It was time for wine on just-drinks last week. First up, Wines of Argentina toasted a healthy year of exports in 2011, with the US continuing its crush on Malbec. While China also performed well for Argentina's wine producers, the GM for market development at Wine Australia urged caution to those wineries looking east.

Speaking exclusively to just-drinks, James Gosper called for more research on China's consumption trends. Hats off to Gosper, who impressed with his candour when he described the wine market in China as being “very hard to understand”.

While we're on the subject of exclusives – and candour – just-drinks was first past the post on Monday, when we covered the UK tie-up between William Grant & Sons' First Drinks division and Central European Distribution Corp. Straight-talking MD of First Drinks, Chris Mason, told us that he wasn't “concerned at all”, at the financial strife facing CEDC.

The US-based spirits company is in the mire at the moment, as it wrestles with US$207m of outstanding debt due in 2013. While Russian Standard is knocking on the door, dressed as a white horse, CEDC maintained last week that it has “other options (it) is currently exploring”.

Those other options – or lack of? - will become clearer this week, as Russian Standard has given the company until Wednesday to accept its stake increase offer.

Just as the month drew to a close, we published our annual preview for the drinks industry thanks to the good people at Euromonitor International. The preview is available free to just-drinks subscribers. But, if you haven't joined up and would like access to this and every month's management briefing, click here.

Until next time...

Olly Wehring
Managing Editor
Web: http://www.just-drinks.com
Email: editor@just-drinks.com
Twitter: http://twitter.com/just_drinks