The Apprentice's Tom Gearing

The contestants on the popular show are given the task of making an online advert and website championing English sparkling wine.

Lord Sugar is joined on the judging panel by Julia Trustram Eve from English Wine Producers, Camel Valley’s Sam Lindo and Bibendum MD Michael Saunders. Part of the show was filmed at Bibendum’s offices.

Team Phoenix has a distinctive advantage going into the task as they have fine wine investor Tom Gearing in their team and he becomes project manager.

Meanwhile rival team Sterling plans a wedding themed advert where the bride plumps for English fizz over Champagne.

The winning team will be revealed on BBC One tonight at 9pm.

Defending his decision to make his Châteauneuf-du-Pape Barbe Rac and Croix de Bois purely from Grenache, he stated, when speaking at the first trade tasting of his 2011s, “Complexity is coming from the blending of bacteria in the soils… I believe that the blending of grapes is a short cut for complexity.”

Continuing, he pointed out that “probably the best wine region in the world, Burgundy, doesn’t blend grapes,” while he recorded that before phylloxera ravaged France’s vineyards, “There wasn’t much blending of grapes even though they could plant grapes everywhere – blending grapes is not an old trade.”

Furthermore, he described the blending of Cabernet Sauvignon with other grape varieties as “one of the defects of Bordeaux,” adding that achieving complexity in wine was an “agronomic problem, not a winemaking problem”.

However, he said that the results from a rich and varied bacterial soil life would only be expressed in a fermented product.

“The alchemy of the fermentation is the best lawyer for the theory of terroir,” he said.

Chapoutier explained that bacteria around the roots of the vine facilitate the transfer of minerals in the soil, which in turn affect the yeast populations on the grapes and in the must, and hence the flavour profile of the wine.

“The roots by themselves are not able to assimilate minerality, they can only absorb organic richness, so the bacteria will make the transmission,” he began.

He then compared the process to breast-feeding, saying, “If a mother liquefied some meat and gave it to a two month old baby it could not take it, but the mother will need to eat the meat and the bacteria will assimilate the protein which will be transferred to the milk.”

In the vineyard he exemplified, “On limestone the bacteria will give the vine more calcium, which can be extracted and sent to the juice.”

The concentration of essential trace elements, or Oligoelements, he added will then affect the yeast population, with some strains reproducing faster depending on the type and quantity of elements in the grape juice.

For this reason, Chapoutier suggested that famous vineyards with no bacterial life should perhaps be prevented from having an AOC.

He also professed his obsession with the results of vineyards planted on granite.

“I love granite, it has so much to say. It is the least logical soil for the vine, which is born on limestone. The vine has had to adapt to granite, and the struggle is probably one of the reasons for the expression of the wine.”

He also stated, referring to the Hermitage hill’s four different geological types, “The best expression found in wines is where there is a clash geologically.”

To read more about minerality in wines click here.

The beverage maker says it plans to sell Fiji Bitter as well as Bounty Rum in Australia from December 2013. Under the terms of the sale of its previous beer business to SABMiller, CCA is restrained from selling, distributing or manufacturing beer in Australia until the end of next year.

Six months after CCA sold Pacific Beverages to SABMiller as part of the Foster’s takeover deal, the company’s chief executive Terry Davis told shareholders of deals with Grupo Modelo (distributor of Corona, Carlsberg and Molson Coors) to distribute its products across Pacific nations.

Davis told CCA’s annual general meeting that it would use its distribution network to distribute the companies’ premium beers in Papua New Guinea, Fiji and the Pacific Islands.

“With the impending acquisition of the Fiji beer and spirits business, together with the establishment of beer distribution businesses in the South Pacific, we remain confident about developing the many opportunities we have for our alcoholic beverages business,” Davis said.

It comes after CCA generated a AUD$170 million profit from selling Pacific Beverages late last year, in return for an undertaking to stay out of the Australian beer market for two years.

CCA expects Indonesia and Papua New Guinea to help it generate net profit growth of 4% to 5% for the first half of 2012, despite the difficult operating environment internationally.

The domestic Australian business is expected to grow 1%-2%, with a challenging operating economy and noticeably weaker demand for CCA soft drink and alcohol products in holiday towns on the east coast.

New Zealand’s market is softening but investment in the Indonesian market is expected to grow from $100 million to $120 million through 2012.

“They literally burn money. There is a competition to see who can burn the most money. They use Champagne to wash their cars. We know of one scammer who owns seven posh houses,” head of OCID, senior superintendent Fitz Bailey, said.

