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Announcements and Suppliers

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

14/07/2017: Malbec masterclass in Adelaide
On Friday 21, Langhorne Creek is celebrating the Malbec variety with a Masterclass at the State Library of South Australia hosted by award winning Bleasdale Vineyards Winemaker, Paul Hotker and writer, David Sly.

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

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.

7/07/2017: Using magpies to deter grape-eating birds
Magpies are being lured in to help ward off smaller birds that feast on grapes. Fruit-eating birds like starlings, rosellas and thrushes cause substantial damage to Australian vineyards, in some cases munching through 80 per cent of the fruit. Reducing their presence is easy and all you need is a couple of wooden posts. Source, New Scientist.

7/07/2017: Vinehealth pilots new biosecurity tool
A Vinehealth Australia pilot project, which saw virtual fences built around vineyards in the Barossa and McLaren Vale regions to track boundary crossings, has demonstrated the power of geofencing as a biosecurity tool. The project is the first known of its kind. Source, Winetitles.

7/07/2017: Dave Brookes on wine fraud in China
On a recent trip to Shanghai, Dave Brookes discovered not all was as it seemed when he glanced at three bottles of Penfolds Bin 389. Source, The Adelaide Review.

7/07/2017: A shift in the Chinese wine market
The Chinese wine market is “dynamic” and “always changing” as consumers learn to drink wine for enjoyment, rather than status or health. As part of the shift, they have moved away from “old world” European wines toward lighter Australian wines with low acidity and minimal tannin. Source, The Weekly Times.

7/07/2017: An organic empire at Blampied
"Tucked in a corner of Captains Creek Organic Wines’ cellar door and restaurant, there’s an aerial photo of the May family’s 80-hectare farm. “This is fair dinkum paddock-to-plate,” owner Carolyn May says." Source, The Weekly Times.

6/07/2017: Grower wins $7m case
A north-west Victorian grape grower, whose 60-hectare property was permanently damaged by chemical overspray from a neighbouring property four years ago, has been awarded more than $7 million. Source, Sunraysia Daily.

6/07/2017: Robert Wood wins German wine scholarship
The talented son of Yenda farmers has won a prestigious wine scholarship to Germany – to work there as a consultant winemaker. Robert Wood, 25, who works at Calabria Wines, has been awarded the Esther Knewitz Memorial scholarship. Source, The Daily Advertiser.

6/07/2017: Victorian tourism boost
The Victorian Government has helped secure a $1.15million investment in Seymour. Family owned winery, Wine x Sam, will create 10 local jobs and increase regional tourism by an estimated 10000 visitors a year. Source, The Seymour Telegraph.

6/07/2017: Man faces court over Swan Valley painting theft
The man charged over a bizarre painting theft in the Swan Valley last month has appeared in a Perth court. Jake Dugles Seagrim, 19, appeared in the Midland Magistrate's Court today charged with stealing a 2.5m, 50kg painting worth $8000 from the Chapel Farm winery in Middle Swan on June 10. Source, The West Australian.

6/07/2017: Rocks now roll vineyard prices
Recent record vineyard prices are relevant to top geologies common to both Barossa and McLaren Vale, Philip White reports. Source, InDaily.

5/07/2017: Australia named country of honour for Vinexpo
Australian wine will take centre stage at Vinexpo Hong Kong, as Australia has been selected as the Country of Honour for the exhibition in May 2018. Source, Winetitles.

5/07/2017: Measuring deliciousness
Wine researcher Dr Sigfredo Fuentes runs the University of Melbourne's brand new sensory lab. The lab is focusing on calculating the deliciousness of food and drink through a series of reactive tests. Fuentes notes the importance of cultural differences when breaking in to a Chinese taste market. Source, Pursuit.

5/07/2017: Developer's vision for Dalwood-Wyndham estate
The Iris Capital group of Sydney hotelier and developer Sam Arnaout aims to return the historic Dalwood-Wyndham wine estate at Branxton to its glory days as a venue for celebrity concerts, family gatherings, wine sales, weddings and social and corporate events. Source, The Newcastle Herald.

