A snapshot of wine business, research and marketing content gleaned from local and international wine media sources. Emailed Monday to Friday excluding public holidays. Click here to subscribe, for advertising inquiries, click to download our media kit.

Announcements and Suppliers

26/07/2017: New Wine Business Workshops coming to Vic & SA
Wine Business Solutions will soon be running Wine Business Workshops in South Australia and Victoria.

17/07/2017: The Changing Vinescape
A seminar hosted by FINLAYSONS Australian Wine Lawyers.

12/07/2017: 2017 Melbourne International Wine Competition results
Results are in for the fourth year of the Melbourne International Wine Competition.

12/07/2017: 2017 Winewise Small Vigneron Awards
Entries for the 2017 Winewise Small Vigneron Awards are now open.

Australian Wine Industry News

28/07/2017: Vic SME's leading the way for innovation
Victorian Small and Medium sized Enterprises (SME's) are seeing their business bottom lines improve at a greater rate compared to their interstate counterparts, according to research published today by Commonwealth Bank, which found SMEs are leading the charge when it comes to innovative business practices. Smart Company spoke to Andrew Peace Wines about their success.

28/07/2017: A $35m winery resort for Mickleham
A $35 million resort featuring accommodation, a restaurant, winery, day spa and brewery is set to open in Mickleham next year. General manager Gerald Ackroyd said around 11 hectares of vines had already been planted, with the first batch of wines expected in two-three years. Source, Star Weekly.

28/07/2017: Quattro wine group prepping for summer
Quattro wine group are ready to tap in to the burgeoning wave of summer Rose drinking. The company, which was started by four Sydney-based wine enthusiasts, imports crisp, lighter style Rose with an exclusive partnership between two French vineyards: Domaine les Toulons and Domaine Tropez. Source, The AU Review.

28/07/2017: Women in drinks launches SA chapter
Women in drinks will officially launch its South Australian chapter at Cooper Brewery next month. The launch follows the success of the Victorian and NSW chapters of WID. Women in drinks South Australia's inaugural event on August 21 will be a discussion panel on "The Changing Face of the Drinks Industry." Source, Drinks Central.

28/07/2017: RieslingFreak takes out five trophies
John Hughes' RieslingFreak label has taken out five awards at the KPMG Sydney Royal Wine Show awards yesterday evening. It's an impressive feat for Riesling and Hughes, as the last time a Riesling took out best wine in show was 2003. Source, Winetitles.

27/07/2017: Majority of irrigators want living waterways
Senior ecologists at Charles Sturt University (CSU) believe the majority of irrigators in southern Australia are doing the right thing and are not pumping excessive water from the southern Murray Darling Basin. But they also believe there is room for improvement. Source, CSU.

27/07/2017: New WISA committee members
Two new members have been added to the management committee of Wine Industry Suppliers Australia (WISA). Matthew Moate, WISA executive officer, said the pair added valuable skills to the expertise on the committee. Source, Winetitles.

27/07/2017: Hunter Valley adapts to young market
Hunter Valley is one of the oldest wine regions in Australia, with a proud tradition of producing high-quality semillon, chardonnay and shiraz varieties. While that tradition is deeply ingrained in the region, sections of the wine industry are looking to diversify into modern styles of winemaking, in a bid to grow a stronger younger market share. Source, The ABC.

27/07/2017: Sue Bell to head Heathcote judging panel
Former Australian Winemaker of the Year Sue Bell will lead the judging panel at the 2017 Saint Martin Heathcote Wine Show. An acclaimed artisan winemaker from Coonawarra and in-demand judge at wine shows across Australia, Ms Bell has previously been deputy chair of the judging panel. Source, The McIvor Times.

27/07/2017: Farm gate price bounce from export boom
Wine grape growers are hoping to see a lift in farm gate prices following strong export growth during the past year. Murray Valley Winegrowers executive officer Mike Stone comments on lower price bracket wines and their relevance to exports. Source, The Weekly Times.

26/07/2017: Mark Pygott praises Aussie wine
On the eve of the annual KPMG Sydney Royal Wine Show awards, this year’s invited international judge, Master of Wine, Mark Pygott says he likes what he sees in the evolution of Australian wine - and only not from the usual suspects. Source, Winetitles.

26/07/2017: Cracka wines to crowdfund its way to Asia
Online retailer Cracka Wines is one local entity with plans for the international wine market. The Sydney-based enterprise has announced plans to raise $5 million from its 250,000 customers to expand its direct-to-consumer marketplace into Asia. Source, The Sydney Morning Herald.

26/07/2017: Gourmet Escape on the line in WA
Tickets for this year’s Margaret River Gourmet Escape go on sale today, with the future of the globally renowned event up in the air amid accusations the State Government is “dragging the chain” on securing funding for the event beyond this year. Source, The West.

26/07/2017: Bottler of a life for Bertie
Bertie the black lab is five years old and regularly features on the Dookie College wine labels as an unofficial mascot. He has also been trained as a scent dog and is part of a trial using dogs to detect bretannomyces in the winery. Source, The Riverine Herald.

26/07/2017: Chris Flaherty new GM of Accolade
Congratulations to Chris Flaherty on becoming General Manager, Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific for Accolade Wines. Accolade is Australia's second-largest wine company and owns brands including Hardys, Leasingham, Grant Burge and Banrock Station. Flaherty will take over from current General Manager Rick Wilson. He will commence in the role on August 28. Source, The Drinks Association.

25/07/2017: South West industry held back by alco tax
Opinion: "The Margaret River Region produces just 3% of the volume of wine produced in Australia, it represents 20% of its value. Given wine in Australia is taxed on its value and not according to its alcohol volume, the Margaret River region is the most highly taxed wine region in Australia," writes Libby Mettam (a Liberal politician), for The West Australian.

25/07/2017: McGuigan Wines invests in UK
McGuigan Wines is preparing to make “a six-figure investment” in UK advertising for its Black Label brand. The company is currently filming ads in Australia that will appear on the London Underground from September to October this year. There will also be a local version of the ad, reflecting McGuigan Black Label's position as Australia’s No 1-selling bottled red wine. Source, Drinks Central.

25/07/2017: Inside Ochre Nation's rise
With their wine labels Unico Zelo and Harvest, the gin brand Applewood Distillery and their Ochre Nation hub and cellar door/bar in Gumeracha, the Carters (who are both winemakers and distillers by trade) have made a significant impact on the local drinks scene in a short space of time. Source, The Adelaide Review.

25/07/2017: Monichino winery in Vic for sale
Monichino Wines at Katunga has been listed for sale recently, with the entire business, including a popular cellar door, branding and vineyard, up for grabs. The winery has been operating since 1962, when it was founded by Italian migrant Carlo Monichino, who realised the potential in the area for growing grapes. Source, Country News.

