By Zoran Radosavljevic JELSA, Croatia (Reuters) - For Croatian winemakers, dreams of European Union market bounty came crashing down after recent trade bans exposed them to the hurdles which await agricultural greenhorns in the wealthy bloc. In the face of strict appellation and protection rules in the EU, which Croatia joins on July 1, tradition and local pride had to give way, although local winemakers say it's not over yet.

Wine professionals declared themselves "pleasantly surprised" with the 2012 Bordeaux vintage but demand from China was expected to be weak due to losses on 2010 wines. China is currently Bordeaux's biggest market in terms of volume and second in value, but Chinese buyers were expected to stay away this time. "They won't touch it," said Gary Boom, managing director of Bordeaux Index, with offices in London, Hong Kong and Los Angeles.

Rudy Kurniawan, once hailed as one of the world's most influential rare wine dealers, pleaded not guilty Wednesday in a US court to charges he was passing off ordinary bottles as expensive vintages. The Indonesian-born Kurniawan entered his plea in a federal court in New York after prosecutors filed a new indictment that updated existing charges against him, to which he had previously also pleaded not guilty.

A thousand years ago, a vine that had travelled from the Caspian Sea coast along Asia's Silk Road arrived in Japan, where its fruit was heralded as having unique medicinal purposes. Now the "Koshu grape" fills terraces on the foothills of Mount Fuji, where those in the know say it makes a pretty decent and uniquely Japanese white wine that industry leaders say they intend to export to the West. "The Koshu grape is well suited to the climate," said winemaker Naoki Watanabe. "Its skin is thicker than other varieties to better withstand the heavy rainfall we get here."