17/08/2017: Napa v Sonoma
For many years, Sonoma County was the kid-brother of wine country. But now, Napa wine country is overrun by tourists, so people are abandoning it for Sonoma. Comparing the two is like apples and oranges — or Pinot Grigio and Merlot, if you prefer — because they vary so much in size. Source, Business Insider.

17/08/2017: Changing the wine scene
It’s safe to say Patrick Cappiello is one of the most successful somms in the game right now and, to top it all off, he’s not even certified. This is a highly contentious issue among the food and beverage community, many of whom argue that sommelier certification is absolutely essential to success. Source, VinePair.

17/08/2017: Lidl wine sales up 37%
UK discounter Lidl has seen its wine sales return to growth of around 37%, the retailer has confirmed, following a slight slow-down in momentum. The discounter’s share of the wine market currently reflects its overall grocery market share of around 5.4%. Source, The Drinks Business.

17/08/2017: Women of the Vine & Spirits award 2017 scholarships
Women of the Vine & Spirits launched the Women of the Vine & Spirits Foundation earlier this year and has awarded its first scholarship recipients for 2017. The foundation is proud to announce the following recipients... Source, Winetitles.

16/08/2017: New head of wine school for EIT
Up for a new challenge, Sue Ross has taken over as head of EIT’s School of Viticulture and Wine Science at a time of significant change. In her first week in the role, Sue joined a team of senior managers and educators heading to China to finalise an agreement for EIT to teach a wine science programme at Qilu University of Technology in China. Source, Winetitles.

16/08/2017: Rimu Grove Chardonnay
"Everyone at our table preferred the Rimu Grove both as a wine and with the food, so it just goes to show Nelson wine producers make wine that can hold its head high with the rest of the world. I asked Meg Matthews, the marketing manager for Wine Nelson why Nelson wine is so good. She told me there are many factors "but the true secret difference for this region is family," writes Neil Hodgson for Stuff.

16/08/2017: Wine could solve writers block
For years, writers have claimed that there is a positive link between drinking and creativity. Now, researchers from the University of Graz might have found a scientific proof to back the anecdotal theory that wine can solve writer’s block. A study published in Consciousness & Cognition by Dr Mathias Benedek examined the effects of ‘mild alcohol intoxication’ on creative cognition. Source, Decanter.

16/08/2017: The 10 most expensive wines in the world
Fine wine has been one of the best performing asset classes of the last 20 years, and with some bottles fetching thousands of pounds at auction, buying high-end cases could be the answer to an early retirement. But what should we be looking for? Source, The Telegraph.

16/08/2017: Burgundy's smallest Grand Cru
"The entire Criots-Bâtard-Montrachet vineyard produces well under 400 cases a year, split among numerous makers, of which Fontaine-Gagnard is perhaps the largest, with a whopping 100 cases/year, depending on the vintage." Source, Forbes.

16/08/2017: How do winemakers combat heatwaves?
Heatwaves in vineyards – What are the risks? Winemakers need to know how to tackle unexpected heat, as shown by the recent ‘Lucifer’ heatwave hitting southern Europe, and record-breaking high temperatures in Oregon and down the US west coast. Source, Decanter.

15/08/2017: EIT signs agreement with Qi Lu University
Qi Lu University of Technology has selected the Eastern Institute of Technology (EIT) to teach wine science to its students – both in China and in Hawke’s Bay. EIT’s School of Viticulture and Wine Science is now adopting a teaching role through the university’s Faculty of Bio-Technology. Source, Winetitles.

15/08/2017: Will Labor's water tax cripple farming?
Labour leader Jacinda Ardern says her party would apply a royalty on commercial water usage, and use the revenue to clean up New Zealand's rivers, lakes and streams. National MPs, NZ First leader Winston Peters and industry groups say the proposed royalty would badly hurt farmers. Source, The New Zealand Herald.

15/08/2017: Can the local wine shop survive in the Amazon age?
Two years from now, it will have all seemed inevitable. You will want wine, and instead of going to your local brick-and-mortar store, you will log onto your Amazon Prime account, do a quick search, compare prices, glance at ratings, and order. It will be delivered to your doorstep. For free. Source, VinePair.

