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

22/06/2017: Attention Australian Gamay producers
The Wine & Viticulture Journal is inviting producers of varietal Gamay in Australia to take part in its forthcoming tasting.

13/06/2017: CRUSH 2017 – Expressions of interest open
Expressions of interest to present at this year’s CRUSH symposium are open and will close on June 30.

7/06/2017: Drinks chiefs to appear at London’s Bulk Wine and Spirits Show
Some of the first keynote panellists and speakers have been announced for what will be the first International Bulk Wine and Spirits Show to be held in Europe.

Australian Wine Industry News

26/06/2017: WET improvements introduced to parliament
The Winemakers’ Federation of Australia welcomed a bright new era for the Australian wine industry. This is following the introduction of legislative amendments that will effectively remove market distortions and directly support the wine industry and its communities. Source, Winetitles.

23/06/2017: Do wine bottles need a design update?
Labels, seals and boxes are all accustomed to change in the wine industry. But choice of glass bottles has seen less design innovation. Camellia Aebischer reports on a few examples where something different has been chosen. Source, Grapegrower & Winemaker.

23/06/2017: Q&A with Adam Chapman of Sirromet
With qualifications from Melbourne University and the Australian Wine Research Institute, a winemaking career spanning more than thirty vintages in Australia and France, and over 800 medals attributed to his wines, Sirromet’s Chief Winemaker considered himself an expert until a chance encounter on the other side of the globe reminded him that there’s always something new to learn. Source, WSET Global.

23/06/2017: From Malbec to mulberry's
If crop diversification is a risk, SA viticulturist Peter Szabo is proof that gambles can pay off harnessing the odd backyard tree. Mr Szabo is one of the country's only commercial mulberry producers, having turned some of his Riverland wine grapes into 26 rows of the fruit. Source, The ABC.

23/06/2017: Grenache of the south
Philip White recommends 18 favourites from the current crop of McLaren Vale's distinctive and resurgent Grenache wines. Source, InDaily.

23/06/2017: Export Partnership Program funding
Announced on June 20 by Investment and Trade Minister Martin Hamilton-Smith, the latest round of the state government’s Export Partnership Program includes funding for businesses in the food and wine, education, manufacturing and ICT sectors, operating across the metropolitan area and regional South Australia. Source, Brand SA.

22/06/2017: Government review for Riverina
The Riverina Wine Grapes Marketing Board hopes a New South Wales State Government review will result in it regaining powers to influence grape prices. Chief executive Brian Simpson said prior to 2000 the board had the ability to vest grapes and negotiate the grape price on behalf of all growers. Source, The ABC.

22/06/2017: Wine prices about to rise
The global wine industry is showing signs of recovery after years of oversupply and subdued prices. Figures from Wine Australia show supply dropping to about 26 billion litres, from a high of about 29 billion litres in 2013. Meanwhile, demand is expected to steadily increase. Source, Byron Shire News.

22/06/2017: Young Gun of Wine correction
Yesterday's newsletter was released with an incorrect statement of the winner of the 2017 Young Gun of Wine Awards. The mistake was corrected on the online platform however inbox copy's remained incorrect. Congratulations to Michael Downer at Murdoch Hill for taking out the prize.

22/06/2017: Success for Mortimers of Orange
The corks were popping at Mortimers of Orange Wines this week after the Burrendong Way winery picked up four international medals and extended its export deal. Owner Peter Mortimer said the winery had won four medals in the 2017 Shanghai International Wine Challenge held this month. Source, Central Western Daily.

22/06/2017: Why is China buying up Aussie farmland?
"The Australian wine sector is growing at a fast rate," says Mitchell Taylor, the winery's managing director. "And what is exciting is the top level, about 20 to 30 dollars a bottle and above, that segment is growing at 53 percent." That's thanks, in part, to China. Source, Red River Radio.

21/06/2017: Rob Mack: 2017 'Best New Act'
"Winegrower is an aspirational term, it’s where I’m heading," said Rob Mack - who won the 2017 Young Gun of Wine 'Best New Act' award last night. Milton Wordley recently caught up with the Young Gun, putting a series of questions to him for the photographer's regular blog. "Ideally I’d love to have a small plot, cultivated exactly how I want it to be, having 100% control over everything e.g. picking times… that would be what I would call wine growing ; it’s where I’d like to be." Source, People of Wine.

21/06/2017: Global wine glut eases
The global wine industry is showing signs of recovery after years of oversupply and subdued prices. Figures from Wine Australia show supply dropping to about 26 billion litres, from a high of about 29 billion litres in 2013. Meanwhile, demand is expected to steadily increase. Source, The Weekly Times.

21/06/2017: Australian farmers' record breaking season
The gross value of Australia's farm production will be worth nearly $60 billion over the 2017-18 season, down 4.6 per cent on last year's record breaking season, according to the Australian Bureau of Agriculture and Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES). Source, ABC.

21/06/2017: Market Bulletin: An alternative view
The richness and diversity of Australian wine is nowhere more evident than when looking at the ‘alternative varieties’ that we produce. While they are small in volume, they are big on unique expression, innovation and consumer appeal. What exactly is an alternative variety? Australian alternative varieties are all varieties that are not mainstream and not extensively planted. Source, Wine Australia.

21/06/2017: Anger at local wine snub
Residents of Queensland's Southern Downs have expressed frustration about the lack of support given to local wine producers at community events. Many were shocked by the snub of local producers, suggesting the council should do more to support local businesses. Source, Warwick Daily News.

20/06/2017: Treasury to sell French wine to China
Australian wine supplier Treasury Wine Estates is seeking a bigger share of the market in China by adding French wine to its Australian and US offerings. Many Chinese consumers still hold French luxury wines in the highest regard, so, Treasury Wine has launched a new brand for the China market. Source, SBS.

