Featured Articles

Making waves: Saving time, space and energy with ultrasonics
Winemaker and writer Paul Le Lacheur examines the benefits of sonication as an effective maceration tool. Ultrasonics, or sonification, refers to the application of high frequency soundwaves to macerating or fermenting wines and/or musts.

Students the secret to filling skills shortages
Nestled in the heart of the Barossa Valley, one of Australia’s largest winegrowing regions, Nuriootpa is at the centre of wine production in the area. So deep is this connection to wine, that the local public high school is offering students an avenue through which they can upskill and enter the industry, teaching high schoolers the ropes from picking and pruning through to winemaking and marketing.

2025 Wine Industry Directory released as China market recovery boosts industry worth $45 billion to the Australian economy
The eagerly awaited 2025 edition of the Australian & New Zealand Wine Industry Directory has been released as the wine sector, which contributes $45 billion to the Australian economy, responds to a China market recovery yet persistent oversupply.

Limoncello liftoff: the spritz and stress of success
When Zonzo Estate launched its spritzy blend of Limoncello and Prosecco in March last year, it hoped to capture the attention of younger drinkers and pay homage to memories of an Italian summer. What Zonzo didn’t expect, was to sell over one million bottles in the space of a year, and be scrambling to secure the packaging to keep up with the exponential demand.

The importance of a marketing strategy
When time and resources are limited, marketing is often the first to be sidelined as businesses focus on sales, production and maintenance. But if you’re not marketing to your target audience, what’s happening to your brand?
Your competitors are taking your place.

Water surety critical to meet growing demand for Tasmanian wines
Winegrape growers in south-east Tasmania were met with a rude shock when the Greater South East Irrigation Scheme was snubbed in this year’s federal budget.

Challenge breeds innovation for Young Gun Peter Valeri
For Peter Valeri, grapegrowing is as intrinsic to his family history as it is to the region he grew up in. Based in Griffith in NSW, Peter’s drive to pursue winemaking has taken him across the nation, but it’s always brought him back to the Riverina.

From strength to strength: Young Gun Lauren Langfield makes strides in sustainability
When Lauren first set foot in a vineyard she didn’t even have a driver’s license. Six months later, she was enrolled in a diploma of viticulture and winemaking at university, driving tractors and reversing trailers unsupervised. Now, she’s heading up Orbis Wines as both general manager and head winemaker and is making strides in sustainability. In 2023, Orbis won the South Australia Wine Industry Association’s Environmental Excellence Award for the small to medium category, and Lauren collected the Young Gun of Wine award to boot.

Young Gun: Zoë Downer
Bringing labels to the forefront Selling wine is an inherent part of the wine industry and while winegrape varieties and winemaking styles obviously play a

Passito Uncorked – Dessert in a glass
Passito has roots in ancient traditions in Europe and, like many ancient traditions, is over-ripe for innovation in Australian winemaking. Journalist Harrison Davies looked at producers in Australia who are using new techniques to craft this ancient beverage.

Fiano Uncorked – Discovering the mainstream
Conversations about winegrape sustainability in rising temperatures are becoming more prevalent each year – chiefly among winemakers who want to grow grapes using lower intervention techniques and less water.

Young Gun Tash Arthur: Melding old with new
Tash Arthur is plotting her own course through the wine industry by flagrantly ignoring trends and making wines that she wants to drink. Arthur is the embodiment of what makes Australian wine unique and provides an alternative voice to the medium bodied wine drum that is being beaten across the country. Harrison Davies spoke with her about her career and her label.

Marking four decades of game changing sustainability at Crittenden Estate
Image: Growth in the Crittenden Estate mid-row 1982 was the start of the Crittenden story. While the family might not have known it then, the

And now for something completely different
Bottle design is constantly evolving in the wine sector. Lighter glass bottles, pouches, PET bottles, all making a positive impact on the environment. However, journalist

Resolving the challenges of smoke taint
Ongoing efforts to overcome the aftermath of bushfires. Summer brings many things with it: warm weather means more guests at cellar doors and vintage just

Yarra Yering: Pioneers in tradition
The Yarra Valley experienced a rebirth at the end of the 1960s, with several wineries establishing themselves in a region that had laid dormant since

Realising the benefits of aeration during fermentation
Punchdowns, pumpovers and rack and returns sometimes don’t introduce enough aeration to red wine fermentations to achieve a winemaker’s desired wine style. For those winemakers,

Grenache Uncorked: A varietal renaissance
The story of Grenache is not dissimilar from that of the ugly duckling. It was long misunderstood but has seen a resurgence in recent years that has brought it to the forefront of Australian winemaking. Harrison Davies explores how the stars aligned for this long ignored variety to enter the spotlight.

