New York grocery stores to sell wine?
New York's governor, David Paterson, proposed on Tuesday that the state's 19,000 grocery and convenience stores be allowed to sell wine.

Christie's closes South Kensington wine dept
Christie's is closing its South Kensington wine department at the end of the week.

America overtakes France in UK
American wine sales overtook French in the UK for the first time this year.

Wolf Blass: Australia will hit rock bottom
Australia will hit rock bottom in the face of competition from South Africa, veteran winemaker Wolf Blass has warned.

Krug appoints new CEO
The new CEO of Krug Champagne, Margareth Henriquez, will take up her post in January.

Moueix of Petrus: 2008 en primeur campaign at risk
The en primeur campaign for the 2008 vintage may not happen, warns Château Petrus owner Jean-François Moueix.

Crushpad sells wine futures against economic crisis
A San Francisco cooperative is selling futures in a new wine called ‘Bailout' - inspired by the economic crisis.

NASA technology found to remove cork taint
A process designed by NASA scientists to remove airborne contaminants can eliminate TCA as well.

DRC to make Corton
Domaine de la Romanée-Conti is to make red wine in the Corton appellation for the first time.

Judd to leave Cloudy Bay
Founding winemaker of Cloudy Bay Kevin Judd is to leave the winery after the 2009 vintage.

Lagerfeld, Dom Perignon pay homage to Claudia Schiffer's breasts
Moët Hennessy Champagne brand Dom Pérignon is releasing a glass modelled after supermodel Claudia Schiffer's breasts, according to press reports.