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A snapshot of wine business, research and marketing content gleaned from local and international wine media sources. Emailed Monday to Friday excluding public holidays.
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Today's Top Story
The new smoke sensor that could save growers millions
A new smoke sensor that has the potential to save hundreds of millions of dollars in lost wine production is being rolled out across the wine industry, with monitors now being used to track the impact of bushfires that have ravaged the Grampians.
Today's Headlines
Cool climate Adelaide Hills vineyard hits the market
A cool climate vineyard in the heart of the Adelaide Hills wine region has been listed for sale, in a move expected to generate interest from wine producers and investors.
ProWein plans to position industry for profit with business focus
March will see the German city of Düsseldorf become a “hotspot” for the international wine and spirits sector, as industry professionals from around the world gather for ProWein. For six days everything in the Rhine metropolis will revolve around the latest trends, “high-octane” events, and how to create and maintain a successful business.
James Halliday recognised for “substantial” contributions to the wine industry
James Halliday AM has been named the recipient of the 2025 Institute of Masters of Wine (IMW) Lifetime Achievement Award. The award was presented at Vinexposium’s V d’Or by Patrick Schmitt MW, the drinks business editor-in-chief, and Rod Smith MW, IMW chair.
Proposed solutions for premium wine bottle emissions
As the Australian wine sector moves towards its emissions reduction targets, six innovative packaging solutions for premium wine have been awarded Federal Government grants to test their feasibility.
Penfolds blends iconic South Australian Shiraz with French Syrah in “unexpected” new release
Penfolds has announced the release of a new wine: Grange La Chapelle 2021: half Australian Shiraz and half French Syrah “blending the heritage of French wine tradition and the innovative spirit of Australian craft”.
New National Wine Festival set to become premier tourism event
The National Wine Show of Australia is about to get even bigger with the announcement of a new annual tourism event, the National Wine Festival of Australia. The four-day national festival will be held in June 2025, celebrating Australian winemaking excellence and marking the 50th anniversary of the national wine awards.
Brown Brothers bottle a sustainable future
It has been a hive of activity at one of Australia’s leading wine producers, with Brown Brothers officially opening its newest bottling facility.
Barossa’s Chateau Tanunda welcomes 135th anniversary vintage with annual bell ringing ceremony
Château Tanunda has marked the start of the 2025 vintage in the Barossa this week with its annual ‘ringing of the bell’ ceremony.
Winegrape growers call for ACCC enforced purchases code as inquiry enters second hearing
The Senate Rural and Regional Affairs Committee is today hearing evidence from the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) and the Federal Department of Agriculture in the second hearing of its inquiry into the Australian winegrape purchases code of conduct. At a previous hearing held in South Australia’s Riverland, the country’s largest winegrowing region, the committee heard from grapegrowers about hardships in their industry ’caused by anti-competitive behaviour by big wine producers’. Rural and Regional Affairs Committee chair, Greens Senator
Jimmy Watson winner Four Winds Vineyard on the market
One of the Canberra District’s star wineries is up for sale. Four Winds Vineyard, the family-owned business that recently swept five major trophies at the Melbourne Royal Wine Awards—including the coveted 2024 Jimmy Watson Memorial Trophy—went on the market today.
Australia
Brown Brothers bottle a sustainable future
It has been a hive of activity at one of Australia’s leading wine producers, with Brown Brothers officially opening its newest bottling facility.
Barossa’s Chateau Tanunda welcomes 135th anniversary vintage with annual bell ringing ceremony
Château Tanunda has marked the start of the 2025 vintage in the Barossa this week with its annual ‘ringing of the bell’ ceremony.
Winegrape growers call for ACCC enforced purchases code as inquiry enters second hearing
The Senate Rural and Regional Affairs Committee is today hearing evidence from the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) and the Federal Department of Agriculture in the second hearing of its inquiry into the Australian winegrape purchases code of conduct. At a previous hearing held in South Australia’s Riverland, the country’s largest winegrowing region, the committee heard from grapegrowers about hardships in their industry ’caused by anti-competitive behaviour by big wine producers’. Rural and Regional Affairs Committee chair, Greens Senator
Historic win for Coonawarra Cabernet
Yalumba’s 2021 Sanctum Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon has claimed back-to-back wins at the Limestone Coast Wine Show. It’s the first time in the 23-year history of the prestigious event that the same wine from the same vintage and vineyard has been declared the stand-out entry two years in a row, winning four major trophies and outclassing 423 other entries from 53 exhibitors.