25/07/2017: Biosecurity tips
Tip#10: When pruning, it’s best practice to disinfest your snips in a 2% sodium hypochlorite solution between blocks, to minimise pest and disease spread. www.vinehealth.com.au #Vinehealth

24/07/2017: Final week to enter the Women in Wine Awards
Entries for the 2017 Australian Women in Wine Awards close on 1st August, which means there’s just one week to finalise the entries for one of eight awards on offer. Finalists in each category will be announced on 22 August. The winners will be announced on 26 September as part of a grand Women in Wine celebration and tasting event in partnership with Wine Australia, at Australia House in London. Source, Winetitles.

24/07/2017: Artificial intelligence boosts wines bottom line
The Australian wine industry is turning to artificial intelligence to streamline its manufacturing. South Australian tech firm Ailytic has developed an artificial intelligence program to significantly increase production efficiency by optimising machine use. Source, The Lead.

24/07/2017: Greek wines deserve more attention
"Just when you were tucking your tongue back into your gums, having mastered (or not) the pronunciation of those tricky French, Italian and Spanish grape varieties like Mourvedre or Viognier, along come the Greeks. Try these for a little mouth action: Assyrtiko, Malagousia, Agiorgitiko or Xinomavro," writes Tony Love for The Source, SA.

24/07/2017: More tractor supply for Wodonga area
One of the Border region’s leading farm machinery dealers is taking an exciting step into the future. That will come with the grand opening of Wiesners Wodonga on July 28, marking a significant milestone for the family-owned business. The opening will mean easier supply of machinery to farms in the region. Source, The Border Mail.

21/07/2017: An update from yesterday's WFA briefing
A potential record vintage intake could be announced at the same time $50million is injected into the wine industry marketing efforts. That was the big news from a grape and wine community briefing held in Adelaide on Thursday. Source, Grapegrower & Winemaker.

21/07/2017: Rarest grange sells for price of luxury car
A bottle of 1951 Penfolds Grange Hermitage that was originally given away for free has sold at auction for a "staggering" $51,750. The price makes it one of the most expensive bottles ever sold in this country. Source, Sydney Morning Herald.

21/07/2017: Standish wine company's epic Shiraz
"The Lamella hails from the Stonegarden vineyard just outside Springton. Planted in 1858, the grapes from this particular vineyard are much sought-after and the Lamella is testament to the vineyard’s reputation amongst local winemakers. It’s epic," writes Dave Brookes for The Adelaide Review.

21/07/2017: Understanding your safety obligations on farm
Caroline Graham, CEO of Regional Skills Training explains what your legal responsibilities are in a short YouTube video. She has over 40 years of experience in the agribusiness and horticulture sectors as well as over 20 years in vocational education in lecturing and management, both in the public and private sector. Source, Safe Ag Systems.

21/07/2017: Three weeks left to register for 2018 Young Gun
There are only three weeks to go until registrations close for the 2018 Young Gun of Wine Awards. The awards have seen phenomenal growth since opening up to public registrations last year and offer emerging winemakers connections, exposure and a positive brand alignment if they're successful. Source, Winetitles.

20/07/2017: Australian wine exports grow 10%
The Wine Australia Export Report June 2017, released on July 19, shows that Australian wine export value increased by $201 million (10%) in 2016–17 to $2.31 billion, and is underpinned by strong export growth to China and the United States of America (US). Source, Winetitles.

20/07/2017: WFA responds to ABAC change
The Winemakers Federation of Australia has responded to changes in the Alcohol Beverages Advertising Code that now include "responsible placement" of alcohol marketing. For example, this will mean considering exposure to minors when placing promotional materials. Source, Winetitles.

20/07/2017: WFA Industry Briefing today
For those attending the Winemakers Federation of Australia Industry Briefing today, here's what to expect. For those not attending, Winetitles will have a rundown available in tomorrow's Daily Wine News and the WFA will be releasing a full report early next week on their website. Source, Winetitles.

20/07/2017: Winners of the Melbourne International Wine Comp
The winners of the fourth annual Melbourne International Wine Competition (MIWC) have been revealed. This year’s competition was the most competitive in the event’s short history, with more than 1100 wines judged. Source, The Shout.

20/07/2017: James Suckling comes around to Aussie wine
"Australia is no longer emerging. Australia is no longer a “one to watch.” Australia is here, and it stands tall among the world’s greatest wine nations." Source, James Suckling.

19/07/2017: Aussie wine takes fizz out of French
Australian sparkling wine makers are taking some of the fizz out of their French competitors amid a surge in demand for Aussie bubbly. The value of Australian-made exports, more than doubled to $30 million in the past year, new figures from Wine Australia show. Source, News.

19/07/2017: Sustainable strides in winemaking
Environmentalists at heart, James and Chrissy Robson of Ross Hill Wines, situated in the atmospheric hilltops of Orange in New South Wales, are both dedicated to reducing their impact on the earth. This has led them on a path of innovation, becoming Australia's first-ever and only carbon neutral winery certified for both its operations and products in 2016. Source, Illawarra Mercury.

19/07/2017: Small forest, big impact
Atsuko Radcliffe is one of the legion of women adding lustre to the wine scene – having her own Denman-based Small Forest brand and being unique as the only Japanese winemaker in Australia and an international sake judge. Source, The Herald.

19/07/2017: A new chapter for Hot 100 Wines
It’s a new era for Hot 100 Wines with a new chief judge, Peter Dredge, and chief steward, Mark Reginato, to drive the event over the next three years. With Hot 100 entries now open, the pair will grow the annual event with new classes, events and judges of this zeitgeist-capturing wine show and publication that discovers South Australia’s most drinkable wines. Source, The Adelaide Review.

19/07/2017: Alcohol marketing code updated
From 1 November 2017 responsible placement of alcohol marketing will be included in the ABAC Responsible Alcohol Marketing Code (ABAC), to regulate where alcohol marketing can appear. Source, Winetitles.

18/07/2017: Jancis Robinson says awards "seriously worthwhile"
With two weeks to go before entries close in the 2017 Australian Women in Wine Awards, Jancis Robinson has called the awards “seriously worthwhile” and has said that the Australian wine industry historically “may have been a bit backward” in terms of gender equality. Source, Winetitles.

18/07/2017: Regions most iconic winery hits market
Robert Channon Wines in Stanthorpe hit the market last November for an asking price of $2.45 million. Now the winery has dropped in price to $1.95m. The couple's property and homestead which adjoins the winery is also for sale, with the two titles selling for $3.85m. Source, The Chronicle.

18/07/2017: Young rural leaders
Angaston’s Rebekah Starick was a worthy representative of the Central District Shows Association at last Friday’s Young Rural Ambassador Award State Final, claiming runner-up. PIRSA director agriculture, food and wine Justin Ross said the winner and finalists contributed greatly to country shows around the state. Source, The Barossa Herald.