15/08/2017: Beyond Prosecco
Move over, Prosecco. There’s a new bubble in town. Actually several, since somms and wine geeks are getting increasingly excited about less-familiar sparkling wines from Italy. The two buzziest imports are almost certainly Lambrusco and Franciacorta. Source, The Globe and Mail.

15/08/2017: Are unfiltered wines better?
It’s no secret that those in the wine industry have strong opinions on all things wine, from regions and producers to winemaking practices and philosophies. With more winemakers making unfiltered wines and marketing them as such, what’s the deal? Are unfiltered wines better? Source, VinePair.

15/08/2017: Why expensive wine tastes better
Price labels influence our liking of wine: The same wine tastes better to participants when it is labelled with a higher price tag. Scientists have discovered that the decision-making and motivation centre in the brain plays a pivotal role in such price biases to occur. Source, Science Daily.

15/08/2017: How do winemakers combat heatwaves?
Heatwaves in vineyards – What are the risks? Winemakers need to know how to tackle unexpected heat, as shown by the recent ‘Lucifer’ heatwave hitting southern Europe, and record-breaking high temperatures in Oregon and down the US west coast. Source, Decanter.

15/08/2017: Burgundy's smallest Grand Cru
"The entire Criots-Bâtard-Montrachet vineyard produces well under 400 cases a year, split among numerous makers, of which Fontaine-Gagnard is perhaps the largest, with a whopping 100 cases/year, depending on the vintage." Source, Forbes.

15/08/2017: The 10 most expensive wines in the world
Fine wine has been one of the best performing asset classes of the last 20 years, and with some bottles fetching thousands of pounds at auction, buying high-end cases could be the answer to an early retirement. But what should we be looking for? Source, The Telegraph.

15/08/2017: Wine could solve writers block
For years, writers have claimed that there is a positive link between drinking and creativity. Now, researchers from the University of Graz might have found a scientific proof to back the anecdotal theory that wine can solve writer’s block. A study published in Consciousness & Cognition by Dr Mathias Benedek examined the effects of ‘mild alcohol intoxication’ on creative cognition. Source, Decanter.

15/08/2017: Rimu Grove Chardonnay
"Everyone at our table preferred the Rimu Grove both as a wine and with the food, so it just goes to show Nelson wine producers make wine that can hold its head high with the rest of the world. I asked Meg Matthews, the marketing manager for Wine Nelson why Nelson wine is so good. She told me there are many factors "but the true secret difference for this region is family," writes Neil Hodgson for Stuff.

15/08/2017: New head of wine school for EIT
Up for a new challenge, Sue Ross has taken over as head of EIT’s School of Viticulture and Wine Science at a time of significant change. In her first week in the role, Sue joined a team of senior managers and educators heading to China to finalise an agreement for EIT to teach a wine science programme at Qilu University of Technology in China. Source, Winetitles.

14/08/2017: Step up for wine regions
Central Otago produces about 60 times more wine than the Waitaki Valley but impending intellectual property rights registration for Otago’s two wine regions has benefits for both, Hamish MacLean reports for Otago Daily Times.

14/08/2017: Treasury boosts wine presence at Auckland airport
Treasury Wine Estates (TWE) has partnered with Lagardère Travel Retail to launch prominent new product displays for its wine portfolio at Auckland International Airport, New Zealand’s main gateway. Best-selling TWE wines and duty free exclusives from Penfolds, Wolf Blass and Matua will feature in the displays, after the companies signed a seven-year partnership. Source, Moodie Davitt Report.

14/08/2017: Mexico's wine industry fears climate change
Mexico's wine industry produces more than 25 million bottles of wine a year and it is gathering momentum. The Valle de Guadalupe is crammed with small vineyards and has been called the country's Napa Valley. But its winemakers are already worrying about its future because of a warming climate. Source, Al Jazeera.

14/08/2017: Mixing vintages in Switzerland
Valais winemakers can mix their 2017 regional vintages with wines from other cantons. This exceptional economic measure, granted by the cantonal government for one year, follows serious frost damage to the grape harvest. But not everyone is happy. Source, Swiss Info.