Young Gun: Dave Verheul, winemaker
Kiwi chef and winemaker Dave Verheul entered the world of vermouth because he wanted to understand more about the complex flavours of the style. Journalist

Tannat Uncorked
Wines by Geoff Hardy Hand Crafted Tannat. The beauty that can pack a beastly punch This month, journalist Samuel Squire ventures his mind to the shores of Uruguay, where an emerging variety called

DtC, cellar door sales and the export market: a pandemic update
The pandemic has impacted industries around the world, with the Australian wine sector being hit hard. But despite cellar doors, and regional tourism, remaining shuttered

To your health! The growing demand for no and low alcohol wine
Much has been published by local and international media outlets in recent months about no and low (NOLO) alcohol wine. While several studies have reported

Producer Profile: Spring Timlin
ROLE: Winemaker Winery: Squealing Pig Location: Marlborough, New Zealand Varieties: Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, Rosé, Sparkling Rosé, Spritzed Rosé, Pinot Grigio Firstly, you

Regional sustainability through the lens of adapting packaging to the 21st century
Regional sustainability through the lens of adapting packaging to the 21st century
By Tim Nowell-Usticke, director of WineWorks NZ

Behind the Top Drops: Mount Pleasant Lovedale Semillon
Cover: Mount Pleasant’s Lovedale vineyard. Photo: Chris Elfes It’s been an historic year for Hunter Valley-based Mount Pleasant — not only is it celebrating 100

Island hopping winemakers help lift profile of KI wine
Have you ever tasted a Kangaroo Island wine? Nick Dugmore of The Stoke Wines is on a mission to make sure you do, with the Guroo Wine Project. Rhys Howlett explains.

Young Gun: Natillie Johnston
YOUNG GUN Natillie Johnston Tillie in the vineyard with partner Tom. This month, budding winemaker Tillie Johnston had a chat with journalist Samuel Squire about

Innovation in wine packaging and labelling
Murray Valley’s Trentham Estate has recently innovated its wine packaging in the form of a sustainable pouch capable of containing a magnum’s-worth of wine –

Do oak supply problems have winemakers over a barrel?
While it has advanced and changed over time, oak remains a central pillar of winemaking, maturing countless styles of wine, and imparting flavour and aroma

September Grapegrower & Winemaker out now!
This month, Grapegrower & Winemaker focuses on the role of oak: we find out from suppliers about the options for winemakers wanting to invest in

Do oak supply problems have winemakers over a barrel?
Do oak supply problems have winemakers over a barrel? Stephen Henschke says ordering in advance has been the key to ensuring oak supplies arrive on

Budding wine producers in a class of their own
A Victorian secondary college is providing a unique opportunity for students to gain practical skills in viticulture and winemaking. Writer Brendan Black profiles the achievements

Young Gun: Matt Godfrey
YOUNG GUN Matt Godfrey Barossa-born Matt Godfrey now calls Margaret River home after 18 vintages in the wine industry. Interestingly, winemaking wasn’t the first option

Sauvignon Blanc Uncorked
According to recent Wine Australia data, in 1970 there were only 20ha of land under vine to this white variety. There are now more than

Cellar door designs break new ground
Innovation has become a cornerstone of modern winery design and construction. Paul LeLacheur casts an eye over two ground-breaking facilities.