5/07/2017: Power price crisis for South Australian growers
Riverland irrigators are facing soaring water costs due to surging power bills, which an industry leader says could destroy South Australia’s horticulture industry and lead to fruit and vegetable imports. Source, The Weekly Times.

5/07/2017: Wine review: Yangarra’s graceful Grenache
"But putting pen to screen and writing about them is part and parcel of coming to terms with my affliction, so please allow me to continue. Though we are spoiled for great Grenache in this fine state of ours, Yangarra do it better than most, and this, the High Sands Grenache, is their flagship wine from the esteemed variety." Source, The Adelaide Review.

5/07/2017: Biosecurity Tips
Tip#7: Sending pruning gear interstate for servicing? Ensure you act responsibly by being aware of the quarantine requirements for pruning gear leaving and re-entering your state. www.vinehealth.com.au #Vinehealth

4/07/2017: Brian Walsh talks export and support
Targeting inbound international wine tourists and the key export market of China are likely to be key planks in the new $50 million export and regional wine support package, according to Australian Grape and Wine Authority chairman Brian Walsh. Source, The Advertiser.

4/07/2017: Ochre Nation a - giving back to grapegrowers
Through its sustainability-minded labels Unico Zelo Wines, Applewood Distillery and Harvest, Ochre Nation is being, and facilitating, the change it wants to see in the world. Source, CityMag.

4/07/2017: Wine researcher named as STEM star
Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture research fellow Dr Fiona Kerslake was recognised by Science & Technology Australia as a Superstar of STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics). After being encouraged to apply for the program, viticultural researcher Dr Kerslake was thrilled to hear she had made the cut on Friday. Source, The Examiner.

4/07/2017: Barossa vignerons get extra water supply
An additional three gigalitres of irrigation water will be added to the region’s vineyards by the end of 2018. The investment will drought-proof many Barossa vineyards and create capacity for new plantings and has been welcomed by locals. Source, The Barossa Herald.

4/07/2017: Doorstep wine delivery for Melbourne
Beginning today, Deliveroo will deliver alcohol in 30 minutes or less, Monday through Sunday, between 12pm and 11pm. The new alcohol-only service in Melbourne is the first for Deliveroo in Australia, though the company says other cities will come next. Source, Broadsheet.

4/07/2017: Biosecurity Tips
Tip#6: Monitor the growth of newly planted vines. Record any abnormal symptoms, confirm cause and feed information back to your vine material supplier. www.vinehealth.com.au #Vinehealth

3/07/2017: Geographe and WA Alternative Varieties Wine Show
The judging panel has been announced for the 2017 Geographe and WA Alternative Varieties Wine Show held in late August. The panel includes former Australian Financial Review writer, Tim White. Source, Winetitles.

3/07/2017: McLaren Vale vineyard sells for $10 million
A 252-acre vineyard located in McLaren Vale’s ‘dress circle’ has sold for $10 million. The vineyard comprises three separate vineyards which were sold as a single transaction. Source, Winetitles.

3/07/2017: Australia's screwcap revolution
"Skilfully popping a cork from a bottle of wine in one deft movement is a party trick only a select few can pull off nowadays. And it's probably because, in Australia, we're out of practice." Source, The Sydney Morning Herald.

3/07/2017: How this Australian is changing world wine
Australian/English/French man Richard Serisier pioneered a business venture in specially engineered corks. Serisier now has another objective: to change the merit of a French wine appellation. Source, Forbes.

3/07/2017: Trade agreement launched with Latin America
A free trade agreement launched on Saturday 1 July 2017 provides the opportunity to lower tariff and trade barriers with Mexico - an emerging market with considerable potential for Australian wine exports. Source, Winetitles.

International Wine Industry News

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.

7/07/2017: Tohu Sauv praised by Decanter
Tohu Single Vineyard Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2016 rated as ‘outstanding’ by prestigious wine magazine, Decanter

7/07/2017: Bayer Marlborough & Nelson Young Vit 2017
Congratulations to Anthony Walsh from Constellation who became the Bayer Marlborough Young Viticulturist of the Year 2017 on Thursday 6 July. Congratulations also goes to Laurie Stradling from Kaimira Estate, Nelson. He also competed and needed to achieve the very high standard required to go through to represent Nelson in the National Final. Source, Winetitles.