20/06/2017: De Bortoli looking for joint ventures
Following a successful year of new product development and vineyard acquisitions, De Bortoli Wines is open to expanding its portfolio through joint ventures or agency agreements. The company is interested in looking at new opportunities, but only wants to work with organisations with a family tradition. Source, The Shout.

20/06/2017: On the Grapevine in Cessnock
"The Hunter Valley Wine and Tourism Association (HVWTA) was pleased to receive a visit from the Minister for Trade and Investment, Primary Industries and Regional Water, Niall Blair last Wednesday." Source, The Advertiser.

20/06/2017: Dispute between alco biz and safe drink review
Alcohol makers have rejected an offer by a senior federal health bureaucrat for the industry to put forward experts to join a panel reviewing Australia's controversial safe drinking guidelines. The offer was made by Anne Kelso, chief executive of the National Health and Medical Research Council, which is overseeing the five-yearly review into what level of alcohol intake is deemed safe. Source, Brisbane Times.

20/06/2017: Biosecurity Tips
Tip#5: Thinking of importing propagation material from interstate? Be aware that some states do not allow entry of potted vines. www.vinehealth.com.au #Vinehealth

20/06/2017: Thinking about succession planning
Succession planning for family vineyard businesses and the future integrity of South Australia’s wine regions will be hot topics for discussion at the fourth annual SA Wine Grape Growers Summit on 28 July in Barossa. Source, Winetitles.

19/06/2017: Belinda Chambers to join nations rural leaders
Winemakers of Rutherglen chairwoman Belinda Chambers has been selected to participate in the 24th Australian Rural Leadership Program. Mrs Chambers will join 33 leaders from diverse industries and communities in the 15-month program, which takes place across Australia and Indonesia. Source, Western Magazine.

19/06/2017: Pesticide Adjustment for Canopy Environment
A project supported by Wine Australia and Horticulture Innovation Australia, brings together local researchers, a concept born in the UK, software developments from the US, equipment provided by an Australian company, and the support of wine companies and viticulturists in three states. Source, Wine Australia.

19/06/2017: Mixing Pinot and Shiraz
"A strange thing happened at the tasting table the other day. A few bottles of various single varietal reds failed to excite my more critical faculties so I poured a 50:50 mix, in this instance of pinot noir and shiraz, to see what might be might be." Source, The Source SA.

19/06/2017: A Des Houghton wine review
"The Weemala 2015 tempranillo was made by Peter Logan and has pleasant bouquets of cherry and nutmeg with a robust palate of blackberry and sarsaparilla." Source, The Courier Mail.

19/06/2017: Weighing up the benefits of buying local
"We need to be wary of simplistic campaigns that may obscure the fact the general increase in living standards for a large proportion of us over the last 50 years is due to specialisation and international trade." Source, Adelaide Now.

16/06/2017: 360 Winery launches
A new cloud-based platform for wineries has launched, taking a holistic approach to managing grape and wine businesses. The system has been integrated with commercial accounting software, freight and banking services and does everything from processing payments to recording harvest data. Source, Winetitles.

16/06/2017: Orange, be proud of your product
Wine Australia's Chief Executive Andreas Clark tells the wine industry in Orange to be proud of its product after a recent visit. The wine and agricultural industry innovation forum event was aimed at updating participants on research, key export markets and future opportunities. Source, Central Western Daily.

16/06/2017: Tasmania, more like Burgundy than Barossa
This unique region of Australia is far cooler than anywhere else on the continent, and it has more in common with Champagne and Burgundy than with the Barossa Valley. Go there, and you’ll come across some stunning wines. Source, The Guardian.

16/06/2017: Man charged over Swan Valley painting theft
A 19-year-old man has been charged with stealing an $8000 painting swiped off the wall at a winery in Perth. The man was on a bus tour at Chapel Farm Winery in Middle Swan on Saturday when he allegedly grabbed the artwork and ran into bushland. Source, WA Today.

16/06/2017: Rate hike for north Adelaide farmers binned
A gallery of around 300 primary producers erupted into applause this week as councillors voted not to change the way rates are distributed — a move that received about 1700 written submissions in the past three weeks. Source, Adelaide Now.

15/06/2017: Orange to be on top end of Aussie Monopoly
Move over Mayfair, push off Park Lane, Orange is the new blue chip property on the latest all-Australian version of the Monopoly board game. Nearly 1000 people voted for Orange to beat Coffs Harbour, Byron Bay and Lord Howe Island to score a place alongside Sydney Harbour in the new version. Source, Central Western Daily.

15/06/2017: Vintage still going for some
It has been a case of better late than never when it comes to vintage this season. Leeton shire’s two wineries have both reported a later than usual vintage this season, due to a number of factors. For Lillypilly Estate Winery, grapes still need to be harvested for its late varieties. Source, The Irrigator.

15/06/2017: McWilliams launches new range
McWilliam’s Wines has today launched a new range of wines, called the McW range, which comes from grapes in the cool climate regions of New South Wales. Source, The Shout.

15/06/2017: Barossa pruning history
It is the race that stops South Australia's wine regions, and for Malcolm Parish and his family, it is an event that holds more than a century of tradition. The South Australian Pruning Championships have a long history in the Clare Valley, dating back to the early 1900s. Source, The ABC.

15/06/2017: Four decades in vineyards
For most who visit McLeish, the cellar door provides an opportunity to try our wines and meet the team. However, there’s one team member who is very important to the business and few are given the pleasure of meeting him, and that’s Ted, the trusty vineyard manager. Source, Border Chronicle.

14/06/2017: Sydney Wine Show chair steps down
After eight years as the first female to chair the Royal Agricultural Society’s Sydney Wine Show Committee, the trail-blazing Lyndey Milan has stepped down – but leadership of the prestigious competition continues in female hands. Source, The Herald.