18/07/2017: Hunter Valley talks wine with Marshall & Blair
It's been busy lately with official visits hosted by Hunter Valley Wine and Tourism Association. In addition to the separate visits by the Minister for Tourism Adam Marshall and the Minister for Trade, Investment and Agriculture Niall Blair. The talk at meetings was strongly focused on regional wine tourism. Source, The Cessnock Advertiser.

18/07/2017: Biosecurity Tips
Tip#9: Ensure visitors and contractors wear clean clothes before starting work on your property. Ensure all footwear worn onto your property has been cleaned of soil and plant material and disinfested in accordance with Vinehealth Australia’s Footwear and Small Hand Tool Disinfestation Protocol. http://www.vinehealth.com.au/media/Vinehealth-Footwear-and-Small-Hand-Tools-Disinfestation-Protocol-White-A3.pdf #Vinehealth

18/07/2017: Hotel proposed for Wirra Wirra
A McLaren Vale winery has plans to develop an on-site luxury resort. Wirra Wirra Vineyards has lodged designs with Onkaparinga Council for a 42-room hotel at its property, on the corner of McMurtrie and Strout roads. The design shows that the rooms – some single and some double – would be divided among three two-storey circular buildings called “pods”. Source, The City Messenger.

17/07/2017: National Farm Safety Week
As 2017 National Farm Safety Week gets underway, Assistant Minister to the Deputy Prime Minister, Luke Hartsuyker, has encouraged farmers and rural workers to keep their safety, health and wellbeing front and centre all year round. Source, Winetitles.

17/07/2017: SA's new mildmannered red wine hero
"You'll find elsewhere in this august newspaper today my Top 100 Wines which in its winter edition leans naturally towards red wines, from bargain buys through to the luxury and super-premium styles." writes Tony Love for The Source SA.

17/07/2017: McGuigan Wines crowned winery of the year
McGuigan Wines has been crowned Australian Winery of the Year at the prestigious New York International Wine Competition. At the competition, McGuigan took home three Double Gold medals, six silver and seven bronze. Source, Drinks Central.

17/07/2017: Great wines under $20 - Tony Love
"After months of assessing close to 2000 drops to come to a final selection for our annual Top 100 Wines, with a bonus choice of 22 great bargains at $20 and under, it’s clear that the value end of the wine market is stronger than ever before." writes Tony Love for The Source SA.

17/07/2017: 1972 Grange auctioned for $500
Burns Auctions hosted its monthly live auction at its Barrett Court headquarters, clearing refurbished, ex-demo, factory second, liquidated and police-seized items. The wines kicked off the auction, with a Margaret River Shiraz selling for $3 a bottle, while a 1972 bottle of Grange sold for $500. Source, Central Western Daily.

14/07/2017: Low rainfall and high AUD impacts farmers
Many of Australia's productive agricultural regions have been hit by the the driest June on record. Rabobank's Agribusiness Monthly report says wheat yields have been downgraded in cropping regions in Western Australia, South Australia and northern NSW. Meanwhile, the strength of the Australian dollar against the currencies of other "new world" wine producers is hindering returns from wine exports. Source, SBS.

14/07/2017: Trends in China's market
Mainland China is one of the world’s largest markets for imported wine. With a population of 1.38 billion, a burgeoning middle class and modernising consumers, it presents enormous opportunities for Australian wine brands and businesses. China is rapidly changing and it’s important to keep abreast of the latest trends and insights to grow and harness its market potential. Source, Wine Australia.

14/07/2017: Retailers report a consumer shift
The evolution of Australia’s food and wine culture has triggered one of the most telling drinking trends in many years. Winemakers, sommeliers and retailers have all reported a decisive consumer shift towards lighter and more medium-bodied reds, away from more traditional heavier and robust styles common to South Australia’s popular varieties such as Shiraz and Cabernet. Source, News.

14/07/2017: Ararat city council rate debacle
Local Government Minister Natalie Hutchins appointed commissioners late last month to investigate the council’s proposal to remove rates discounts for farmers while lowering rates for residential, commercial and industrial properties. The public hearing attracted mainly farmers, who criticised the proposal that would see their rates increase by 45 per cent. Source, The Ararat Advertiser.

14/07/2017: Jackalope shortlisted for big design award
Australia’s best hotel is about to take the world by storm. Jackalope on the Mornington Peninsula has made the shortlist for the World Architecture Festival Awards, the largest architectural award program in the world, which will be held in Berlin in November. Source, The Weekly Review.

13/07/2017: WFA to host industry briefing
The Winemakers’ Federation of Australia will host an industry briefing in Adelaide on Thursday 20th July. Guest speakers will provide their insights and unpack a range of key issues in the wine industry. Source, Winetitles.

13/07/2017: Will Amazon disrupt alcohol retail for Australia?
With Amazon purchasing Whole Foods in the US, and the company’s impending arrival in Australia, there has been widespread speculation that the online monopoly could disrupt traditional alcohol retailing globally. Source, Drinks Central.

13/07/2017: Doctors advise raising legal drinking age
The legal drinking age in the Northern Territory should be raised to 21, and the rest of Australia should consider doing the same, the Royal Australasian College of Physicians says. A final report is expected at the end of September. Source, The ABC.

13/07/2017: Artarmon wino becomes a Somm
Andres Aragon, a restaurant manager from Artarmon has been crowned the 2017 Australian Riedel Certified Sommelier Dux by The Court of Master Sommeliers — meaning he blind taste wines and tell you exactly where it has come from, its quality and what vintage it is. Source, The Daily Telegraph.

13/07/2017: Decanter wins help Claymore exports
Wins at the Decanter World Wine Awards and the International Wine Challenge will assist Claymore Wines’ push into the export market. The company recently received Platinum in the Decanter World Wine Awards 2017 and gold, silver and bronze in the IWC. Source, Northern Argus.

12/07/2017: Could a succession plan protect your region?
Succession planning for vineyard businesses and the future integrity of South Australia’s wine regions will be hot topics at the annual SA Wine Grape Growers Summit on 28 July in Barossa. When the Barossa Grape & Wine Association (BGWA) surveyed grapegrowers toward the end of 2015 there was an eyebrow-raising number of respondents who indicated they were planning to leave the industry. About 30% of the local growers said they planned an exit in the next five to 10 years. “It was a bit of a wake-up call,” said Nicki Robins, BGWA’s viticultural development officer. Source, Grapegrower & Winemaker.

12/07/2017: Hunter farewells Murray Robson
Few people have matched the passion, persistence, panache and pursuit of perfection of Murray Robson in his 47 years in Hunter wine. Murray, who died aged 85 on June 26, was ever the innovator, renowned for his exemplary wines with their hand-signatured labels. He was a three-time “founding father” of what are now the prestigious Davis family Briar Ridge and Pepper Tree operations and the Agnew group’s Audrey Wilkinson brand. Source, Newcastle Herald.