14/08/2017: Heatwaves burn Umpqua vineyards
As temperatures rose to over 100 degrees last week, wine grapes began to shrivel on the vine. The Umpqua Valley produces award-winning wine from its 30-plus vineyards across the county, and vineyard owners are glad the heat wave stretching from Portland to Redding at the beginning of August didn’t last for more than a week. Source, The News Review.

14/08/2017: Making wine with hybrid grapes
When it comes to wine, it’s been that black and white for the past hundred years. In short, native American grapes and hybrid American-Euro vines — varieties like Concord, Frontenac, and Vidal Blanc — are just not good enough for wine. Or at least not fine wine. But that could be changing. Source, VinePair.

11/08/2017: Marlborough Sauv rated exceptional
Two Marlborough Sauvignon Blancs have gone where no other Sauvignon Blanc in the world has gone, gaining 98 points out of 100 in a Decanter Wine Panel Tasting. The wines gained an Exceptional rating, reserved for wines that score between 98 and 100, on the 100-point system. Source, Winetitles.

11/08/2017: 2018 Asian Sommit for NZ
New Zealand Winegrowers has launched the 2018 New Zealand Wine Sommelier Scholarship, welcoming sommeliers from Mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, Japan and Singapore to a series of ‘Sommits’. Source, The Drinks Business.

11/08/2017: Drinking wine makes you more creative
A small glass of wine or a pint of beer helps unleash creativity, Austrian scientists have found. “Alcohol is so linked with creativity,” lead author Dr Mathias Benedek said. “Previous research has found almost half of the great writers had a history of drinking. We found that a small drink can indeed help with certain aspects of creativity.” Source, Independent Online.

11/08/2017: Why China’s winemakers don’t need to be perfect
Respect for nature and the craft of viticulture are more important than achieving success at any cost for one Chinese winemaker. She said there's no desire to make the best wine in China, nor does she hope to become a Château Lafite Rothschild on Chinese soil. She only hopes to make pure, authentic Chinese wine. Source, Sixth Tone.

11/08/2017: Top 10 global wine brands
Love them or loathe them, millennials are becoming an increasingly important and influential demographic in the global wine market, which is now worth €29 billion. In the globe’s largest wine consuming country – the US – they now account for 36% of the market and are starting to ditch beer in favour of wine. Source, The Drinks Business.

11/08/2017: Furmint, Hungary's other wine sensation
For most of its existence, Tokaji staked its claim on the best of the best sweet dessert wines of the world. The indigenous Furmint grape is principally responsible for another Hungarian wine that is worth every penny. Source, Forbes.

10/08/2017: Bragato Wine Awards goes single vineyard
A 13 strong judging team is gearing up to review over 500 wines entered in this year’s Bragato Wine Awards. The twist on this year’s Awards is that all wines entered must be single vineyard wines, a first in the competition’s 23 year history. Source, Winetitles.

10/08/2017: First Native American-grown wine debuts
The first Native American-grown wine is about to hit the shelves and it’s made in the Albuquerque area at a unique 30-acre vineyard. “It’s an amazing success — probably one of the best vineyards in New Mexico for the second harvest so I’m very very excited about it,” Gruet Winery winemaker Laurent Gruet said. Source, KRQE News.

10/08/2017: Gisborne winery makes top five
Gisborne's Wrights Reserve Chardonnay has been crowned among the Top Five Chardonnay in New Zealand by Cuisine magazine, a David and Goliath feat. The judges awarded 10 five-stars, 11 4.5-stars and 23 four-stars. The five-star rating defines outstanding quality and Wrights’ Chardonnay was awarded Top Five in New Zealand. Source, The Gisborne Herald.

10/08/2017: Inside the biggest wine hoax in history
How one young tasters mistake upended his entire life, and rattled the industry. “Rudy took the innocence away from what we do,” says Allen Meadows. “I’ll be pissed off at him for that for the rest of my life.” Source, Eater.

10/08/2017: Pineau wine and its history
Pineau is the result of a fortuitous mistake made in the late 16th century, when a winemaker’s apprentice poured grape must (unfermented juice containing the pulp and skin of the grapes) into a barrel that he assumed was empty. It wasn’t. Source, South China Morning Post.