14/06/2017: BoM makes accidental wine recommendation
A slip up by the Bureau of Meteorology has winemakers giggling as the website accidentally penned the 2013 Krondorf Symmetry Barossa Shiraz as its "weather situation" for Sydney. The mistake has now been removed, but screen shots have been circulating. Source, News.

14/06/2017: Chinese customers love Aussie products
The opportunities of doing business with China are only restricted by your imagination, Bathurst resident Hailing Cheng says. She arrived in Bathurst from China five years ago to complete a double degree at Charles Sturt University and improve her English, and she soon found there were many business opportunities. Source, Western Advocate.

14/06/2017: Richard Done's dream job
A Tamworth man is making his mark on the Hunter Valley wine industry after drinking in all the experience he could from two of the country’s leading producers. Source, Northern Daily Leader.

14/06/2017: Orange looking for wine artefacts
The Orange Regional Museum is putting together an exhibition 'Paddock to Plate: a history of food and wine in Orange and district'. The museum held its first public day on Tuesday to invite people with objects to display next year. Source, Central Western Daily.

13/06/2017: Peter Gago receives Queen's Birthday honour
Penfolds’ chief winemaker Peter Gago has been recognised for his service to the Australian wine industry with his appointment as a Companion of The Order of Australia (AC) in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List. Source, Decanter.

13/06/2017: New Victorian Strategy
Expanding export markets and a greater focus on premium wines are crucial to the future profitability of the Victorian wine industry, according to a road map for the industry. The plan also calls for a better narrative for how to sell Victorian wine domestically and around the world. Source, The Age.

13/06/2017: Dawine launched between China and Aus
Sales of Australian wine in China grew by 40% last year. Dawine has officially launched its online platform that will sell premium, authentic foreign wine to the people of China. The company will sell wine through online sales. Source, Proactive Investors.

13/06/2017: Moffatdale Ridge solidify export deals
BY Chinese New Year, people dining in restaurants in Shanghai, Taipei and Hong Kong may be enjoying a bottle of Moffatdale Ridge Verdelho. Moffatdale winemaker Jason Kinsella travelled to China and Hong Kong last month and is working with distributors in southern China and Hong Kong to export South Burnett wine. Source, South Burnett Times.

13/06/2017: Cowra Wine Show judge announced
There will be a different flavour to this year’s Cowra Wine Show with a separate show being held for the Single Vineyard varieties. Cowra Wine Show committee member Jenni Fagan said there would be a familiar face heading the judging for the Cowra Wine Show. Source, Western Magazine.

13/06/2017: Biosecurity Tips
Tip#4: Thinking of importing propagation material from interstate? Be aware that some states have requirements for dormant cuttings and rootlings to be hot water treated prior to entry. www.vinehealth.com.au #Vinehealth

9/06/2017: Australian Women in Wine Awards
Wine Australia has teamed up with the Australian Women in Wine Awards to host the 2017 awards in London - the first time that the winners will be announced outside of Australia. As part of the event, Wine Australia will be running tastings for trade and consumers on 26 September. Source, Winetitles.

9/06/2017: Frenchman says Aussie wine is best
He is the great nephew of Lily Bollinger and the descendant of a Champagne dynasty, but Xavier Bizot, general manager of Brian Croser’s Tapanappa in the Adelaide Hills, says the best wine he has ever tasted was Australian. Source, The Drinks Business.

9/06/2017: Wine waste to feed abalone
Waste from the wine industry is being developed into aquaculture feed with highly promising results. The research has so far produced a cheaper, better performing food source made from grape marc for the farmed abalone industry. Source, The Lead.

9/06/2017: A new cellar door for Rutherglen
James&Co opened on Thursday in the Main Street building formerly occupied by homewares store Passion Flora. Cornishtown couple Ricky and Georgie James wanted a space to showcase their James&Co wine range and a wedding photography studio. Source, The Border Mail.

9/06/2017: Margaret River takes out gold award
The Margaret River region has been recognised as the ‘Best Australian food and wine region' in Luxury Travel Magazine's annual Gold List Awards. Source, The Busselton Mail.

8/06/2017: Wine descriptions sell wine
Consumers are much more influenced by wine label descriptions than previously thought. Research by the University of Adelaide has shown wine descriptions can alter consumer emotions, increase how much they like a wine and encourage them to pay more for a bottle. Source, Weekly Times.

8/06/2017: Cloning in preparation for climate change
Australia's winemakers are uniquely placed with grape types which, if cloned, could challenge established varieties in major markets such as the USA. Michael McCarthy a Primary Research Scientist for Viticulture at SARDI has been involved in the testing of cloned grapes from warm regions. Source, ABC.

8/06/2017: Shiraz from Clare Valley takes top spot
A Shiraz from a Clare Valley vineyard set up primarily to make world-class Cabernet Sauvignon claimed the top spot in the World Ranking of Wines and Spirits. The Shiraz was named the 2016 wine of the year in the contest conducted by the World Association of Wine Writers and Journalists. Source, The Courier Mail.

8/06/2017: Wine Communicator Awards - entries open
Entries are now open for WCA’s prestigious annual Wine Communicator of the Year Awards, which this year will be offered in 10 categories. This year be split in to two distinct categories, technical and trade, and consumer. A new category has also been developed for Best Wine Public Relations Campaign. Source, Food Mag.

8/06/2017: Export markets strengthen, prices rise
Optimism in the Australian wine industry is booming with prices up and vineyards sitting stale on the market being snatched up. According to figures from Wine Australia, China remains our biggest export market and recorded the largest growth in the last year. Source, ABC.

7/06/2017: 2017 Barossa Pruning Competition results
Yesterday, South Australia's pruning championships took place at the Nuriootpa Research Station in the Barossa Valley. Grapegrowers gathered to participate in the competition, and enjoyed a day of education from researchers and suppliers. Here are the winners from the morning competition.