12/07/2017: Odour may be key to pest insect control
Disrupting insects’ sense of smell may save crops and human lives, according to a recent study. The study conducted by the Australian National University and the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) was done to determine how an odorant-degrading enzyme, thought to be present in insect antennae, affects processing of odorants in sensory neurons of an insect’s brain. Source, Riverine Herald.

12/07/2017: Engaging with the source of the drift
One of the wine industry’s favourite sprays is Monsanto’s glyphosate-based Roundup. You can see who uses it: any stripes of bare ground beneath a vine row is the work of this highly-efficient herbicide. Monsanto’s up in arms as country after country bars the unregulated sale of the stuff. As of July 7 that glowing fruit basket, California, has dared to list it as a poison. This follows the World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classifying glyphosate as a “probable carcinogen”. Source, InDaily.

12/07/2017: Australian wines win best at Catad'Or Awards
Taylors Wines from South Australia's Clare Valley have picked up two Great Gold medals and two Silver medals at the prestigious Catad'Or Wine Awards in Chile. Third generation winemaker and managing director Mitchell Taylor says the win in Santiago is a great achievement and will boost the winery's exports to China. Source, Sky News.

12/07/2017: Top 100 Wines open for entry
The 38th Sydney International Wine Competition – the only international wine show that judges all its finalists in combination with appropriate food – has opened for entry. Wineries have till 15 September to enter. Source, Winetitles.

11/07/2017: Young Gun of Wine registrations open for 2018
Registrations are now open for the 12th annual Young Gun of Wine, designed to find, celebrate and showcase Australia’s young and emerging winemakers. Source, Winetitles.

11/07/2017: Thinking about distilling?
On the 3-5th of August, the Asia Pacific Whiskies and Spirits conference will be adding a seminar topic with interest to the wine industry. ‘Distilling for Wineries’ will be presented by Jurgen Deibel – a world renowned spirits expert. The event presents a great opportunity for winemakers and winery owners to meet with and learn about a new frontier – winery distilleries. Source, Winetitles.

11/07/2017: It's time for Touriga
"Right, let’s get this straight from the outset — Touriga Nacional is neither a cycling race nor an all-terrain vehicle: it is, by general acclaim, the premier red grape of Portugal. And (probably) without you knowing it, it has been growing in several Australian wine regions for quite a while." Source, The Adelaide Review.

11/07/2017: Coravin screwcap launches in Aus
The Coravin wine system screwcap adaptation has just launched in Australia with a series of demonstration afternoons. The system uses an adapted replacement cap alongside its existing system to extend Coravin's use to stelvin closures.

11/07/2017: Tassie wine wins London trophies
At London’s 34th International Wine Challenge — widely recognised as the world's finest and most meticulously judged wine competition — three international trophies were awarded to Tasmania. The challenge uses blind assessments of every wine, judging for its faithfulness to style, region and vintage. Source, Brand Tasmania.

11/07/2017: Biosecurity Tips
Tip#8: Check machinery and equipment (including small hand tools and technical equipment) to ensure it’s cleaned of all soil and plant material before it’s used on your vineyard. Ensure it complies with state quarantine regulations for cleaning and sterilisation and is accompanied by required documentation. www.vinehealth.com.au #Vinehealth

10/07/2017: Spray drift simulation trials
Spray drift from nearby broadacre crops is a potential problem common to many of Australia’s wine regions, yet we know surprisingly little about what each individual herbicide actually does to grape vines. A new study under way at the National Wine and Grape Industry Centre (NWGIC) in Wagga Wagga plans to start correcting that situation and to test whether it is possible to identify different types of herbicide injury based on foliage and fruit symptoms. Source, Wine Australia.

10/07/2017: Footballer winemaker
Dylan Grimes is a good footballer. He is also the owner of a vineyard that makes very good wines. Last October, he bought Mount Macedon Winery. Grimes is a vigneron, and to our [The Age's] knowledge, he is the only one in the AFL. Source, The Age.

10/07/2017: Winery and restaurant planned for Bridge Inn Rd
A 30ha winery and restaurant has been given the green light in Mernda in a move that could put Whittlesea on the map as a wine destination. The winery, which is planned to be built on land on Bridge Inn Rd, would contain a vineyard and facility for wine production, a cellar and a cafe/restaurant. Source, The Herald Sun.

10/07/2017: Chardonnay: winter's greatest white
Chardonnay has swung further than most varieties, from a fashion 20, even 10 years ago, that nodded to overly rich, arguably over ripe, over oaked and cloying to drink. In the past decade, the variety has been reborn by the best in the wine biz into a more delicate style. Source, The Source SA.

10/07/2017: Meet the James Halliday tasting team
The Wine Companion tasting team have run through a Q&A discussing topics like the best, worst and most challenging parts of being a part of the team. The team consists of James Halliday, Jane Faulkner, Ned Goodwin, Tyson Stelzer and Campbell Mattinson. Source, James Halliday.

International Wine Industry News

28/07/2017: Day 1 of the IBWSS
The International Bulk Wine & Spirits Show (IBWSS) kicked off in San Francisco on July 26 with a packed exhibition hall and a keynote address from Bobby Koch, President and CEO of the Wine Institute. Here's a rundown on Day 1 of the show. Source, Winetitles.

28/07/2017: Police raid finds thousands in suspect stolen wine
On Thursday 20 July, officers from Serious and Organised Crime Unit of the Kent Police raided two warehouses – one in Goudhurst Road, Horsmonden, the other in nearby Tibbs Court Lane, Brenchley. They found a large amount of allegedly stolen goods – thousands of bottles of wine, along with flat screen TVs, marble tiles and air conditioning units. Source, Decanter.

28/07/2017: The logic behind wine pricing
What causes prices to be the way they are? Basic economics would dictate a limited supply of product would be the first to cause a price elevation, but expert opinions also have an elevating effect. In 2010, world wineries produced 26.38 billion liters, but the world only consumed 23.21 billion litres in the same year. What happens to the surplus? Source, The Globe.

28/07/2017: Slavonian wine stories
Is wine the medium that will bring Slavonia, often neglected and pushed aside, out of resignation and to the position it deserves? Stories of Slavonian wines and winemakers are more common, and tourists are more readily exploring this lovely lowland area. Source, Total Croatia News.

28/07/2017: Havelock North wine gains 'legend' status
The Coleraine '98 has been dubbed a "Wine Legend" in the latest edition of Britain's top wine magazine, Decanter - the only New Zealand wine to ever receive that title and effectively placing it among the greatest wines of all time. Source, The New Zealand Herald.

28/07/2017: Can NZ wine repeat stellar success in 2017?
New Zealand wineries are expected to holder even greater sway in this year’s Sydney International Wine Competition, following the huge success of Kiwi producers in the 2017 judging. In last year’s competition New Zealand wineries won 94 out of the 291 medals awarded, as well as nine trophies with Marlborough leading the way. Source, Scoop.

