The head of the wine council for Beaujolais has revealed that the region is hoping to gain appellation status for its sparkling wines, although approval is expected to take around five years. Beaujolais has been producing a small quantity of sparkling wines over the past few decades, but labelled as table wines under the Vins de France classification. Jean Bourjade, managing director of Inter Beaujolais, said a sparkling Beaujolais appellation would not try to compete with well-established sparkling wines.

Accolade Wine’s South African Fish Hoek brand has become the supplier’s first fully certified Fairtrade range. The company said there are now more producers in South Africa with Fairtrade accreditation, which made it possible for them to convert the brand. Marketing director Amy White said: “With the expansion of Fairtrade in recent years we are confident that we have secured a long-term, quality supply source and we have been and will continue to work with local growers to ensure consistency and quality for years to come.

Agency company Bancroft Wines is aiming to build its business in on-trade national accounts and expand its footprint in independent wine merchants as it enters its second quarter of a century. The company, founded by Adam Brancroft MW as Adam Adam Bancroft Associates celebrates its 25th anniversary at an event in London this week. Neil McAndrew, managing director, said he hoped to become a more significant player while remaining focused on the model of small and medium sized family wine producers.

Ten thousand people took part in the ‘battle of wine’ festival in Haro, Rioja, throwing 130,000 litres of red wine at each other. The annual festival – named ‘La Batalla del Vino’ in Spanish – is held on 29 June for St Peter’s Day. It starts with traditions that have been maintained for three centuries, including a procession with the town mayor, and a pilgrimage to the Hermitage of San Felices de Bilibio, the patron saint of Haro – before the battle of wine begins.

International wine makers should seriously consider Germany at a time when consumers are willing to pay more and discounters are premiumising the segment, says Wine Intelligence. The research organisation’s new German Wine Market Landscape 2015 report found the average price for gifting wines in the market had risen in the past two years, while wines for formal dinner parties were also up over the same period.