7/07/2017: Michelin guide buys 40% of Wine Advocate
It was announced Wednesday that Michelin, publisher of that 100-year-old guidebook, would buy a 40% interest in the Wine Advocate. One immediate target: more wine "events" (dinners, tastings) in Hong Kong and Singapore. Source, Forbes.

7/07/2017: Amazon to produce wine
Amazon’s continuing quest to make and sell everything in the world has led to it branching out into a new area: overseeing the production of a new range of wines. Source, The Guardian.

7/07/2017: Constellation Paid $60 Million for Schrader
Wine Spectator has learned that Constellation Brands paid approximately $60 million when it purchased Napa Valley brand Schrader Cellars. Schrader is one of Napa's premier Cabernet labels, selling for $200 a bottle. Source, Wine Spectator.

7/07/2017: Can wine labels be used more effectively?
Marketing, advertising and research specialist Jonathan Cahill believes wine labels are missing a trick due to the “seeming reluctance to focus on the specific”. Source, The Drinks Business.

6/07/2017: RSE conference to be held in Blenheim
A conference to mark the 10th anniversary of a migrant labour scheme crucial to the success of the Marlborough wine industry is being held in Blenheim on Thursday. The Horticulture New Zealand-organised conference on the Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) scheme runs over two days at the Marlborough Convention Centre. Source, Stuff.

6/07/2017: Could our farmers cash in on legal cannabis?
Dairy, wine … hemp? If the currently restrictive laws on the cultivation of cannabis were loosened, it could change the agricultural landscape of New Zealand. "I think it will be up there with dairy and other agricultural commodities," says Richard Barge about low-THC industrial hemp. "It will catch up with wine industry and things like that." Source, Stuff.

6/07/2017: How Sideways reshaped the wine industry
Thin-skinned. Temperamental. In need of constant care and attention. In the film Sideways, those descriptive words aptly captured the character of angst-ridden, wine-obsessed protagonist Miles Raymond. The same words also tell the story of an equally important, but liquid, character in the film: pinot noir. Source, Maine Public.

6/07/2017: Learning Italian grapes
Forbes contributor Susan H. Gordon writes on her experiences attending the Vinitaly International Academy. Susan joined McLaren Vale local Gil Gordon-Smith in completing the course to be labelled an Italian Wine Ambassador. Source, Forbes.

6/07/2017: Six amazing bottles hurt by bad art
Bloomberg contributor Elin McCoy has picked six bottles of wine that boast "bad art". Her claims is that the label is detracting from some fine wine. Hint: there's a Clare Valley bottle thrown under the bus. Source, Bloomberg.

6/07/2017: Harrods to invest in million dollar wine rooms
While a report in the Evening Standard at the end of last year claimed that Harrods was closing its wines and spirits department, food & restaurant director Alex Dower said that the opposite was the case, as it was dedicating a huge sum to creating a new set of rooms just for alcoholic drinks. Source, The Drinks Business.

5/07/2017: John Sacker on Grenache
"Their rise in popularity caused a Grenache rethink in other parts of the world, including Australia. The variety has been called Australian wine's best kept secret. Plantings there go back to the 19th century, and the surviving plots of those gnarly old bush vines are now coveted by a new generation of winemakers." Source, Stuff.

5/07/2017: Call of the wild
"The call of the wild draws some to don hiking books and head into the wilderness; for others, it’s hunting wild animals. For winemakers, though, the call of the wild is something rather different. Yeast is a crucial part of the wine-making process." Source, Otago Daily Times.

5/07/2017: UK wine vote for single industry body rep
The United Kingdom Vineyards Association and English Wine Producers have voted to merge to form one single-industry representative body. Source, The Drinks Business.

5/07/2017: SA wine label adds Fairtrade wines
The new Kumala Fairtrade Pinotage Shiraz, which launches exclusively in The Coop this month is the result of a two-year project with the Accolade-owned wine brand, and comes amid “buoyant” sales of Fairtrade wine, the Co-op said. Source, The Drinks Business.