New Zealand
Sauvignon Blanc stays strong for NZ
The latest performance figures of the UK wine market show white wines from New Zealand enjoyed a strong performance during the festive season.
How sustainability helped New Zealand build an export-focused wine industry
In 1993 New Zealand’s wine industry had a vision to increase its wine exports from $41 million to $100 million by the year 2000. That boldness over thirty years ago sowed the seeds that set the New Zealand wine industry on its way to establishing its Sustainable Winegrowing New Zealand (SWNZ) programme, which will celebrate three decades in 2025.
New trade system to benefit NZ wine exporters
A new trade certification system is being rolled out in New Zealand to support the country’s exports, positioning the wine industry to benefit under the recent European Union Free Trade agreement.
New Zealand Winegrowers mentoring programme gets underway
The annual New Zealand Winegrowers Mentoring Programme has begun, matching experienced and knowledgeable mentors with a mentee wanting to progress in the grape and wine industry.
International
More than a quarter of Austria’s vineyards are sustainably certified. Here’s how
In Austria, almost 12,000 hectares of vineyards are now cultivated in compliance with the extensive and independently controlled viticultural programme “Sustainable Austria” (Nachhaltig Austria), corresponding to 27% of Austria’s total area under vine.
Harvest expectation signals improvement for South African wine industry
The first harvest estimate for the 2025 South African winegrape crop is in, with viticulturists and producer cellars predicting an improvement on the previous year’s record low yield. Early forecasts indicate an expected crop likely on par with the 2023 harvest of 1.183 million tonnes, the second smallest crop in the past two decades.
This year’s wine production could be the world’s lowest since 1961
The International Organisation of Vine and Wine (OIV) has released the first estimates of global wine production for 2024.
South African wine industry opposes “drastic” excise tax increases
South Africa Wine, the national body representing the country’s winegrape producers and industry stakeholders, has come out in strong opposition to the government’s proposed excise tax increases on wine, which could see rates rise by up to 80%.
Announcements & Suppliers
WineTech is Back for 2025 – Empowering Every Vintage
Wine industry professionals, vineyard owners, managers and workers from wineries of all sizes are invited to WineTech 2025. The event will take place at the Adelaide Convention Centre from July 21 – 23, 2025, offering an essential platform for networking, learning, buying.
LANGLEY & CO ADVISORS CURRENT OPPORTUNITIES
The Lane Vineyard, Adelaide Hills, SA The Lane Vineyard was established over 30 years ago and at the time was one of the trail blazers of cool climate viticulture in South Australia. The Adelaide Hills is now a wine region with a global reputation for wine quality, tourism and hospitality. The business is run by a dedicated and skilful team, who continue to develop the business model and generate impressive sales growth. Key features of The Lane Vineyard include: Substantial
Unlock the Future of Wine Closures with Interpack’s capR: Innovation, Design, and Sustainability
In a world where environmental concerns are increasingly at the forefront, every industry is being called upon to rethink its practices. The wine industry is no exception. Enter Interpack’s capR closure, a game-changing innovation that not only addresses longstanding challenges in wine bottle recycling but also offers unparalleled design flexibility and a commitment to environmental stewardship.
Cork Supply & Studio Labels Welcomes Aaron Haw as Chief Executive Officer for Australia
Cork Supply and Studio Labels, globally established companies for over 40 years within the Wine Industry for; the supply of corks, closures, barrels, oak alternative, and the design, development and delivery of highly technical labels, is excited to announce the appointment of Aaron Haw to Lead the Australian operations as Chief Operations Executive and Managing Director.
EU Wine Label Changes: What Australian Winegrowers Need to Know
Beginning December 8th, 2023, a significant change awaits Australian winegrowers exporting to the European Union (EU). The EU is set to enforce a mandate requiring wine labels to feature nutritional and ingredient information, either directly or through QR codes known as e-labels.
Cooperages 1912 names Mark Roberts as new general manager
Cooperages 1912 have announced the appointment of Mark Roberts as general manager, starting from July 1, 2023.