In pursuit of the Holy Grail
In the July issue of the Grapegrower & Winemaker, we published Part 1 of Sonya Logan’s exploration of the no and low alcohol wine scene,

Spotlight on the Riverland
The Riverland: Regional update Traversed by the snaking Murray River, the Riverland became Australia’s largest yielding inland wine region this vintage, with its total 2021

August issue of Grapegrower & Winemaker out now!
In this August issue, we focus on cool climate regions in part two of our annual vintage report. AWRI senior viticulturist Robyn Dixon provides insights

In pursuit of the holy grail
Australian Vintages McGuigan Zero range now makes up 10 per cent of sales of the entire McGuigan portfolio. The challenge in making good quality, no

Young Gun: Jess Wilson
. This month, journalist Samuel Squire caught up with the Marlborough winner of the 2021 Corteva Young Viticulturist of the Year competition in New Zealand,

Accurate maps will show the path to technology’s treasures
Airborne Logic setting up an accurate ground control point for drone based mapping of a vineyard By Oli Madgett, Hans Loder, Che Wightwick, Ian Beecher-Jones,

Endeavour plans “aggressive” expansion
The $11 billion liquor retailing, hotel and gaming Endeavour Group – with the Dan Murphy’s and BWS retail chains at its core – is preparing

July Grapegrower & Winemaker out now!
Coming just after the halfway point of 2021, this issue of Grapegrower & Winemaker features the first part of our annual Vintage Report, focusing on

High calibre career: Mango Parker
Joint AWRI/Wine Australia team in the 2019 CSIRO ON Prime program for innovation Research is one of the pillars of industry and discovery. Mango Parker,

Aim high – go low; Responding to the no and low alcohol wine opportunity
John Forrest, from Forrest Wines in Marlborough, New Zealand, with The Doctors’ range of wines. Winemakers may not like to drink them let alone acknowledge

Barbera Uncorked: A refreshing burst of character
High natural acidity in wine is something typical of the Italian red powerhouses Barbera, Nero d’Avola, Nebbiolo and Sangiovese. Journalist Samuel Squire dives into some of the history of one of Italy’s most-planted winegrape varieties, and speaks to Australian producers and an importer of Italian Barbera wine to find out where it stands in the local market.

Getting ahead of spring frost
As budburst approaches in early spring many regions across the country are prone to damage from frost which can have implications on spring growth, flowering and, if severe, potentially reduce bearing in the current season and the season following, as viticulturist Sam Bowman writes.

Perceptions and advancements of cork closures
Burgundy, Bordeaux, Barolo. All of these wines, and wines like them, from the Old World are almost always sealed up with a cork.

June Grapegrower & Winemaker out now!
The June 2021 issue of the Grapegrower & Winemaker features articles by two of the presenters at the inaugural 2021 PACKWINE Forum & Expo —

Wine sales booming online: Pandemic pours sales into DtC market
As the pandemic continues, so has an increase in sales for many wine businesses. This has provided a lifeline for many operators, allowing businesses to keep going despite the changed trading circumstances.

Murray Valley: Regional update
Home to quality fruit production, acclaimed winemakers and cutting edge research and development, the Grapegrower & Winemaker, this month, focuses on what makes the Murray

Chitosan a multifaceted aid in winemaking
Over the past decade, there has been a growing interest in the use of “animalfree” chitosan agents in winemaking.

Cutting costs while cutting vines
As preparations get underway for managing vineyards through the winter months ahead, viticulturist Sam Bowman outlines the pros and cons for various methods for pruning and what the associated costs of these could be for operators in warm and cooler climates.

May 2021 issue of Grapegrower & Winemaker out now
The May issue of the Grapegrower & Winemaker includes a unique event for the Australian and New Zealand wine sectors – the 2021 PACKWINE Forum

Producer Profile: Penny Jones
Born and bred in Hobart, Tasmania, a passion for food and wine has always been in Penny’s blood. After graduating as Dux of Oenology in

Ella Hoban: A sparkling future in wine
Growing up surrounded by South Australia’s iconic wine regions, including McLaren Vale, the Adelaide Hills and the Barossa, winemaker Ella Hoban has strived to earn

Towards an early smoke detection network
Fire events are increasing in frequency around the world and as wine producing countries such as the US, Spain and Portugal grapple with the devastation wrecked by bushfires, Australia is providing critical research and guidance on managing smoke affected fruit, as Simone Madden-Grey writes.