27/07/2017: NZ wine producers can now register GI's
Wine and spirit producers are now able to register geographical indications, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Jacqui Dean says. "The Geographical Indications (Wine and Spirits) Registration Act 2006 came into force today, allowing wine and spirit makers to protect and associate themselves with particular regions," Ms Dean says. Source, Voxy.

27/07/2017: Waimea Estate sale brings growth
After 24 years of building their business from the ground up, Nelson's Bolitho family has sold Waimea Family Estate Wines to New Zealand financial services company Booster. Waimea Estates general manager Ben Bolitho said the investment partnership allowed the business to grow to its full potential due to access to cash flow and capital. Source, Stuff.

27/07/2017: US wine exports to EU falls
US wine exports saw a double digit decline on the back of falling sales to the EU, according to the latest Rabobank report, but France saw “remarkable” increases in exports to the UK, despite an average price rise of 10.6%. Source, The Drinks Business.

27/07/2017: Tensions slightly lower in France v Spain
Progress has been made in the ‘wine war’ between France and Spain as agriculture ministers from the two countries have met for talks in a bid to defuse tensions. The ministers met on July 25 in Paris to discuss the ongoing grievances brought by French wine producers. Source, Connexion France.

27/07/2017: Salud to the Mexican American wine revolution
Pre-war preparations meant no time for work in vineyards and, the U.S. government established the Bracero program. The program, which ran from 1942 to 1964, was a series of laws and agreements between the United States and Mexico, which brought 4.6 million contract labourers into the U.S. It was here that Ceja Vineyards in Napa Valley started. Source, Smithsonian.

27/07/2017: Total wine wins challenge on global pricing
A Boston judge has ruled that Massachusetts alcohol retailers can legally sell booze at deep discounts when they order it in bulk, rebutting state regulators who said the practice can violate a state law that prohibits selling alcohol at less than cost. Source, The Boston Globe.

26/07/2017: Invivo settle Norton controversy
Invivo Wine co-founder Tim Lightbourne says controversy in the British media about whether shareholder Graham Norton breached BBC guidelines is nothing to do with the company.Although Norton has been open about his investment in the Kiwi winery, the Mail on Sunday reported this week that he may have breached strict BBC advertising rules. Source, The New Zealand Herald.

26/07/2017: Boris Johnson calms NZ Brexit fears
UK Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson moved to reassure New Zealand exporters today that they would not be disadvantaged as a result of Britain's decision to exit the European Union, and that they would be near the front of the queue for a free trade deal when the split finally occurs. Source, The New Zealand Herald.

26/07/2017: Pope Francis shuts off fountains amid drought
The Vatican has started shutting off its famous fountains amid a prolonged drought in many parts of Italy. In southern Italy, hundreds of people were evacuated earlier this month, as firefighters battled wildfires. Dairy farmers and those growing olives, tomatoes and wine grapes are among the most affected, farmers' association Coldiretti warns. Source, The BBC.

26/07/2017: Scandinavia's most successful wine guy
“I produce 30 million bottles of wine”, Says Takis Soldatos, founder, owner and CEO of Oenoforos, a wine importer and wine producer. For Takis, the first step was to create his own wine import company. The turning point came when he started to sell wines under his own brands. Source, Forbes.

26/07/2017: 1600 year old wine press found
In the early Byzantine period, Negev wines were perceived as boutique wines and highly esteemed. Now, a glimpse into their making is possible as archaeologists have uncovered a 1600 year old stone wine press in Ramat Negev, Israel. Source, Jerusalem Post.

26/07/2017: Debate on Westbank labelled wine ruling
Last week, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) reversed a decision - made less than 24 hours earlier - that wines made in two West Bank settlements and sold in Canada could no longer be labeled "Product of Israel" because the grapes were grown, fermented and processed outside of the country's internationally recognised borders. Source, Aljazeera.

25/07/2017: Goldman drop beer stocks in millennial shift
Goldman Sachs downgraded Boston Beer Company and Constellation Brands because millennials consume more wine than previous generations. Data shows that beer penetration across the United States fell in 2016 while wine and spirits held steady. The report also noted that millennials are not consuming as much alcohol as prior generations. Source, CNBC.

25/07/2017: Hard work rewards young winemaker
Top young viticulturist Ben McNab-Jones is in non doubt when it comes to naming his favourite wine style – Pinot Noir. “It’s so much fun to make,” Mr McNab-Jones said. After “a lot of study” and “bookwork” Mr McNab-Jones nabbed the Bayer Wairarapa Young Viticulturist of the Year 2017 on Thursday. Source, Wairarapa Times Age.

25/07/2017: Small business: Rod McDonald Wines
Rod McDonald, founder and owner of Hawke's Bay based Rod McDonald Wines, started the business 11 years ago. McDonald talks about the industry, awards and perks that come with the job. Source, The New Zealand Herald.

25/07/2017: Cali winemakers now fighting mildew
"If you don't find mildew in your vineyards, you haven't looked hard enough," said Glenn McGourty, a viticulture advisor for the University of California Cooperative Extension (UCCE) for Mendocino County. After years of drought conditions, California vintners are enjoying wetter conditions this year. Source, Wine Spectator.

25/07/2017: Online wine retailer appoints new CEO
London-based online wine retailer, 31Dover.com has appointed former Naked Wines marketing director James Bagley as its new CEO, after acquiring on-trade supplier Vanquish Wines. Source, The Drinks Business.

25/07/2017: Calabrian rocks
Cirò is the kind of wine place I want to root for. This ancient Calabrian wine region in sun-baked southern Italy offers a gorgeous countryside of ancient olive trees and undulating vineyards planted with a unique and often-misunderstood red grape—Gaglioppo. What's more, a new generation of winemakers is working to turn Cirò from a backwater to an appellation worthy of our attention. Source, Wine Spectator.

25/07/2017: How European wine heads to China by train
The first direct rail shipment of European wine has successfully crossed the expanse of Eurasia and arrived in China, opening up a new way for the wine producers of Europe to get their bottles onto the tables of the world’s fastest growing market for wine consumption. Source, Forbes.

24/07/2017: Graham Norton in hot water for Invivo promo
It is the wine he drinks and offers to his guests on his popular BBC chat show. But oh July 23 The Mail on Sunday can reveal Graham Norton has invested in the Sauvignon Blanc he swills on air - leading to claims that he has broken strict BBC advertising rules. Source, The New Zealand Herald.

24/07/2017: Kiwi wine a hit with Chinese diners
When it comes to high end gourmet goods the Chinese have a growing appetite for New Zealand wine, water and crayfish. Simon Zhou? of Ruby Red Fine Wine said there has been a shift away from French and toward New Zealand. "It used to be 90 per cent French, now it's 50 per cent." Source, Stuff.

24/07/2017: Historical low for French wine industry
Knocked off course by a cold spring snap, French wine production from Bordeaux to Alsace has dropped dramatically this year and could hit “a historic low”, according to the agriculture ministry. At 37.6 million hectolitres the 2017 harvest is set to come in 17% lower than in 2016. Source, The Guardian.

