just-drinks.com editorial team – French wine cooperative Mont Tauch has appointed Jean-Philippe Trollet as its first head winemaker. Trollet will join Mont Tauch, based in southern France’s Languedoc region, from Skalli Group’s Caves Saint Pierre. He was named red winemaker of the year in 2009 by judges for the International Wine Challenge (IWC).
Stuart Todt - One of Bordeaux’s largest AOC wine cooperatives, La Cave des Hauts de Gironde (CHG), is investing EUR13m in a restructuring and expansion programme. Work will start next month on a 6,500sqm extension to facilities at the co-op’s HQ in Marcillac, comprising a bottling line and storage area for finshed products. Both should be ready by spring 2011, said CHG this week.
by decanter.com staff -Decanter readers will have the chance to meet top Piedmont producers at a rare London tasting. The Highlights from Piedmont event will bring together top wineries from Barolo, Barbaresco, Alba and Langhe e Roero at the Institute of Directors in London on 20 September.
by Maggie Rosen – A sparkling Riesling from New York’s Finger Lakes region has taken the top prize at the 25th New York Wine & Food Classic competition. Swedish Hill Riesling Cuvée NV, which sells for US$18 (£11.50), was awarded the Governor’s Cup for best in show.
Dick Peterson, owner of Swedish Hill, one of the largest wineries in the region,
by Jane Anson – A new service called Vignerons a la Maison has launched in France, offering consumers the opportunity to have a winemaker come to their house, and hold a tasting of their wines. Director and founder Philippe Kazek will launch the business in September following a survey of more than 200 wine