By Robert Joseph

By Felicity Carter

Pancho Campo MW has burst onto the international wine scene in the past few years, seemingly out of nowhere.

Willi Klinger speaks to Felicity Carter

Austrian wines have come to increasingly prominent international attention, with their flagship white Grüner Veltliner leading the way. Influential sommeliers from markets as diverse as the USA and Australia have embraced the wines, making Austria a boutique star.

by Joel B. Payne

When ASC Fine Wines began business in 1996, China was not yet on the wine world’s radar screen; however, founding partners like Bollinger and Beringer believed in Don St Pierre Sr. In its first full year of business, ASC sold only 4,000 bottles. Today, St Pierre and his 41 year old son Don St Pierre Jr sell 5m bottles through seven warehouses in over 100 cities, accounting for roughly a fifth of all imported wine by value. Two years ago, they set up operations in Macau and have opened an office in Hong Kong, where Joel B. Payne spoke to Don St Pierre Jr.

by Robert Joseph

Bernard Magrez is an unusual figure in the world of alcoholic drinks. He has not only personally created leading brands in both wine and spirits, but has also recently launched a new form of wine globalisation, in the shape of a collection of more than three dozen super-premium, limited production wines from numerous countries, all sold under the Magrez brand.

 by Joel B. Payne

Vertical integration, an old business idea, has become a popular turn of phrase at conferences these days. Although Hawesko and its subsidiaries do not control production in the way Pernod Ricard can, they manage every other layer of activity on wine’s way to the client in its largest market, Germany, from being an importer, wholesaler and direct marketer to the owner of the country’s largest retail wine chain.

by Robert Joseph

While the early success of the Torres brand was created and built by his father, Miguel Torres Carbó, in the 1960s and early 1970s, it was Miguel Torres Junior who gained an international quality reputation for the family company. His winemaking techniques revolutionised both the Spanish and subsequently Chilean industries and his pioneering of single-vineyard wines opened the way for many of Spain's highest profile modern examples. Meininger’s spoke to him about his plans for the future.