24/07/2017: Slovenia to sue EU over wine name
Slovenia said Friday 21 July, it will sue the European Commission for allowing winemakers in neighbouring Croatia to use one of its protected wine designations. Teran, a grape grown in the red soils of Slovenia's rocky Karst plateau, had protected EU status since the country joined the bloc in 2004. Source, Yahoo.

24/07/2017: Four types of successful wine tourism
Forbes contributor Per Karlsson was recently invited to speak on wine tourism at the annual Città del Vino wine tourism conference in Torgiano in Umbria. Here he has summarised the four main points he made during his seminar on conducting successful wine tourism. Source, Forbes.

24/07/2017: Chinese company buys French estate
A Chinese property investment company has bought French wine estate Chateau Fauchey on the right bank of the Garonne river southeast of Bordeaux, according to a statement from Maxwell-Baynes-Vineyards, an affiliate of Christie’s International Real Estate. Source, South China Morning Post.

24/07/2017: Fake wine trader jailed after 100k scam
Lasse Hartmann has been sentenced to four years in prison for masterminding a £100,000 scam in which he pretended to be a multi-millionaire businessman trading in fine wine and Champagne. Source, The Drinks Business.

21/07/2017: Wairarapa Bayer Young Vit of the Year
Congratulations to Ben McNab-Jones from Urlar who became Bayer Wairarapa Young Viticulturist of the Year 2017 on 20 July. This is the second year McNab-Jones has entered the regional competition and luckily this time he will be going through to the National Final to represent the Wairarapa. Source, Winetitles.

21/07/2017: NZ Sauv moves past one dimensional label
The perception that Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc is “one dimensional” is rapidly diminishing, says the chief winemaker of Brancott Estate, as winemakers up their efforts to highlight sub regional difference and explore the effect of different winemaking techniques. Source, The Drinks Business.

21/07/2017: Nebbiolo doesn't have to be Italy's blockbuster
"Bottom line: Why spring big bucks for a wine style that way too often, at least to me, was tired and dried out before even being bottled? Fast forward 20 or 30 years and I find an interesting situation has developed at Chez Nous: we are drinking quite a lot of Italian wine," writes Frank Wilden for Business Insider.

21/07/2017: Wine Spectator Awards praise Silicon Valley
Twenty-eight Silicon Valley restaurants received a Wine Spectator’s Restaurant Award this year. The magazine, which announced the awards earlier this month, gives three levels of honours. The Award of Excellence, which is awarded to restaurants with at least 90 wine selections, was awarded to 16 Silicon Valley restaurants and 2,335 restaurants across the country. Source, Silicon Valley Business Journals.

21/07/2017: Wine fraud as rampant as ever
“There is indeed a thriving market for investment in fine wines, but you need a certain amount of knowledge, an honest broker and to recognise that you may not achieve the returns promised,” says partner Mark Wright, who has 20 years experience in fraud investigations. Quantuma, Wright's insolvency firm, previously dealt with the shambolic collapse of Australian Wine Portfolios. Source, Mirror.

21/07/2017: How cask wine became cool again
Bag-in-box wines still have a lingering image problem, says Giorgio de Maria, a Sydney-based sommelier and wine importer. "People associate bag-in-box, or goon, with bad wine,” he says. But despite this impediment, his bag-in-box wines have taken off. Source, The Guardian.

20/07/2017: California's pre-prohibition wine roots
Few of today’s visitors are aware of what existed in the area before Prohibition forced the hundreds of wineries around the state to shut down. It was a period when California wine was more likely to be labeled Hock, Angelica and Old Port than Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay. Source, The Daily Beast.

20/07/2017: Hungarian wines
In most European languages the word for wine is derived from the Latin word vinum. However, in Hungarian it’s called bor. Some historians believe Hungarian winemaking even pre-dates the Romans. The country has multiple wine regions with distinctive characters, from the sweet wines of Tokaj to the rich red “bull’s blood” of Eger. Source, Express.

20/07/2017: What's next? Wine pouches?
UK retailer The Co-op is set to expand its range of smaller formats and embrace new formats in order to boost the options for convenience shoppers, it has revealed. Last month the retailer rolled out Most Wanted’s innovative single-serve wine pouches across 864 of its stores nationwide, which have been designed to tap into the on-the-go market and appeal to younger consumers. Source, The Drinks Business.

20/07/2017: Canada uncorks sparkling wine market
Canadian wine writer Tony Aspler says the gold standard for sparkling wine may still be bottles from the exclusive Champagne region in northern France, but they come with gold standard prices in the $50 to $70 range. Aspler says many of Canada's 600 wineries have figured out they have the perfect growing conditions for the grapes used in traditional sparkling wine. Source, CBC News.

20/07/2017: NZ walking a Geographical Indicator tightrope
Europe wants to expand legal protections of names for food and beverages synonymous with regions beyond its own borders. Will New Zealand play ball? Nigel Stirling reports for the New Zealand Herald.

20/07/2017: Own it all: farming diversification
No one will ever call Mid Canterbury farmers Kate and David Acland lazy. Not only do they run a 3800ha mixed livestock finishing farm with 25,000 stock units; they have tacked onto the family enterprise a dairy operation, an apiary, a Marlborough winery (Sugarloaf Wine) and a local cafe and farm store. "Schemes interest us," says David. "Diversification has been our strategy since 2012. We are spreading our income and are not at the mercy of any single industry. Source, Stuff.

19/07/2017: Using technology for a better vintage
You can't make sweeping statements about the way the wine industry feels about tech, mostly because there's more than one wine industry. Chair of Oenology at UC Davis, Roger Boulton, explains how factors like "where [the wine] comes from, its vintage or cultivar" affect the different parts of the industry. "If that's not important to the product you're trying to sell, then [technologies] that enhance or capture or collect that for you don't help." Source, CNET.

19/07/2017: Texan wine explained
The multi-billion dollar Texas wine industry vies for fourth place in size with New York from year to year, despite the fact that a wine lover is far more likely to find a New York State wine in their shop than one from Texas. Source, VinePair.

19/07/2017: The case of the counterfeit Krug
LVMH has settled a legal fight with auctioneer Acker Merrall & Condit over a bottle of 1947 Krug. What does it mean for wine collectors? The public battle may be a sign that wine producers are pushing more forcefully on rare wine merchants when it comes to fighting counterfeits. Source, Wine Spectator.

19/07/2017: Alternative whites for millennials
Wine trends go through cycles, some of which are difficult to predict. Today we face the fact that millennial buyers may be history’s least predictable wine-buying group, and one of the most challenging. Source, Press Democrat.

19/07/2017: Selecting wine for every occasion
Waikato wine and beer writer, Simon Wood, writes about his favourite weekday wines, noting the success of Hunter's Wines in Marlborough. Source, Stuff.

