Australia’s big wine companies have warned grape growers in the Murray-Darling Basin to expect a 30 percent decline in grape prices for major varieties from the 2009 vintage. Foster’s, Constellation (Hardys) and Pernod Ricard (Jacob’s Creek) have indicated that varieties such as shiraz and cabernet sauvignon could attract about AUD 500/tonne but chardonnay may fetch only AUD 250 to AUD 350/tonne – which is below production costs that have risen because of higher fertilizer, water and fuel charges.

Consolidation of the industry, led particularly by Australian Vintage, Constellation, Foster’s and Pernod Ricard, has reduced both the number of senior positions and the demand for more hands-on winemakers. The traditional nomadic winemaker workforce, whose members seek experience during vintages in both hemispheres, will find the search for jobs much harder in Australia this year.

The deal marks the start of a fire sale by InBev to pay for last year’s cash-based USD 52 billion acquisition of U.S. icon Anheuser-Busch. Due to the financial crisis, InBev had trouble putting together the USD 45 billion loan package. AB-InBev now has USD 14 billion in debt to pay off by late next year.

That beer consumption has continued to decline has been blamed on beer going out of fashion with young people – and price hikes.

The talks come as San Miguel is trying to acquire stakes in two of the Philippines’ biggest energy companies – Manila Electric and refiner Petron – in an effort to re-invent itself as a utilities company. San Miguel hopes to expand from its core food and drinks business towards heavy industry such as mining, power and infrastructure.

The embargo does not just apply to arms. It affects all technical goods with a dual use. A spring for an oil drill may seem innocuous enough to you. But try exporting it to Iran and you will be told that it can equally be used in a tank. There goes your export license. Through the chimney.

Speculation has been rife that international brewers are interested in Foster’s domestic beer business if it is separated from the struggling wine unit.

In November 2008, Lion Nathan, Australia’s number two brewer, had approached CCA with an AUD 7.6 billion takeover offer. CCA’s board rejected the offer on the grounds that it was too low. This has convinced Australian commentators that the Coca-Cola Company, which owns over 30 percent of its Australian offshoot, has vetoed the deal.

It is hoped that this will become an annual event and develop into the “world’s most sought-after wine educational experience”. This year’s invitees, from Canada, China, Finland, Germany, Hong Kong, Ireland, Japan, Singapore, UK and USA, were chosen from an initial list of over 4,000. The 2009 seminar will be led by Michael Hill Smith and Andrew Callard, assisted by Brian Croser and James Halliday and the approach has been described by AWBC as “a sea-change about how people perceive Australian wine”.

Shanghai, the business capital of China’s mainland, is an important beer market. As early as 1997 five international joint venture breweries were operating there. Not all proved successful. Eventually, Carlsberg had to sell its brewery to Tsingtao and Foster’s its plant to Suntory.