Slight slowdown in cognac sales
19 mars 2008
Sales of cognac have slowed slightly with a 0.1% fall in outgoings between March 2007 and February 2008 (-3% to the US market, -26.5% in bulk trading but +67.1% to China).

Berthomeau.com focusing on cognac
19 mars 2008
The blog devoted to winegrowing news run by Jacques Berthomeau, formerly the representative of the Agriculture minister Jean Glavany in the Cognac vineyards, is currently focusing on cognac, including interviews with three leading figures : Yann Fillioux for the negoce, Bernard Guionnet for the winegrowers and Pierre Lacarrière, the president of the BNIC.

Most expensive champagne in the world
19 mars 2008
Pernod-Ricard (Martell cognac) is launching, under its Perrier-Jouet brand, the most expensive 75 cl bottle of champagne in the world at 4,166 euros, available in a limited edition case of 12 for 50,000 euros.

What future for winegrowing in the Charente ?
19 mars 2008
The Charente winegrowers and distillers’ union (SVBC) is organizing 8 meetings on the theme "For the future of winegrowing", starting on 10 April. Info : 05.45.35.11.40

Winegrowers found guilty at Saintes
14 mars 2008
About twenty winegrowers have appeared in court at Saintes charged with failing to deliver for mandatory distillation their surplus production of wines for double use in 2004-2005 and 2005-2006. The court only accepted the case of fraud for 2005-2006. Two winegrowers were discharged and the others were ordered to pay fines ranging from 300 to 500 euros and penalties of 1,900 to 141,000 euros. A similar case is to be heard on 18 March.

Fête de la vigne in Grande-Champagne on 6 July
14 mars 2008
Ten communes in the Grande-Champagne area of the Charente are preparing the second Fête de la vigne (vine festival) which will take place on 6 July.

224 delegates for the SGV
13 mars 2008
The SGV winegrowers union for the defense of the cognac appellation designated its 224 delegates in the Charente and Charente-Maritime on 12 March. The executive committee will be appointed in May.

Winegrowers meetings
13 mars 2008
The Winegrowers and distillers union is to organize a series of meetings for winegrowers on the theme “For the future of winegrowing” : 18 March at Matha, 20 March at Sigogne, 25 March at Pons, 26 March at Gemozac, 27 March at Louzac-Saint-André, 1 April at Archiac, 3 April at Segonzac, 8 April at Châteauneuf and 10 April at Barbezieux. In addition, the vins de pays charentais producers union, and the promotion committee for vins de pays charentais held their general assemblies in Cognac on Wednesday.

Martell pulling Pernod-Ricard
7 mars 2008
Pernod-Ricard has just announced net sales of 3.7 billion euros in the first half-year (+10%) with net profits of 588 million euros (+17.7%). Top-of-the-range products are driving sales, following the example of Martell which has progressed by +27%.

Syndicats des maisons de négoce
7 mars 2008
The Croizet cognac house at St-Même has joined the recently founded union of cognac houses.