Anyone armed with a 4G modem, a mobile phone and a computer phone jack can earn US$120,000 or J$10.2 million a week in the illegal venture commonly known as the “lotto” scam.

The scam is a multimillion-dollar transnational crime. It involves local scammers who have close associates in North America who supply the scammers with what is known as “lead lists”.

A lead list is recorded information that commercial businesses harvest and archive from customers who use their credit cards to make purchases. Sometimes, lead lists are created when customers voluntarily supply information to sign up for discounts, promotions, or loyalty cards.

Bailey explained that the “lotto” scam has mushroomed over the last five years, and added that its growth coincided with efforts by the security forces to clamp down on the illegal drug trade.

In January last year, Mary Kubalak, an elderly widow of Pembroke Pines in South Florida, wired nearly US$400,000 to a scammer in Jamaica.

Just last week, an Illinois family found out that their mother had been duped, and wouldn’t believe them when they tried to tell her she was being scammed. The family complained to police that every day the Jamaican scammers would call and promise that they were trying to hand-deliver her cheque, but their car kept breaking down and they needed money for repairs.

View of Arbois where the wine comes from; Photo credit: Wink Lorch

The bottle from 1774 was sold to an online bidder for SFr. 46,000 (US$49,220), in an auction that was 95% sold by lot.

David Elswood, international head of Christie’s Wine, said that there had been “enthusiastic bidding” on a range of wines.

The top lot was a case of 1945 Mouton Rothschild, which sold well above its high estimate of SFr. 85,000 selling for SFr. 161,000 ($172,270).

Other top lots included a case of 1959 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti La Tâche for SFr. 57,500 ($61,525); six magnums of 1959 Latour for SFr. 51,750 ($55,372); a case of 1945 Haut-Brion at SFr. 34,500 ($36,915) and three bottles of 1921 Yquem for SFr. 25,300 ($27,071).

The name vin jaune is technically incorrect as this was not a phrase used in the 18th century. It would have more simply been known as Arbois vin de garde and was likely part of a collection that Christie’s auctioned previously, as was noted by wine writer Wink Lorch when news of the sale was announced.

For more on the auction, the wine and the Jura in general see Lorch’s site here.

The winning Sparkling Cuvée Rosé 2009 also beat a bottle of the famous Moët & Chandon Champagne which was slipped into the line-up and revealed at the end of the event – much to the surprise of those who took part.

English wine’s reputation has been on the rise and here it beat a Moët & Chandon Brut Impérial NV Champagne which retails for between £30 and £37.

The tasting was the second leg of Naked Wines’ US$1million Zero to Hero Wine Awards, a consumer-powered competition launched earlier this year to discover the world’s most talented unknown winemakers.

Sam Linter, chief winemaker at Bolney Wine Estate, said, “We are delighted to have won the Naked Wines’ Zero to Hero Wine Award with our Sparkling Cuvée Rosé 2009 made from Pinot Noir grapes.

“It’s an innovative way of doing business, and gives lesser known producers a platform to shine based purely on talent. Plus, it’s secured us access to over 200,000 wine drinkers across the UK – which is a huge boost for Bolney Wine Estate.

“The highlight of running this business has been watching the wines grow into something very unique and special. And for me and the team, it’s great to see that we’ve created something so delicious after all of our hard work”

Linter’s winning wine will be entered into the Zero to Hero Grand Final in November, against wines from France, Spain, Chile, Argentina and Australia, with a chance to win a US$500,000 investment contract with the retailer.

Sparkling Cuvée Rosé 2009 will be available to pre-order at www.nakedwines.com/marketplace this Friday 11 May – for £21.14 a bottle (RRP £24.99).

From 14-20 May, events and tastings are to be held across all 50 states as communities come together to show their appreciation on a local level for the more than 1,900 small and independent craft brewers responsible for the steadily advancing American craft beer culture.

The national week-long celebration of artisan malt/hop/yeast/water beverage first began in 2006 and continues to grow.

Growth of the craft brewing industry in 2011 was 13% by volume and 15% by value compared to growth in 2010 of 12% by volume and 15% by value.

“As the craft beer community continues to experience exponential growth, American Craft Beer Week has quickly become an iconic event that underscores the ever-increasing appreciation for small producers in this country,” said Julia Herz, publisher of CraftBeer.com and craft beer programme director at the Brewers Association.