10/08/2017: Excellent harvest for Texas
Texas peaches may have fizzled this year, but not Texas wine grapes. The 2017 grape harvest is going gangbusters. Not that spring wasn't a nail-biter for growers."Everyone was expecting to get hammered," said wine writer Dr. Russell Kane. Source, Dallas News.

9/08/2017: More than just Sauvignon Blanc
Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir will always rule the roost in New Zealand, at least for the foreseeable future, but new opportunities are emerging for its lesser-known aromatic varieties – the country’s “next discovery” – believes one winemaker. Source, The Drinks Business.

9/08/2017: AFC Group audit attracts scrutiny again
NZAX-listed AFC Group has attracted the attention of the Financial Markets Authority for a second year in a row after its auditor couldn't find enough evidence in the company's accounts to give it a clean bill of health. Its portfolio of businesses includes the Longview Estate vineyard in Northland. Source, National Business Review.

9/08/2017: Lucifer threatens Italy
A searing heat wave forecasters have nicknamed "Lucifer" is bedeviling Italy's grape farmers. The high temperatures, which have hovered near or above 100 degrees across much of Italy for weeks and which have been accompanied by months of drought, has brought forward this year's harvest making it the earliest start to the grape harvest in a a decade. Source, CBS News.

9/08/2017: Californian wine enjoying a golden age
California has entered a “golden age” of wine production, one producer has claimed – with its wines being more readily embraced by the UK market. The value of California wine shipments to the US market hit $34.1 billion in 2016, up 4.6% on the previous year and a record for the golden state’s winemakers, The Wine Institute revealed in May. Source, The Drinks Business.

9/08/2017: Wine store to change names after US complains
An owner of a wine and spirits store near the gates of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point on Tuesday said he is changing the store's name after the government accused him of infringing trademarks belonging to the Army. Source, Reuters.

9/08/2017: Sessionable wine will help boost US sales
Stephanie Gallo, vice president of marketing at E&J Gallo Winery said one of the biggest challenges – as well as the biggest opportunity – in the US market was to continue growing wine sales, but to do so, the focus needed to be not just on selling wine, but on “selling wine in the style, packaging and price points to meet the evolving needs of our consumer”. Source, The Drinks Business.

8/08/2017: Millennials warping traditional wine market
They have made the trendy pink wine the fastest growing wine segment in the country and they are buying it heavily right through winter, destroying the idea it is only an Instagram-friendly summer tipple. Source, Stuff.

8/08/2017: NZ medical authority wants supermarket wine ban
The New Zealand Medical Association said having alcohol in supermarkets normalised the drug, and made buying it cheap and easy – meaning people put a bottle of Sauvignon Blanc in their trolley alongside their bread, milk and toilet paper without a second thought. Source, The Guardian.

8/08/2017: Harvest begins in California
The 2017 grape harvest began early Monday morning in the North Coast. This year’s season resembles more of the historical norm as opposed to the early harvests in recent years and should wrap up by early November. Source, The Press Democrat.

8/08/2017: A new Napa-Focused wine website
The San Francisco Chronicle, one of California's oldest and most relied-upon newspapers, uncorked their newest media property today, a new wine-focused website fittingly called The Press. The new site will act as an interactive guide to neighboring Napa and Sonoma counties. Source, Food and Wine.

8/08/2017: Dispute over Canadian wine sales
The U.S. government’s annual report on trade barriers highlights a complaint that would be shared by many Canadian consumers: in many parts of the country, province-run liquor control boards restrict the sale of wine, beer and spirits. Source, The Star.

8/08/2017: Wine compounds could prevent flu infections
A compound found in foods such as black tea, red wine and blueberries can prevent severe flu infections in mice, according to new research published in the journal Science. The research, by the Washington University School of Medicine, also indicates that consuming the plant flavonoids before flu develops will limit its impact. Source, Spectator Health.

7/08/2017: Fraud allegations strengthens Pure Marlborough
A landmark fraud case involving a Waipara wine company is the wake-up call the Marlborough wine industry needs to protect its reputation, a winemaker says. The region is the undisputed powerhouse of New Zealand wine, it makes up two-thirds of the vineyard estate and contributes more than $1 billion toward total exports. Source, Stuff.