19/07/2017: Central wines well represented
Central Otago is well represented in the recently released 2017 Air NZ Fine Wines of New Zealand list. Curated by five New Zealand masters of wine and one master sommelier, the list collates the finest New Zealand wines based on quality and track record. Source, Otago Daily Times.

18/07/2017: Head of wine school retires
Diane Marshall recently retired after 11-plus years as head of EIT’s School of Viticulture and Wine Science, rounding off a career in education that spanned more than 41 years. Under Diane’s aegis, the school’s suite of programmes has developed into New Zealand’s widest range of viticulture and wine science qualifications. Source, Winetitles.

18/07/2017: Wine fraudster on the run after sentencing
An Italian wine fraudster who smuggled millions of pounds worth of wine into the UK has been sentenced to 14 years in jail – even though he has fled the country. Source, The Drinks Business.

18/07/2017: Delegat predicts rise in profits
Record wine production of 2.65million cases has prompted producer Delegat Group to upgrade full-year after-tax profit guidance by almost 7% to $38.5million. Delegat yesterday upgraded its unaudited forecast of operating profit after tax from $36million to $38.5 million for the year, scheduled for release in late August. Source, Otago Daily Times.

18/07/2017: Resurrecting vines to survive climate change
In Vilafranca del Penedès, an hour outside of Barcelona, the local winery Bodegas Torres is researching and rediscovering wine varieties long thought to be extinct. It just so happens that many of these revived regional varieties thrive in hotter, drier climates. So Bodegas Torres is regrowing these ancestral vines to assuage the wine industry’s looming climate-change crisis. Source, The Atlantic.

18/07/2017: Domenico Clerico dies at 67
Domenico Clerico, the renowned vintner who helped build a new wave of enthusiasm for the wines of Barolo, died yesterday at his home in Monforte d'Alba after a long battle with cancer. He was 67. Source, Wine Spectator.

18/07/2017: Vintners curious but wary of cannabis
Increasingly, these two worlds are bumping into each other as the state’s newly legalized cannabis industry steps out from the shadows and begins to vie openly with California’s long-established wine industry for workers, water, land and customers. The two industries find themselves facing a common question: Are they competitors or collaborators? Source, Sonoma News.

18/07/2017: Forbes praises Hentley Farm
"The Australian wine industry is nothing if not flexible, and these days there is a growing emphasis on more sophisticated styles, more polish and nuance, a response, at least in part, to the evolving palate of domestic, Australian that is, consumers," writes Nick Passmore for Forbes.

17/07/2017: Central Otago Young Vit of the Year
Congratulations to Annabel Bulk from Felton Road who has become the Bayer Central Otago Young Viticulturist of the Year 2017.

17/07/2017: Canada withdraws cease of Israeli wines
The decision to avoid labelling wines as products of Israel if they are produced in the West Bank or in other areas controlled by Israeli forces has been reversed by Canada’s federal food inspection agency. Source, Independent.

17/07/2017: From cardiac research to winery manager
Erica Crawford got from a cardiac research scientist to the founder and chief executive of an organic wine brand, Loveblock, "partly by marriage, partly by need, and partly by circumstance", she says. She runs Loveblock wines with her husband Kim, which they started in 2013 on about 100 hectares of Marlborough's Awatere Valley. Source, Stuff.

17/07/2017: California's most expensive wines
Along with death and taxes, one of life's nailed-on certainties is that the price of California – by which we really mean Napa – wines go in one direction only, and that is up; but it isn't quite true. Source, Wine Searcher.

17/07/2017: Why Southern French winemakers are so angry
The ‘vinuous terrorists’ of Languedoc-Roussillon are battling changing French drinking habits and a new president as they seek to preserve the region’s traditions. Source, The Guardian.

17/07/2017: Synthetic wines
“Engineering wines to perfection molecule by molecule.” That’s the tagline of Ava Winery, which is creating synthetic wines without grapes, yeast, or even fermentation. Mardonn Chua and Alec Lee are the entrepreneurs behind Ava Winery. They create compounds with ethanol that mimic the chemical composition of wines, but that will sell for much less money. Source, The Spoon.

17/07/2017: NZ sommelier scholarship open to Aussies
The New Zealand Wine International Sommelier Scholarship has opened for Australian applications, offering sommeliers the opportunity to take part in a memorable wine experience across the ditch. Source, Winetitles.

14/07/2017: Counting sheep
Livestock farmers, orchardists, wine growers, arable farmers and others running about 60,000 farms receive information packs about the census in July. The census information will give farmers and other New Zealanders a complete view of agricultural trends. Source, Rural News Group.

14/07/2017: Te Takitaki display Brick Bay sculpture
This year's Brick Bay Folly winner was Te Takitaki. Based on the structure of a Maori palisade, the orange-stained timber architectural installation was designed by graduates Tom Dobinson and George Grieve, from Patterson Associates, and Sophie Edwards and Jayne Kersten, from Jasmax, in collaboration with landscape architect Winston Dewhirst from O2 Landscapes. Source, Architecture Now.

14/07/2017: Canada ceases sale of Israeli wines from West Bank
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency clarified that ‘Products of Israel’ would not be an acceptable country of origin declaration for wine products that have been made from grapes that are grown fermented, processed, blended and finished in the West Bank occupied territory. Source, Jerusalem Post.

14/07/2017: Making wine in India
Rajeev Samant is extremely confident considering he makes his livelihood producing wine in a country where the government recently took away much of the ability of his customers to easily buy his products. Source, Decanter.

14/07/2017: Georgian wine export to China doubles
The ancient winemaking country of Georgia exported around 31.5 million bottles of wines worth about US$70.5 million to 44 countries in the first six months of the year, representing a 59% increase in volume and a 51% jump in value compared with the same period last year. Source, The Drinks Business.

14/07/2017: Chateau cardboard
"'Chateau cardboard’ is the dismissive nickname, ascribed to the Aussies, for bag-in-box wine. But there are sensible reasons to buy it, especially if you’re off on holiday, or to a festival, by car or train." Source, Telegraph.

13/07/2017: Temecula valley could be a new Cali success
Better wine and a new approach to tourism are set to put southern California’s vineyards on the map for both wine lovers and a new wave of Chinese tourists. Source, European CEO.

13/07/2017: Detecting acetaldehyde
A fine wine has an ideal balance of ingredients. Too much or too little of a component could mean the difference between a wine with a sweet and fruity aroma and one that smells like wet newspaper. To help wineries avoid off-aromas, a team reports a sensitive device for detecting a compound that can affect the beverage's fragrance. Source, Science Daily.

13/07/2017: Global warming threatening Mediterranean
A new report says slightly increased temperatures in the Mediterranean region as a result of global warming may result in labour and productivity losses in the European wine industry. Source, The Independent.

