Health warnings for pregnant women to appear on French bottles

Health warnings on bottles of wine, urging pregnant women not to drink alcohol, have been made compulsory by the French government.

Montrose sale contested by daughter

The daughter of the former owner of Chateau Montrose is going to court to fight the sale of the chateau that took place earlier this year.

Californian winemaker uses sunscreen to protect grapes

A biodynamic Californian winemaker is spraying his crop with a sunblock concoction to relieve his over-tanned grapes.

Bonny Doon sells off Big House, Cardinal Zin

Randall Grahm of Bonny Doon vineyards has sold off two brands to wine giant The Wine Group.

Five Oddbins stores to become Nicolas

Five Oddbins wine shops, in exclusive areas of London, are being converted to Nicolas stores – the French wine retail arm of owners Castel.

2006 French harvest: more of the same?

The 2006 French harvest is heading for a replay of 2005 with official reports showing similar harvest patterns and projected yields.

Hailstorms severely damage Champagne vineyards

Hailstorms ripped through swathes of Champagne vineyards this week, threatening potentially 10% of this year’s crop.

Duboeuf fined £21k for fraud

Top Beaujolais producer Georges Duboeuf has been found guilty of incorrectly labelling and blending over 200,000 litres of wine.

Vinexpo to return to US

Wine trade show Vinexpo is set to return to the US in 2009, decanter.com has learned.

EU plans radical overhaul of wine sector

The EU announced radical and far-reaching reforms for the wine sector today, acknowledging that the current situation of subsidies and legislation is ‘not sustainable’.

Scotland and Peru celebrate ancient link

Scotland’s legendary whisky island and a tiny Peruvian town are celebrating a remarkable discovery – they were once joined together.

Sweden ignites Israeli wine row

Sweden’s state-run drinks monopoly Systembolaget has run itself into trouble for the way it labels wine produced in the Golan Heights.

Radioactive waste ‘threatens’ Champagne

Leaking radioactive waste from a dump in the Champagne region is a ‘threat’ to its vineyards, says Greenpeace.

Bordeaux: Church steps in

The Archbishop of Bordeaux has called on the regions’ winemakers to show courage in the face of the wine crisis currently affecting the region.

EU to reduce aid to winemakers

In a drive to end the overproduction of wine in its member states, the European Union is set to reduce the amount of financial aid it gives to winemakers.

Pichon-Lalande in sale talks

Pichon-Lalande’s board of directors is in advanced takeover talks with the Hermes family, it was confirmed this morning.

Gallo rebrands

E&J Gallo, the second-biggest wine company in the world, is reinventing its wines to become Gallo Family Vineyards, it was announced today.

New company to target consumer at tastings

A new UK company has been set up to target the consumer at both trade and private wine tastings.

Constellation swallows Vincor

After six months of bids and rejections Canada’s Vincor International has finally ceded to a takeover bid by US wine giant Constellation Brands.

Pavie debate: Robinson speaks out

Jancis Robinson MW has responded to Robert Parker’s recent comments attacking British wine tasters with letters to the New York Times and International Herald Tribune.

Parker: I’m targeted and misunderstood

Robert Parker has launched a savage counterattack on Hugh Johnson and British wine writers.