7/06/2017: Harvesting the sun
A green loan facility first launched two years ago by NAB and the Clean Energy Finance Corporation, has been extended this week. The loan has contributed to a broader shift taking place across the nation’s entire agribusiness sector into solar and other energy efficient technologies. Source, One Step off the Grid.

7/06/2017: Shadowfax Winery bouncing back
Shadowfax expects to know by the end of this week how long the re-build will take and when its restaurant and cellar door will re-open to the public. In the interim, it is retaining all of its staff members and redeploying them to other roles. Source, Star Weekly.

7/06/2017: Tyson Stelzer drops under $10 category
For the first year, Stelzer has not recommended any wines under $10. He noted that with the cost of production, he wanted to focus on premium wine production, and that “there are no great wines under $10”. Source, Food and Beverage Industry News.

7/06/2017: Innovation meets quality at Wamboin
There is a buzz out in Wamboin, with the newest (yet well established) winery releasing its latest vintage this week. Contentious Character has been opened a year, almost to the day. Yet it will seem familiar to many Canberrans because of its setting on the site of the former Lambert Vineyards. Source, The Riot.

6/06/2017: IWC trophy winners revealed
The Australian trophies at this year’s International Wine Challenge have been revealed. The four major trophy winners have been named in the Australian Sparkling, Australian White, Australian Red and Australian Fortified categories. Source, The Shout.

6/06/2017: Engineer's first vintage, praises life in Coonawarra
Luke Trotter knows what freedom feels like. He runs his aeronautical engineering firm from the office behind his family's cellar door and reckons "fluid flow" is what planes and wine have in common. Source, ABC Rural.

6/06/2017: Fundraising auction for Tony Keys
A fundraising auction is starting this week to help Tony Keys, wine journalist and author of The Key Report, who is struggling with a serious medical condition. In total more than 250 lots have been donated for the auction, which starts this Thursday, 8 June. There are no reserves and no buyers’ premium on the lots. Source, The Shout.

6/06/2017: Mr Riggs Montepulciano wins big
Family-owned, boutique McLaren Vale winery, Mr. Riggs, has been awarded a prestigious Platinum medal for its 2015 Montepulciano at the Decanter World Wine Awards. Mr. Riggs little known Italian varietal won ‘best Australian red single-varietal’ at the world’s largest wine competitions held in London, in April this year. Source, Winetitles.

6/06/2017: Biosecurity tip
Tip#3: Thinking about virus testing your vines? Remember to obtain correct documentation before sending diagnostic material between states or between phylloxera management zones within a state. www.vinehealth.com.au #Vinehealth

5/06/2017: Tyson Stelzer's AU/NZ wines of the year
Tyson Stelzer, best known for his sparkling wine report, has launched an Australia and New Zealand wines of the year list for 2017. This year, for the first time, no wines under $10 have been mentioned - in order to recognise the shift toward a premium market. Source, Tysonstelzer.com.

5/06/2017: Krondorf wins golds
In May, the Krondorf Symmetry Barossa Shiraz 2014 won a Gold Medal in Syrah du Monde, a competition to find the Best Shiraz in the World. The 2013 vintage was also recently awarded a Gold Medal at the International Wine Challenge in London. Source, ABC.

5/06/2017: Wine media cadetship
Wine Communicators of Australia are offering a Media Cadetship to residents of South Australia. Open to WCA Members, the WCA Wine Media Cadetship is made possible through the Adelaide a Great Wine Capital of the World initiative funded by Primary Industries and Regions South Australia (PIRSA). Source, Wine Communicators.

5/06/2017: $11.93 million for new research at Uni of Adelaide
Reducing greenhouse gas emissions with solar fuel generation, developing novel mathematical techniques to solve difficult problems and improving profitability of the wine industry are among the aims of major new University of Adelaide research projects announced today. Source, Winetitles.

5/06/2017: Growers struggling with electricity cost
Some in the MIA said the cost of electricity was now greater than that of water. Growers who irrigate rely heavily on electricity to ensure their farms were productive. With costs expected to rise again from July 1, growers across the country have also been left shocked at the Federal Court’s recent decision to block the path to reduced electricity prices. Source, The Irrigator.

International Wine Industry News

23/06/2017: Hawkes Bay Young Vit of the Year winner
The Young Viticulturist of the Year competitions are kicking off around New Zealand. In Hawkes Bay the final round was completed last night and the winner named. Each region will choose a winner then all the regional winners will compete to be declared overall champion.

23/06/2017: In defence of the half-bottle
"If asked, I imagine most people would admit that when they walk into a wine store, they fly right by the half-bottle section. In fact, a lot of people probably do not even realize it is there." Source, Vine Pair.

23/06/2017: Orange wine review
"We pride ourselves in this country on our openness to new influences, but when it comes to orange wine, Canada has the edge. I’ve just spent a few days in Montreal, where practically every restaurant lists orange wines." Source, The Guardian.

23/06/2017: Evidence that pre-Roman Brits had wine
The discovery of Roman pottery in a Celtic village in southwestern England suggests ancient Britain’s trading links with mainland Europe were more extensive and that wine drinking was more common than previously thought in pre-Roman Britain. Source, The Drinks Business.

23/06/2017: Zinfandel for summertime
"Temperatures are soaring this week in Central and Northern California, reaching 111° F in Healdsburg on Sunday, for example. We're drinking Rosé just to survive, but Zinfandel has been on my mind, too." Source, Wine Spectator.

23/06/2017: Whitebaiter claims he found stolen wine stash
A man caught with 22 bottles of rare and expensive stolen wine says he found them at a river while whitebaiting. More than 50 cases of wine, worth about $50,000, were taken from Fromm Winery's wine library in Renwick, Marlborough, in August last year. Source, Stuff.