New legislation to impact vineyard ATVs: No longer rolling the dice
All-terrain vehicles, while extremely practical and versatile for agricultural use, especially in vineyards, present many risks to the operator. As of August last year in

April 2021 issue of Grapegrower & Winemaker out now!
The April issue of Grapegrower & Winemaker features our annual report on Australia’s Top 20 wine companies and the best of New Zealand. TWE CEO

Bottle design – how much does it matter?
Images supplied by asbCreative Photography. Just how does the overall presentation of a wine influence purchases? Winemaker and writer Paul Le Lacheur spoke to leading

Young Gun: Nick Odell linking producer to consumer
On the flip side of wine production, wine buyers source vino from all walks of the wine scene into retailers, independent or otherwise, and help sell to consumers through personal interactions.

Blaufränkisch Uncorked: Bull’s Blood – A legacy
This month’s foray into the history of various wine styles takes journalist Samuel Squire to Hungary, where he learns about the legend of Egri Bikavér wine, which

Planting trees helps sustainable vineyard methods
Anh Nguyen is the owner and operator of Ese Vineyard’s Torch Bearer Wines, a boutique vineyard in Tasmania’s Coal River Valley. While only operating on

March 2021 issue of Grapegrower & Winemaker out now!
Out in print and online now is the March 2021 issue of the Australian & New Zealand Grapegrower & Winemaker magazine. This issue of Grapegrower

Unearthing one of the greats: Gemtree Subterra Shiraz
The interesting thing about wine, is that no one wine is the same as the next. This reigns true with certified organic and biodynamic winemaker Gemtree Wines, based in South Australia’s McLaren Vale wine region.

What are the most important features of your vineyard to map?
South Australia recently published its agtech strategy with one of the key pillars being technology compatibility¹, which was highlighted as one of the key frustrations in the stakeholder survey that helped to inform it.

Urban vineyards: hidden gems
Most vineyards are located outside the hustle and bustle of the ‘big smoke’, but for a handful of producers, suburbia is home. For the most

February issue of Grapegrower & Winemaker out now!
Out in print and online now is the February 2021 issue of the Australian & New Zealand Grapegrower & Winemaker magazine, which focusses on the

Out of this world precision: AI and IoT in the vineyard
Image credit: weed.review – https://weed.review/ Cutting-edge technological advancements are aiding more industries to achieve better results, including Australia’s agricultural sector. In viticulture, artificial intelligence and

Low carbon wine: a marketing edge to drive the pivot away from China?
Australian wine producers could stand to benefit from new winemaking technology that’s been developed in Europe by an Australian wine stylist who’s returned home due

Shiraz Uncorked: The Australian way
Shiraz wine is an Australian institution. Since the mid-19th Century, Australian growers have been honing their winemaking craft and turning Shiraz grapes into spectacular wine

MY VIEW: Do we want to save the China wine market?
Writer Jeremy Oliver states his thoughts on how Australian wine may weather the storm cast from trade tensions with China.

What’s your biosecurity bubble?
The term ‘biosecurity bubble’ has often been used during the COVID-19 pandemic, with interstate sports hubs, medi-hotels and quarantine facilities all part of Australia’s COVID

Producer Profile: Cynthea Semmens
Journalist Samuel Squire caught up with Cynthea for a chat about her life in wine on Australia’s southernmost winegrowing island, as she shares her thoughts on the industry and on organic viticulture.

January 2021 Grapegrower & Winemaker out now!
The January issue of the Grapegrower & Winemaker features the views of wine commentator and author Jeremy Oliver on ways to ‘save the Chinese market’

Hard labour: COVID-19 among the factors limiting availability of vineyard staff
Image: Jimmy Walsh Photography The challenges of 2020 have upended business operations across many industries. While thousands of jobs were lost more broadly, the wine

December issue of the Grapegrower & Winemaker out now!
With summer upon us, the December issue of Grapegrower & Winemaker turns its attention to vintage preparation. This includes a focus on the challenges some

DtC boom follows COVID doom and gloom
2020 has seen wine sales shift in a major way to direct-to-consumer channels, and, with local tourism now picking up, there’s renewed business on the