7/08/2017: Young winemakers drive change
Lauren Swift, head winemaker at Ash Ridge Winery, near Hastings, says while she has a lot of respect for those who have been in the world of wine for many years, it is necessary to think ahead. "Young winemakers are the future of our wine industry." Source, Stuff.

7/08/2017: Italian harvest begins 10 days early
The Italian wine grape harvest is having its earliest start in a decade due to the effects of the summer's heatwave and drought. Producers of bubbly spumante in the Franciacorta area of Lombardy, some 80 kilometers (50 miles) east of Milan in northern Italy, officially launched the 2017 harvest on Friday, 10 days earlier than last year. Source, ABC.

7/08/2017: Rose category booms
The rosé category has reached a valuation of $389 million — and is increasing. Beer is one hundred times that big, but growth has plateaued. “There’s been a decoupling of rosé from the rest of wine; its own alcohol category,” says Rodolphe Boulanger, vice president of beer, wine, and spirits at Fresh Direct. Source, Money Web.

7/08/2017: Record year for English wine
The English wine industry is now worth over £130m a year according to a new study by Funding Options. Turnover for independent producers in England rose 16% from 2015 to 2016, hitting a record £132m in 2016. Source, RTN Newspaper.

7/08/2017: China's wine consumption grows with millennials
With more expensive imported premium products and improved margins, industry profits are predicted to grow at 8pc compound annual growth to 200 billion yuan by 2025. Source, South China Morning Post.

4/08/2017: Alleged wine fraud by Canterbury wine producer
Charges have been laid against Southern Boundary Wines Limited, former directors Andrew Moore and Scott Berry, and winemaker Rebecca Cope, alleging breaches of the Wine Act and the Crimes Act. The allegations include mislabelling of wine from vintages 2012 and 2013, and the falsification of records. Source, Stuff.

4/08/2017: A short history of NZ wine scandals
Canterbury winemaker Southern Boundary Wines and three staff are facing 156 charges around the production and labelling of sauvignon blanc and pinot noir varieties following an extensive investigation by the Ministry of Primary Industries. It is the first time charges have been brought under the Wine Act, but it is far from New Zealand's first wine scandal. Source, Stuff.

4/08/2017: Relying on animals for sustainable winemaking
For many New World producers, sustainable winemaking has started to look like an animal farm, thanks to a wave of critter-driven approaches that are becoming popular in vineyards. “Animals are an essential part of the winemaking. They close the circle,” says Christophe Baron of Cayuse Vineyards in Walla Walla, Washington. Source, Wine Enthusiast.

4/08/2017: The future of fertilizer
A research team from Aarhus University in Denmark has come up with a way to pinpoint the precise nitrogen needs of individual plants. Their system relies on examining the light reflecting off a plant’s leaves—they used potato plants in the testing phase—in combination with the leaf’s surface area. Source, Modern Farmer.

4/08/2017: Is it time for Pét-Nat to grow up?
Pétillant naturel, or “pét-nat,” experienced a good turn in recent years as the unofficial party wine of the naturalist movement. The wines enjoyed so much popularity, in fact, that they seeped into the mainstream—their crown caps found far and wide. Source, Punch.

4/08/2017: Colares: Vineyards snake through the sand
Colares, Portugal — The vineyards in this small wine region west of Lisbon on the Atlantic coast look like something that slithered up from the sea. Trained low to avoid the biting wind that blows incessantly off the ocean, the vines resemble green serpents snaking along the sand. It’s as if vines from a more conventional region had come to the beach on vacation and had collapsed in a deep slumber. Source, New York Times.

3/08/2017: Saint Clair Family Estate to be distributed by E&J Gallo
Known for producing some of the best Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand's Marlborough region, Saint Clair Family Estate is the latest addition to Gallo's premium import portfolio. "Saint Clair Family Estate is well-known around the world and we are excited to introduce this award-winning Sauvignon Blanc to American consumers," said Roger Nabedian, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Gallo's Premium Wine Division. Source, PR Newswire.