13/07/2017: Cali grapes should find a home in 2017
“The market continues to be in short supply for all major varieties in the North Coast and also short most varieties in the Central Coast,” says Brian Clements, vice president of the wine and grape brokerage firm company based in Novato, California. Source, Western Farm Press.

13/07/2017: Women leading charge in viticulture
The women of Central Otago's wine industry will this week prove viticulture is no longer just a man's game. Of the eight competitors in the Central Otago Young Viticulturist of the Year contest in Cromwell tomorrow, five are women. This is the most of any New Zealand region since the competition began in 2006. Source, The Otago Daily Times.

13/07/2017: Finding NZ's best young winemaker
The battle is on again to find the 2017 NZ Young Winemaker of the Year. With a new structure to the competition which is set to bring the North vs South rivalry back into play, the young wine making talent of New Zealand will compete for the ultimate title during the next few months. Source, Winetitles.

12/07/2017: ‘Tornado’ of hail hits Beaujolais vineyards
A fierce hailstorm hit the Beaujolais region at 4:45pm on 10 July. It’s a case of déjà-vu for some producers after the same corridor of Beaujolais vineyards suffered from hail in June 2016, said Mélina Condy from region wine body InterBeaujolais. "But this is on a on a bigger and wider scale," she told Decanter.com.

12/07/2017: How important are tasting notes?
Lisa Perrotti-Brown has seen a lot of tasting note hate lately: people questioning the validity, worth and relevance of tasting notes. As someone who has a good portion of a garage devoted to storing cherished notebooks filled with hand-scrawled tasting notes going right back to the beginning of her wine career, and Perrotti-Brown finds this as tragic as the demise of book stores. Source, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate.

12/07/2017: Identifying nutrient deficiencies
Leaf discolouration from solid green at any time other than autumn is a sign the leaves are under severe stress. In many cases a severe nutrient deficiency is the cause. The discolouration can have a characteristic shape and colour that indicates which nutrient is deficient. This article explores some of the examples. Source, Lodigrowers.com.

12/07/2017: Spain: Beyond a price-based discussion
A recent Harpers Spain round table with leading buyers from across the trade agreeing that a mixture of necessity and opportunity has shifted the UK focus onto quality over quantity with Spanish wines. With Spain losing bottom end market share, down 10% in volume across 2016 (Nielsen, off-trade to 31.12.16), but reporting only a 7% loss of off-trade value, while growing its value share of the on-trade by 2% over the same period, the consensus was that the concept of quality Spanish wines has reached a critical point with UK buyers. Source, Harpers.co.uk

12/07/2017: Your next lesson: NZ Sauvignon Blanc
Sauvignon blanc put New Zealand on the map as a wine-producing country, and its brash, herbaceous style proved highly popular with consumers. The classic New Zealand style has remained influential as producers from South America to the United States to South Africa to France itself have emulated it. When good, the wines can be energetic, vivacious and brisk. Source, New York Times.

12/07/2017: New horticultural officer appointed
Grower concerns about the need for a coordinated approach to labour in the horticulture and viticulture industries in Gisborne have borne fruit with the appointment of a person to do that work. The Tairawhiti Labour Governance Group made up of local horticultural industry leaders, the Ministry of Social Development and Horticulture NZ, has launched a project to that end. It will promote careers and align jobseekers with the growing opportunities in the horticultural sector. Source, The Gisborne Herald.

11/07/2017: English wine producers record turnover
On the rise and no longer laughing, stocks of English wine have enjoyed a record year. Independent English wine producers have defied ridicule to register £132m in turnover from 2015-2016, an all-time high, according to new research by online business finance supermarket Funding Options. Source, The Independent.

11/07/2017: Rare brick that makes wine on display in Canada
A grape brick was a solid chunk of dehydrated grape juice and pulp costing a couple of bucks that would be dissolved into a gallon of water. Its box carried very dire warnings not to leave it too long in water because it could cause fermentation and create — gasp! — wine. This was problematic as it was sold in the late years of Prohibition. Source, The Daily Bulletin.

11/07/2017: The French paradox turned out to be an illusion
Everybody loved the French paradox. It was a term coined in 1980 by French scientists in their paper on heart disease and fat intake. It refers to the fact that, despite consuming a diet high in saturated fat and wine, French people have relatively low levels of coronary heart disease, especially when compared with people in Britain. Source, The Conversation.

11/07/2017: Wine and weed: a California dream or nightmare?
In the epicurean world, Northern California is famous for two intoxicants — wine and weed. With recreational marijuana about to be legal in the Golden State, some cannabis entrepreneurs are looking to the wine industry as a model. Source, National Public Radio.

11/07/2017: New Zealand school of winegrowing launches
A school for high school students to learn the ins and outs of winemaking and viticulture will start next year after funding was found to get the project off the ground. Marlborough Boys' College and Marlborough Girls' College have been working together for the past two years to develop the 'New Zealand School of Winegrowing'. Source, Stuff.

11/07/2017: Squawking Magpie winery
There was plenty for the Squawking Magpie winemaking crew to crow about this week after their 2013 SQM Cabernet took the highest of honours against some of the finest 'cabs' in the world at one the United States' major wine competitions. Source, The New Zealand Herald.

10/07/2017: Joyce's purchase 100% of Toi Toi
Kevin and Sara Joyce and family have purchased the remaining shares in Marlborough Wine Ltd, making them 100% owners of the company that owns the Toi Toi wine brand.

10/07/2017: 'Olympic' win for Hawkes Bay Syrah
A Hawkes Bay syrah from Rod McDonald Wines has won the Champion Red Trophy for its Quarter Acre Syrah 2015 at the International Wine Challenge (IWC). The winery was already noted for scooping four trophies for its Quarter Acre Syrah 2015. Source, The New Zealand Herald.

10/07/2017: Fake news: No wine brand for Amazon
According to numerous reports out this morning, Amazon entered the wine business with its own label in partnership with Oregon’s King Estate Winery, which has launched a direct-to-Amazon wine label called “Next.” But that’s not actually the case, as it turns out. Source, Tech Crunch.

10/07/2017: Flight staff break bottles over passenger's head
A flight attendant had to break a wine bottle over the head of a man who lunged for an exit door and fought with other passengers during a Delta Air Lines flight from Seattle to Beijing. The flight was subsequently turned around, but it took multiple passengers to restrain the man. Source, The Sydney Morning Herald.

10/07/2017: A 100 year old woman shares her secret
Florence Bearse recently celebrated her 100th birthday in her hometown of Bangor, Maine. Asked about how she had lived such a long life, the centenarian told local TV station WLBZ: "I like my wine. Don't take it away from me." Source, The Independent.

10/07/2017: Largest wine stash in US found, dates back to 1700's
A New Jersey museum unearthed dozens lost wines that date back to just after the American Revolution — including the largest known collection of Madeira in the country, according to a report. The monetary value of the Madeira cannot be made public — but it is the largest that has been discovered in the U.S. — and one of the most extensive in the world. Source, The New York Post.

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