November Grapegrower & Winemaker out now!
The November issue of Grapegrower & Winemaker, out online and in print now, examines how cellar door and direct-to-consumer sales have fared during the COVID-19

Icewine Uncorked: Canada’s frozen gem
When subzero weather struck German vineyards in the late 1700s freezing winegrape crops, local winemakers thought to persevere with vintage anyway and stumbled across something

Wine businesses stand to benefit after expansion of instant asset write-off
Building on the successful expansion of the instant asset write-off in the Federal Government’s response to COVID-19, the Treasurer Josh Frydenberg announced that 99 percent

Traditional wine bottles take a back seat to inventive product designs
The evolution of wine bottling There’s plenty of innovation shifting the way that wine products are being delivered to consumers. While traditional glass bottles won’t

Wine industry foundations: How education and training leads to early career progress
Image: Josh Ramsey. While pandemic lockdowns have led to job losses and financial hardship across various industries, a lucky few have still managed to be

October issue of the Grapegrower & Winemaker out now!
This month’s producer profile: Richard Mattner, Winemaker at Pepperjack As the industry gets on with the job of producing vintage 2020 wines, this October issue

Towards Australian grape and wine industry carbon neutrality… the possible dream
By R. Smart, D. Bruer, C. Collins, A. Corsi, I. Jeffrey, C. Karantonis, L. Lockshin, R. Muhlack, D. Oemcke, B. Pike and E. Wilkes. The

Barrel racking systems: time for a rethink?
For wineries aiming to keep on top of barrel storage racking, a forklift with a licensed driver employed on the team is often an essential

September issue of the Grapegrower and Winemaker out now!
The September issue of Grapegrower & Winemaker includes a unique feature that’s presented in partnership with the Winery Engineering Association: the WineEng 2020 Forum &

Seeing the value in imagery
Aerial imagery technology is currently only used by a minority of winegrape growers in Australia as a part of their vineyard operations. Oli Madgett writes

It’s all ‘Zin’ the name: Zinfandel Uncorked
Zinfandel is a winegrape varietal that has challenged – and continues to challenge – viticulturists and winemakers alike. The wine style is very rich, raisin-like

Drought leaves winegrowers high and dry
Image: Irrigation infrastructure has been ‘pushed to the max’ at Chris Dent’s vineyard on the banks of Kangaroo Lake, south of Swan Hill in Victoria.

Daniel Payne: An ode to the Hunter
Image: Dirt Candy owner and winemaker Daniel Payne Growing up in one of Australia’s most iconic wine regions seems to shape many into a life

August issue of Grapegrower and Winemaker out now!
In the second part of our special 2020 Vintage Report, we focus on cool climate regions across Australia and New Zealand. While harvests have been

Cypriot vines could prove fruitful for Australian growers
Image: Dr Alexander Copper, PhD student at the University of Adelaide, standing next to recently imported Cypriot vine cuttings. Australian grapegrowers are increasingly being tested

A SWOT analysis of going ‘wild’
Using indigenous yeast from a winemaker’s perspective No matter what your winemaking style, the wine region you are from, the grape variety you are working

Commandaria Uncorked: ‘The King of Wine’
An old world wine whose roots lie in the foundations of ancient and medieval history, Commandaria is a sweet dessert wine from the Mediterranean island

July 2020 Grapegrower & Winemaker out now!
The July issue of the Grapegrower & Winemaker is out in print and online now! This issue focuses on Vintage 2020 with part one of our in-depth

How wine and alcohol purchasing and consumption changed during COVID-19 isolation in Australia
A recent Australian survey has revealed that the buying habits of alcohol consumers has not changed as dramatically during the COVID-19 lockdown as suggested in

Through the looking glass: AR wine labels
Keeping their brand fresh can be a challenge for many wineries. One of the exciting new directions being taken by some in the industry to

Drawing a line in the soil: Learnings from baselining a vineyard’s soil organic carbon level
Image: Oli Madgett (left) and Ed Sott (right) opening a soil core. Building up soil organic carbon (SOC) can improve our vineyards’ soil quality in

Saperavi Uncorked: Georgia on my mind
Georgia sits at the intersection of Europe and Asia, was a constituent republic of the former Soviet Union and for many wine enthusiasts and historians,