22/06/2017: 0.5% alcohol wine category deemed "heinous"
Félix Solís has teamed up with Tesco to launch three wines containing just 0.5% alcohol, admitting that the category has been “heinous” for wine lovers. The new range, which is exclusive to Tesco, comprises a Cabernet Tempranillo, Garnacha-Rosé and a Sauvignon Blanc. Source, The Drinks Business.

22/06/2017: Liv-Ex launches wine matcher
Liv-ex has launched its latest artificial intelligence tool for the fine wine trade – Wine Matcher. The machine learning tool has already been awarded the prize for ‘Best Supply Chain Initiaive’ at this year’s DB Awards. Source, The Drinks Business.

22/06/2017: Italian WM mad about "Justin Beiber" wines
Too many producers are so concerned about what the market wants that they are making commercially focused “Justin Bieber” wines according to Italian winemaker and consultant Alberto Antonini. Source, The Drinks Business.

22/06/2017: CAWG asks FDA to exempt wine grapes
Since wine grapes are rarely consumed raw, the California Association of Winegrape Growers (CAWG) on June 15 asked the federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to exempt the fruit from its produce safety rule under the Food Safety Modernization Act. Source, Western Farm Press.

22/06/2017: Mt Edward Winery licence renewed
A Gibbston winery has had its off-licence renewed for three years by the district licensing committee, despite an objection from its neighbours who accused staff of intimidating waving. Source, Otago Daily Times.

22/06/2017: More ag focus needed
The Government needs to ensure we get more agricultural trade with the European Union in any potential free trade agreement – but don’t expect completely free trade, says expert Stephen Jacobi. Source, Rural News Group.

21/06/2017: A mission to grow New Zealand’s wine industry
Mission Estate, New Zealand's oldest winery, is branching out. Mission Estate will acquire the Ngatarawa brands; The Stables, Stables Reserve, Glazebrook and Alwyn. Phil Hocquard, Mission Estate chair, said this was an exciting move for Hawkes Bay and the industry, representing a new era for Mission. Source, Winetitles.

21/06/2017: Wine labels and what they're not telling you
When is a New Zealand wine an Australian wine? When it says so in small print on the back label. Kiwi consumers were brought face to face with that uncomfortable truth via a recent report in TVNZ's consumer advocacy show, Fair Go. Inside bottles bearing brands we think of as being as Kiwi as Richie's stubble (eg Shingle Peak, Timara, White Cliff), are wines that are in fact born and bred across the ditch. Source, Stuff.co.nz.

21/06/2017: Invest to beat climate change
A Harvard professor and former science adviser to president Obama told winemakers at Vinexpo 2017 in Bordeaux that they should lead the charge to aggressively reduce greenhouse gas emissions, not just for the sake of the planet, but for the sake of their businesses. Source, Decanter.

21/06/2017: Japan plans to eliminate import tariffs
According to a report by Japan News, Japan will gradually lower the current 15% tariff on EU wines to zero about eight years after the finalisation of the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA). The move came at a time when Chile and Australia, the two countries that have forged EPAs with Japan, have surged ahead in wine exports to Japan after the reduction of tariffs. Source, Drinks Business.

21/06/2017: SA wine exports must move from bulk to brands
South Africa’s wine industry must shift its emphasis from volume to value and from a production orientation to a market orientation. This is according to Anton Smuts, the newly elected chairperson of Vinpro. He shared his thoughts on some of the pressing issues that currently prevail in the industry with Jeandré du Preez. Source, Farmer's Weekly.

21/06/2017: Trump is using his vineyards to scam America
In February, President Trump’s administration granted Trump Vineyard Estates LLC an H-2A visa for immigrant labor. But major media outlets covering the winery stopped their investigation a little short when they saw a seemingly contradictory legal disclaimer on Trump Winery’s website: “Trump Winery is a registered trade name of Eric Trump Wine Manufacturing LLC, which is not owned, managed or affiliated with Donald J. Trump, The Trump Organization or any of their affiliates.” Source, Paste Magazine.

20/06/2017: Students bottle fruits of labour
First year Bachelor of Viticulture and Winemaking students in Blenheim have been sipping the sweet taste of success as their own creations were finally bottled last week. It's the culmination of months of hard work for the students who all hope to pursue a career in the industry. Source, Stuff.

20/06/2017: Final call to enter awards
Wineries from the Hawke's Bay region have been encouraged to get their entries in for the 2017 New World Wine Awards before the competition closes on Friday. Last year 193 Hawke's Bay wines were entered into the competition with six winning a gold medal award and six winning a top gold medal award. Source, New Zealand Herald.

20/06/2017: 2500 year old tablet reveals "bring me wine"
Turns out the thirst was just as real over 2,500 years ago, specifically for a soldier named Hananyahu. According to the New York Times, an inscription written on an unearthed piece of pottery discovered in 1965 has finally been decoded. Source, Vine Pair.

20/06/2017: 6 ways climate change can affect wine
"Is climate change really affecting the wine in my glass?" What does all of this mean for the consumer?It comes down, to what's in their glass, and whether changes to the environment will affect the taste and cost of their wine. Source, Forbes.

20/06/2017: Torres: We have to defend the culture of wine
Spanish wine giant Miguel Torres used the acceptance speech for his Lifetime Achievement Award at Vinexpo this week to speak out about the need to “defend the culture of wine”. Source, The Drinks Business.

20/06/2017: Georgian wine wins big at du Vin
A Georgian wine company is returning from a prestigious French wine competition with a Gold Special Trophy. The 2012 Khareba dry white wine of Winery Khareba won the major award at the Citadelles du Vin competition in France’s wine-famous Bordeaux region. Source, Agenda Georgia.

19/06/2017: Organic and biodynamic conference
The growing interest in organic and biodynamic viticulture practices and winemaking techniques will be showcased at a conference held in Blenheim later this month. Organised by Organic Winegrowers New Zealand, the Organic and Biodynamic Winegrowing Conference takes place over three days at the ASB Theatre from June 26. Source, Stuff.