“This year’s celebrations will once again provide an opportunity for small brewers, enthusiasts and the community of better beer retailers to celebrate this growth and the progressively popular craft beer culture in the US. The thousands of scheduled events nationwide underscore the grassroots nature of the craft beer movement.”

This year craft beer is going mobile with Untappd, the mobile-based social network that connects breweries with craft beer lovers, will allow 2012 ACBW participants to earn a special badge for enjoying craft beer during the week. Craft brewers are encouraged to leverage the sharing app by listing their brands on the social media site.

According to the CGA Brand Index, fruit ciders have seen “exponential growth of nearly 250% in the past two years” as this area becomes a focus for new product development.

The on-trade data analysis specialists described these fruit variants as “key to attracting new drinkers to the category”, especially “younger consumers who prefer the sweeter taste profiles of RTDs, liqueurs and specialities.”

Compared to 2010, when CGA reported that, with the exception of a Christmas surge, “the majority of volume share in cider categories for the whole year was centred on summer months, 2011 saw cider lose this seasonal restriction

“By 2011,” commented CGA, “cider had gone from being a seasonal drink choice to a category that has become a part of people’s ordering routine throughout all seasons.”

The company attributed some of this shift to warmer than usual Spring weather which was accompanied by a flurry of new product launches. However, it noted, “fruit cider had its largest monthly share of the year – outside Christmas – in October, suggesting that the original assertion of a warm-weather category transcending seasons is true, although analysis of the same period this year will be necessary to determine whether this is a continuing trend.”

Brands and retailer have responded to this performance with ongoing brand extensions and increased listings. Only last week Stella Artois announced the launch of Cidre Pear next month, while Asda boosted its cider range with the addition of a further 19 new lines.

Fruit variants drive cider growth over the last two years. Source: CGA

Recent years have seen consecutive disruptions such as the swine flu epidemic; the volcanic eruption of Eyjafjallajökull, which grounded flights and kept producers and visitors away and there was a threatened tube strike in 2011.

This year things have run a lot smoother and some 35 countries are set to show over 20,000 wines and spirits making the LIWF a unique trade-only tasting.

Fair highlights that have made the news include six producers from Sichuan province exhibiting on a pavilion hosted by the Sichuan World Trade Centre, representing China‘s first time to take a stand at Distil.

The focus is on premium Chinese spirits, most of which have never been exported to the UK.

Meanwhile Tesco has announced it will be taking a stand at this year’s event. The wine team is setting up a “Dragons Den” style opportunity for anyone who thinks they have a good idea to come and meet with them.

the drinks business will also announce the winners of their awards at an invitation-only ceremony on Wednesday 23 May at the show.

In all, LIWF 2012 is set to be one of the biggest yet and here are some potential high lights to look out for.

A full guide to the fair can be found in the drinks business’ latest issue.

A Nomblot Egg in use at Domaine Les Bruyeres in the Rhône

Speaking in London yesterday during the first trade tasting of his wines from the 2011 vintage, he said, “The vat in an egg shape was stolen by Nomblot against my will and I’m probably going to take them to court.”

The first egg-shaped, concrete fermentation vessel was commissioned in 2001 by Michel Chapoutier, following discussions with French vat manufacturer Marc Nomblot, whose company has been making concrete wine vats since 1922.

Chapoutier explained that he had asked Nomblot to produce a prototype for him based on two years of research, but that he had never signed anything to protect the invention.

“Mr Nomblot took my two years of research papers,” said Chapoutier.

However, Chapoutier added that his wrangles with the manufacturers of the egg-shaped vats began after Marc Nomblot left the company last year when the business, based in Beaune, was bought by a larger corporation.

“Mr Nomblot was honest and a dreamer… but his company was bought by a bigger one and they don’t have the same sense of honesty.”

Chapoutier implied that the new owner of Nomblot, the Bonna Sabla Group, want to develop sales of the concrete egg.

He also said that he had had tried to reach an agreement with the group, but this had been turned down.

“I have tried to negotiate with them,” he stated, “but these people only understand a strong fight”.

He also pointed out that he has never received a single “centime” from Nomblot even though the idea is attributed to Chapoutier.

“It was two years of work by me and my team and one second of stealing by Mr Nomblot.”

Click here for an analysis of the proposed benefits of concrete egg-shaped fermentors.

The drinks business will be bringing a report from Chapoutier’s first trade tasting of his wines from the 2011 vintage in a later update.