3/08/2017: Brothers bring shared passion to New World Wine Awards
Ben and Jack Glover share a love of wine, and a judging gig at one of the most prestigious wine shows in the country. The brothers grew up on a dairy farm in Marlborough, but each went on to forge their own distinct paths in the wine industry after the farm was converted to grapes. From time to time they sit on the same judging panel at wine shows, as was the case this week when Ben and Jack joined the panel at the New World Wine Awards. Source, Stuff.

3/08/2017: Fake Châteauneuf-du-Pape scandal
One of France's largest bulk wine companies has found itself at the centre of a storm over the alleged false labelling of large amounts of cheap table wine as being from well-known Rhône appellations, including Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Source, Decanter.

3/08/2017: Londoners look to Hungarian wines
When we think of fine wines from the continent, mostly we think of French burgundys, Italian rossos and Spanish tempranillos. But one unexpected land-locked Eastern European heartland is emerging as a strong contender in the London wine scene: Hungary. “Thanks to the climate, soil and grape varieties, you get the same brilliant quality of wine in Hungary as in France or Italy,” says Niki Koltai, director of Hungarian Wine House. Source, The Evening Standard.

3/08/2017: Spain seeks more cohesive industry structure
As guest of honour at this year’s Vinexpo show in Bordeaux, Spain is ramping up its international profile. Vitisphere spoke to the general director of the Spanish Wine Federation, José Luis Benítez, about the industry’s plans for the future.Source, Vitisphere.

3/08/2017: Berger on wine: Oak trends
In the 1980s, the flavour of oak was seen as essential to a fine red wine and also defined great Chardonnay. Actually, it wasn’t the oak aromas as much as the char inside the barrel that was lending wines their added aromatics and tastes. However, the use of barrels goes back hundreds of years and they weren’t employed for the flavors they imparted, but for the maturity that wine gets in older, neutral barrels. Source, The Press Democrat.

2/08/2017: Marlborough research centre decision looms
Plans for a multi-million dollar research centre for the Marlborough region could be a game-changer for the local economy - the next step is to find the right location for the facility. New Zealand Winegrowers is mulling over three options for the Research Institute of Viticulture and Oenology, which was given the green light by Government last year.

2/08/2017: The importance of being a locavore
The importance of being a locavore – one who eats locally sourced food – has gathered momentum in recent times. Given far less emphasis is the liquid equivalent: being a locabiber. In Europe, there's a great tradition of locabibing. There are wine regions all over the continent whose output is almost entirely mopped up by locals. In New Zealand, as in most other new world wine countries, it doesn't work that way.

2/08/2017: What’s holding Thailand’s wine back?
Currently plying her trade at Chateau de Cabidos in southwest France, Méo Sakorn-Sériés explains how Thailand offers her a greater opportunity to teach others about winemaking.

2/08/2017: What's left in the vineyard matters
Growing and harvesting more grapes means better wine, right? While no one would fault someone for having this belief, since the idea of more grapes seems it would mean there was a healthy and fertile growing season, which in turn should mean the grapes are delicious and therefore will make delicious wine, this is not quite true.

2/08/2017: Georgia: The cradle of winemaking
France's Cite de Vin museum will toast Georgia's 9000-year history as the global birthplace of wine-making in a new exhibition from Monday. The wine history museum in the southwestern city of Bordeaux - dubbed ‘adult Disneyland’ when it opened last year - will showcase 125 objects from the Black Sea nation dating back as far as the Neolithic era.

2/08/2017: Georgia grapes contribute to US growth
Georgia’s growing wine industry currently has an annual impact of more than $7 million on Georgia’s economy, but new growers, or those curious about wine production, may have difficulty knowing whether the vineyard business makes sense for them. This month, the University of Georgia Cooperative Extension Viticulture Team will hold a conference for new and aspiring wine grape growers.

1/08/2017: UPS to ship wine around the world
UPS is expanding its ability to ship alcohol, wine and beer to consumers around the world. Using one of the UPS Express™ or Standard shipping services, wine connoisseurs can have their favourite cases of wine shipped directly from the vineyards to their home. Source, Winetitles.