19/06/2017: The best NZ has to offer
"When sampling the delights produced by New Zealand's wineries, it's much nicer to take your time than visit a quick tasting room." A guide to which wineries to visit in New Zealand, by Stuff author Liz Carlson.

19/06/2017: Constellation Brands buys Scrader Cellars
Drinks giant Constellation Brands has purchased Napa Valley cult winery Schrader Cellars, founder Fred Schrader told Wine Spectator. The blockbuster deal gives Constellation one of the elite names in Napa Cabernet, known for its Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard cuvée and several other notable bottlings. Source, Wine Spectator.

19/06/2017: Food has more sulfites than wine
Next time you're in a debate at the cellar door: "Dried fruits, bottled lemon/lime juices, molasses, sauerkraut, and pickled onions all contain over 100 ppm of sulfites, with dried fruits potentially containing a whopping 2,000 ppm — that’s over five times an average non-organic bottle of wine." Source, Vine Pair.

19/06/2017: Japan, boarding the wine train
In Yamanashi Prefecture, the top producer of wine made only from grapes grown in Japan, three cities have come together to create a plan for a wine resort. Source, Japan Times.

19/06/2017: Bernkasteler Doctor Riesling
This was the first Trockenbeerenauslesen to be produced in Germany’?s Mosel Valley (together with a less prestigious example from the Bischöflichen Weingüter). This super-concentrated style had been made in the Rheingau during the 19th century, but was harder to achieve in the cooler Mosel. Source, Decanter.

16/06/2017: French vandals destroy wine, mostly French
In the past week and change, the Comité d'Action Viticole (CAV) struck two wineries in the Aude and the Hérault, in the Languedoc-Roussillon viticultural region. But what these so-called men d'action viticole possess in reactionary bravado they seem to lack in wine-identifying skills: Most of the wine they spilled was French, not Spanish. Source, Wine Spectator.

16/06/2017: Fifty years and counting
The Golan Heights Winery brought Israeli wine to the world’s attention, and is keeping it there. Golan Heights proved to be the theatre that fermented the quality revolution of Israeli wine, changing the fortunes of our wine industry forever and bringing back a golden age of Israeli wine for the first time in 2,000 years. Source, The Jerusalem Post.

16/06/2017: "So good that tears came out of my eyes"
Staffan Hansson, one of the most respected wine collectors in the world, talks about the beginning of his love affair with wine, and shows us his Stockholm cellar and some of its treasures. Source, Christie's.

16/06/2017: Majestic wine recovers
The boss of Majestic Wine has claimed the company is “past the tipping point” as it continues its transformation plan, despite falling to a full-year loss. The UK’s largest wine retailer said sales were up nearly 16pc in the year to April 3, with underlying revenues rising 11.4pc to £461m on a year-on-year basis. Source, The Telegraph.

16/06/2017: The history of Sauvignon Blanc
Just how Sauvignon Blanc came to be such a winner here in New Zealand is open to a lot of interpretation. But in the following article, the one man who can be credited first and foremost with introducing Sauvignon to New Zealand, explains how it came about. Source, Rural News Group.

16/06/2017: Making Marlborough pure
A group of producers in Marlborough believe the time has come for the region to adopt a 100% Pure strategy to protect the region’s reputation and preserve the integrity and value of the Marlborough wine industry. Source, Rural News Group.

15/06/2017: New initiative for women in wine
The idea of empowering women in wine here in New Zealand was first mooted within the halls of New Zealand Winegrowers (NZW) last year, and has quickly grown from a suggestion, to a real initiative. Source, Rural News Group.

15/06/2017: Beyond Sauvignon Blanc
Ask most consumers what they think about wine and New Zealand, and they're likely to talk with you about Sauvignon Blanc. Which is fully understandable. But then there are the chances to talk about the other wines from these regions, and that's where people get jumpy. Source, Forbes.

15/06/2017: Chinese smuggling bust
Chinese Customs has launched one of its biggest crackdowns on smuggled wines, a move that has led to the discovery of 490 tonnes of contraband worth a total of RMB 230 million (US$33.8 million), including about 4,000 bottles of fine wines such as first growths Lafite, Mouton Rothschild and Pomerol’s Petrus. Source, The Drinks Business.

15/06/2017: California's battle with climate change
New data released by state regulators provide a detailed snapshot of California’s battle against global warming. We’ve crunched the numbers on specific sources of pollution, including planes, cars and trucks, and how the state’s pollution compares to the size of its economy. Source, The LA Times.

15/06/2017: Freak hailstorm in Napa causes damage
Many vineyards on Atlas Peak and Pritchard Hill and in Oakville apparently suffered extensive damage from Sunday afternoon’s freak hail storm. “The hail knocked all the blossoms off the remaining vines and broke shoots,” said Thomas Dinkel, owner of Dos Lagos Vineyards. Source, Napa Valley Register.

15/06/2017: One third of China's most popular wine imported
Around a third of China’s most popular wines are now imported from international producers, the latest research from Nielsen has found – but only six countries are represented. Source, The Drinks Business.

14/06/2017: A chat with Mahana Estate's Michael Glover
"I don't want a Loire Valley producer to come to New Zealand and say, 'These guys are trying to copy us and doing a bad job of it.' I want him to come and be excited and jealous of the tastes and textures we're getting, and to say, 'I wonder if Mum and Dad will let me do that?'" Source, Stuff.

14/06/2017: Re-thinking Pinot Gris
Prophet's Rock "Infusion" Pinot Noir 2016 is a beautiful New Zealand version of a good Beaujolais, a fresh, zingy, drink young style that is best served lightly chilled. The lack of contact with the skins has removed the majority of tannins from this wine, making it a vibrant yet elegant wine – a real crowd pleaser. Source, Stuff.