5/07/2017: A wine resort opens in Tuscany
A new wine 'town' with holograms of famous Italian winemakers, tastings, restaurants and self-catering apartments has opened in Bolgheri on the Tuscan coast. It has been 15 years in the making, with €12 million of funding from private investors and banks. Source, Decanter.

5/07/2017: Russians told to drink more wine
"We are a country which generally drinks strong alcohol like vodka or moonshine," Alexander Tkachyov, head of the Russian Agriculture Ministry told Russian television channel NTV. "This not only robs people of their health, but also of their lives. By drinking more wine, Russians could see the country's health and demographic problems change for the better.” Source, The Moscow Times.

4/07/2017: Champagne and sparkling awards results
The Champagne & Sparkling Wine World Championships (CSWWC) is delighted to announce that the number of countries entering the Champagne & Sparkling Wine World Championships this year rose to 29 with first-time entries from the Czech Republic, Luxembourg and Romania, all of which won Silver medals. Source, Winetitles.

4/07/2017: The value of China's wine imports is dropping
The value of wine imported into China dropped again this month, continuing its downward trend into the fifth month of the year, albeit it at a slower pace than in previous months. Source, The Drinks Business.

4/07/2017: Consistency vs uniqueness of place
Wine divide: uniqueness of place vs. consistency of product. There is room for both, but they are almost mutually exclusive. Wines that emphasise vintage and terroir soar but consistent wines are safe harbours. They may not soar but they do not crash and burn. Source, Lubbock Online.

4/07/2017: Top 10 investment wines with stable return
The value of fine wines has risen by 20pc over the past year, with demand climbing as investors look for novel ways to diversify their portfolios. The 10 best performing wines over the past five years have increased in value by an average of 150pc. Source, The Telegraph.

4/07/2017: Pinot at forefront of New World Wine Awards
The initial test for this year’s wine vintage is underway with a record number of 1400 entries received for the New World Wine Awards. Pinot Noir's under $25 make up the largest category of entries at 15%, followed by Sauvignon Blanc at 13%. Source, National Business Review.

4/07/2017: Fatal vineyard car crash driver challenges
A man charged with reckless driving causing death after a car crashed into a vineyard is challenging the police version of events. Police claim Stewart Douglas Edward Holdem, 36, was driving recklessly in Marlborough on March 24 and ploughed into a vineyard. Source, Stuff.

3/07/2017: Bayer Auckland/Northern Young Vit 2017 announced
The Auckland/Northern region was added to the Young Viticulturist of the Year competition last year and now in its second year the competition has grown already with seven contestants taking part. Congratulations to Tim Adams from Obsidian who became the Bayer Auckland/Northern Young Viticulturist of the Year for the second year in a row on Friday 30 June at Goldie Estate. Source, Winetitles.

3/07/2017: Hawke's Bay among finest in top list
Craggy Range Lodge and The Farm at Cape Kidnappers were named among the top 5 'New Zealand Luxury Lodges' as part of Harrods magazine's June edition. Source, New Zealand Herald.

3/07/2017: Would you drink wine in a can?
Twenty years or so ago, a lot of people were still deeply suspicious of wine in a bottle with a metal screw cap. Now most of us know better, recognizing the benefits of this sturdy and clean closure even on pricey wines. Source, Wine Lovers Page.

3/07/2017: Moldova gets first wine airport
The residents of Moldova have shown their support for the country’s wine industry by voting to rename the capital’s airport, ‘Wines of Moldova Airport’. Source, Decanter.

3/07/2017: A Spanish wine battle
How are you spending your Friday? If the answer isn’t “getting doused in gallons of red wine,” you’re not having as much fun as the residents of Haro, a picturesque town in Spain’s Rioja region. Source, Smithsonian Magazine.

3/07/2017: Sacmi at Simei Drinktec
For the first time in its history, Simei, the international wine-making machine and bottling fair, is moving to Munich where it will take place from 11th to 15th September 2017, in parallel with Drinktec. Here are some examples of new machinery on display this year from Sacmi. Source, Winetitles.

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