1/08/2017: TWE stocks priced to sell
Goldman Sachs has cut Australia's Treasury Wine Estates (TWE.AU) to sell from neutral on concerns shares in the wine maker and exporter have priced in unrealistic volume growth. Goldman Sachs says the shares in the number one importer of wine into China may have got ahead of itself. Source, Barrons.

1/08/2017: China's wine import growth is slowing
China has seen a slowdown in wine imports in the first half of 2017, and there are signs of higher demand for French and Australian wines at lower prices, show newly released Chinese customs figures. Fluctuating trends suggests there is a lag between imports and retail sales in the Chinese market, said trade professionals. Source, Decanter China.

1/08/2017: SIMEI. Seminars and Workshops
Innovation and sustainability: these are the key themes of the extensive programme of events to be held during the 27th edition of SIMEI. The event is due to take place from 11 to 15 September in Munich, Germany. Source, Winetitles.

1/08/2017: More women judging than ever before
More women than ever are involved in tasting the best wine in the country at this year's New World Wine Awards, with five female judges among the 16-strong panel. Australia's first female master of wine and senior winemaker at Helen & Joey Estate, Meg Brodtmann says it's great to see more women involved. Source, Stuff.

1/08/2017: How to choose the right wine
Always read the label, ask for help and consider any missteps an adventure - those are two of New Zealand's top wine tasters' tips for choosing a good bottle. In a sea of stacked supermarket shelves it could be difficult for consumers to know which tipple to take home. Source, The New Zealand Herald.

1/08/2017: Argentine producers pushed to premiumise
During an interview with the drinks business at Vinexpo Bordeaux last month, Keen, who is marketing manager for the major Argentine wine brand, said that an extremely small harvest in 2016 is speeding up Trapiche’s aim to sell wine at higher prices, particularly in the UK and USA. Source, The Drinks Business.

31/07/2017: NZ's first urban winery
The Urban Winery by winemaker Tony Bish is projected to open in September. The venue is being developed in the Art Deco-inspired old National Tobacco Company building in Ahuriri. Once licensing comes through, Bish hopes to offer food, live music and lounge/tasting areas. Source, The New Zealand Herald.

31/07/2017: Decanter NZ Sauv Blanc panel tasting
If you enjoy diversity it’s worth trying the lusher wines of Hawke’s Bay and the Wairarapa, and the sleeker, tangier wines from Nelson, Waipara and Central Otago. Anyone claiming New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc is boring simply needs to taste a wider range of wines. Source, Decanter China.

31/07/2017: Study finds wine reduces diabetes risk
Consuming alcohol three or four days a week was associated with a reduced risk of developing diabetes – a 27% reduction in men and a 32% reduction in women – compared with abstaining, scientists found. Wine was considered particularly beneficial, probably because it has chemical compounds that improve blood sugar balance, researchers in Denmark found. Source, The Guardian.

31/07/2017: Does a cork pop make wine seem better?
‘The Grand Cork Experiment’ was launched last night in London to find out whether the pop of a cork really does affect our perception of wine quality. A space in London's Soho was transformed into a laboratory to test whether the pop of a cork had a more positive impact on the wine tasting experience than the click of a screwcap. Source, The Drinks Business.

31/07/2017: Gundlach sues Cali wine merchant over Bordeaux
Jeffrey Gundlach, one of the world's best-known bond investors, has sued a California wine merchant he said sold him several dozen bottles of fake wine, including Bordeaux that experts consider among the greatest wines ever made. Source, Reuters.

31/07/2017: French museum acknowledges Georgian wine
France's Cite de Vin museum will toast Georgia's 9,000-year history as the global birthplace of wine-making in a new exhibition from Monday. The wine history museum in the southwestern city of Bordeaux - dubbed "adult Disneyland" when it opened last year - will showcase 125 objects from the Black Sea nation dating back as far as the Neolithic era. Source, The Local.

31/07/2017: Barbara Blanke wins WS service award
Barbara Banke, who helped her late husband Jess Jackson build a wine empire on the success of Kendall-Jackson Vintner’s Reserve Chardonnay and has led it to new heights since his passing, is the recipient of Wine Spectator's Distinguished Service Award for 2017. Source, Wine Spectator.

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