14/06/2017: Police catch Bordeaux wine activists
It is believed that French police have stopped a possible sabotage attack by French militant winemaker group CRAV - or CAV - in Bordeaux in the past month. Source, Decanter.

14/06/2017: Sparkling English wine "will be a must-have"
English wine should be in every restaurant, according to Ronan Sayburn MS. Read more about what our expert panel identified as interesting sparkling wine trends at a recent Decanter tasting in London. Source, Decanter.

14/06/2017: An intro to Sicilian wine
Long known for simple, often overripe, red and white table wines, mostly from large cooperatives, and sticky-sweet dessert wines like Marsala, Sicilian wine was mostly an afterthought for many wine drinkers. Not anymore. Source, The Press Democrat.

14/06/2017: Q&A with Colin Thorne
Colin Thorne, Vagabond Wines talks to db about his surprise and delight at winning The Other Side of Life Award at this year’s Drinks Business Awards, sponsored by Nicolas Feuillatte, the importance of good mentors, the strength of the high street, and the myth of the pretentious wine expert stereotype. Source, The Drinks Business.

13/06/2017: Challenging growing season for South Africa
South African vintners dealt with an extremely dry growing season in 2017, resulting in a small crop. But vintners are enthusiastic about quality, noting that the wines are rich and concentrated, thanks to small berries and moderate temperatures throughout the season. Source, Wine Spectator.

13/06/2017: A study on mold and wine flavour
The researchers found that both bunch rot and powdery mildew caused subtle changes in the composition of aroma substances, which ‘significantly affected’ the wines’ aroma quality. The study, published in Frontiers in Chemistry, found that bunch rot infection boosted the fruity-smelling lactones characteristic of Tokaji Aszú wines, as well as the curry-like smelling lactone sotolone. Source, Decanter.

13/06/2017: Japanese winemakers get competitive
Competition has been intensifying among domestic wine producers following the government's step to deregulate wine production. Wine producers in the central Japanese prefecture of Nagano have been stepping up efforts to capture larger shares of the market, currently led by Yamanashi Prefecture, also in central Japan. Source, Japan Today.

13/06/2017: Proprietary wines for P.F. Chang's
P.F. Chang’s China Bistro has teamed up with Browne Family Vineyards of Walla Walla, Wash., to introduce two wines available only at the Scottsdale, Ariz.-based chain’s 215 restaurants. The wines are labelled “Browne Family Vineyards &,” and don’t mention the P.F. Chang’s name.

13/06/2017: Small vintage for New Zealand
New Zealand’s 2017 grape harvest has been smaller than expected, down 9% on last year, according to New Zealand Winegrowers. However, wineries are positive about the vintage quality. Source, Beverage Daily.

13/06/2017: Rose fares well despite rocky vintage
An early pick has resulted in an early bottling of one of the most sought-after rose wines produced in Hawke's Bay - or anywhere for that matter. While the late rains had created challenges with some later varieties, the earlier pick whites and rose wines had fared well. Source, NZ Herald.

9/06/2017: $500k toward non-GMO yeast research
Renaissance BioScience Corp. is to receive up to $500,000 in research and development funding from the Government of Canada to advance its next-generation yeast development platform. The funding will support the company's research in to developing non-GMO yeast strains. Source, Winetitles.

9/06/2017: Free lay-baaaah
Sheep are the newest employees at Featherstone Winery, where they will help tend the vineyards by munching on weeds and lower leaves over the summer. They are really good at thinning the vines, and they never eat the grapes. Source, The Globe and Mail.

9/06/2017: What to expect from Vinexpo
Close to 50,000 visitors from 150 countries will mingle, swirl, taste, dine, attend conferences and swap business cards within 15 covered acres (6 hectares) where more than 2,300 exhibitors—many in custom, sumptuous booths—will be available to answer questions and let visitors sample their wares. Source, Forbes.

9/06/2017: A surprise sparkling success
Cambridge Wine Merchants is celebrating in style after a Champagne that it imports topped a 100 strong field in a global tasting organised by Decanter magazine. Hal Wilson, who owns Cambridge Wine Merchants, submitted samples of Champagne Pierre Bertrand Premier Cru Brut. Source, Cambridge News.

9/06/2017: UK supermarket exercising creative license
New Zealand winery Villa Maria has asked a British supermarket giant to pull a rival house wine label from its shelves, claiming the labels are too similar. Villa Maria has approached Sainsbury's in London following public confusion around the supermarket's cheaper Villetta Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc label. Source, Stuff.

9/06/2017: Port Nelson wins environmental award
Port Nelson has been nationally recognised after cutting the time its trucks are on the road by 10,000 hours.Its QuayConnect freight logistics model aimed to reduce fuel consumption and energy usage, with particular focus on the way wine is transported. Source, Stuff.

8/06/2017: Shaky Bridge wines goes in to liquidation
A legal battle between Customs and a Central Otago wine company over unpaid duty is over. Customs sought an order placing Shaky Bridge Wines Limited into liquidation while the Alexander-registered company owed $349,464.86. Source, Stuff.

8/06/2017: China's top ten wine importers by volume
China is having quite the party at the moment, with the country quaffing US$15.29 billion worth of wines last year. With China’s wine imports set to grow, we took a closer look at the country’s top wine importers that are responsible for driving up its numbers. Source, The Drinks Business.

8/06/2017: The new South Africa
Some outstanding and much talked about wine producers in South Africa at the moment make wine that are different from what you normally would expect from this country. Some would call their wines natural wines. But more importantly, they make wines with character and personality. Source, Forbes.

8/06/2017: Lidl prepares its wine range ahead of US launch
Lidl US is flagging up recent large wins at two US-based wine awards, and adopting colour coded taste descriptors in store to tempt US consumers into its wine aisles. Source, The Drinks Business.

8/06/2017: 10 ways to open wine without a corkscrew
“If you’re really in a pinch, I’m not opposed to pushing the cork into the bottle with a blunt object and decanting out any cork bits,” says master sommelier Whitney Adams. Source, Paste Magazine.

8/06/2017: The waiting game
"Wine keeps, but who keeps wine? Not many of us actually, a fact I've bemoaned before in this column. Australia has the edge on us in that regard. Across the ditch there's a more active cellaring culture than exists here," writes John Saker. Source, Stuff.

7/06/2017: Leather-like material made from wine waste
An Italian designer has combined the worlds of high fashion and wine with a love of the planet, creating a vegan-friendly “leather” made from the byproducts of winemaking. The "leatherette" is made from leftover pomace/marc. Source, The Drinks Business.

7/06/2017: The secret to great wine? Chemistry
“Just by understanding the chemistry you can intervene in very simple ways,” David Waterhouse, professor of viticulture and oenology at the University of California, Davis, says. He and his coauthors have published a book on the chemical reactions that take place in wine. Source, Chemical & Engineering News.

7/06/2017: Hermann J. Wiemer purchase Standing Stone
The owners of one of the Finger Lakes wine region’s top wineries are buying a respected neighbour. Fred Merwarth and Oskar Bynke of Hermann J. Wiemer have purchased Standing Stone Vineyards from Martha and Tom Macinski. Source, Wine Spectator.

7/06/2017: A new innovative wine keeper
An industrial designer has put his skills to extremely good use by inventing a decanter that keeps wine fresh for at least 12 days. Tom Cotton, is the brains behind ‘eto’, a wine preservation system with an airtight seal. Source, Huffington Post.

7/06/2017: Chinese wine influencer promotes NZ
A new tourism campaign aiming to lure more Chinese visitors to the Wellington, Nelson, Tasman and Marlborough regions will launch this week in China. The 'Heart of the Long White Cloud' campaign features film director Wu Ershan and novelist and wine and food broadcaster Shu Qiao in a series of eight short videos. Source, Stuff.

7/06/2017: Wine export laws to get a refresh
“Ministry of Primary Industries is currently reviewing export requirements under the Wine Act 2003 to discover ways it can better serve the $1.6 billion export industry,” says Minister of Food Safety, David Bennett. Source, Scoop.

6/06/2017: China predicted to drive growth to 2021
China is a major driving force in the global wine market and will contribute a third of world wine sales growth between 2016 and 2021, according to data from Euromonitor International. Source, City AM.

6/06/2017: "Bulari" trademarked for English sparkling wine
A vineyard near Cirencester has announced it has trademark registered the word ‘Bulari’ – a variation of the Latin word for bubbles – to describe English sparkling wine. Source, Wilts and Gloucester Standard.

6/06/2017: Five things to know about Swiss wine
"The first time someone told me they were from one of Geneva’s best known wineries, I started to laugh. Then I realized they were serious. Even today, unless one lives in Switzerland, it’s easy to go an entire lifetime without ever considering the existence of Swiss wines." Source, Palate Press.

6/06/2017: Andrew Jefford: Burgundy's other self
"They’re out there, wherever you go in Burgundy, silently and greenly growing in low-profile, overlooked, sometimes secret spots." Andrew Jefford discovers the surprising Crémant de Bourgogne, and recommends several of the sparkling wines to try. Source, Decanter.

6/06/2017: Has rosé reached its tipping point?
Previously perceived as too sweet, as an afterthought made from leftover grapes, and as a drink for grandmothers, rosé just wasn’t cool. But the tides started to turn sometime around 2013, and for whatever reason, wine drinkers—especially millennials—began to associate the pink drink with the good life. Source, Vogue.

6/06/2017: Why some wines do better in flight
The wine tasting experience in the air can also be impacted by many factors, from the temperature of the wine, the glassware used, to the food pairing. Much care needs to be placed to ensure the best qualities of the wines chosen can still be enjoyed on flight. Source, Peak Magazine.

6/06/2017: Sir John Kirwan gets into the wine game
The All Black legend and former Blues coach has hung up his rugby boots to focus on another passion of his - wine. Established with his daughter Francesca nearly a year ago, Jk.14 wines is a boutique wine company, importing the finest blends from the Veneto region of Italy. Source, Stuff.co.nz.

5/06/2017: Canada considers a label change
Label statement on blended wines are 'potentially misleading'. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency on Thursday announced a round of consumer and stakeholder consultations, running until June 30, on a proposal for new wording on wine labels. Source, Alberta Farm Express.

5/06/2017: Japanese working women favour Chilean wine
Japan’s swelling ranks of working women have grape growers 10,000 miles away cheering. Chilean vintners have emerged as the biggest beneficiary of Japan’s booming wine market. Their low-priced, fruit-driven product has found a receptive niche among women in their 40s and 50s. Source, Japan Times.

5/06/2017: Wine industry transforms prison town
Walla Walla used to be best known for sweet onions and as home of the state penitentiary, where death row inmates once were hanged. But the remote town along the Washington-Oregon border has reinvented itself in the past two decades into a centre of premium wines and wine tourism. Source, Daily Mail.

5/06/2017: Gordon Russell on wine
There is nothing Hawke’s Bay winemaker Gordon Russell likes more than pushing the boundaries. The New Zealand wine identity spoke to reporter Rebecca Fox about enjoying wine at its most raw. Source, Otago Daily Times.

5/06/2017: Save your vineyard from trunk disease
Of all the diseases which must be managed in New Zealand vineyards, trunk disease is different from the others. Why is this? Trunk disease is insidious. It will take several years for a vine infected with trunk disease fungi to show symptoms, if at all. Source, Rural News Group.

5/06/2017: Brits choosing wine over beer
UK households pour £108million into their wine glasses at home every week - compared with £45million on beers. More than 38 million people – 74 per cent of adults – now regularly drink bottles of plonk according to the Wine and Spirit Trade Association. Source, Mirror.

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