According to the chairman of judges, John Ellis of Victoria, the 2341 entries in this year’s Royal Hobart Wine show were down slightly from last year due to the very difficult 2011 vintage conditions experienced right across south eastern Australia. The Mercury reports for Tasmania however, the number of exhibitors rose to 76, wines to 304 and the number of medals totalled 170, including 19 golds, 48 silvers and 103 bronzes, plus five open-class trophies.
The Hunter Valley Wine Industry Association has moved to expel gas giant AGL from its ranks because of its plans for coal seam gas exploration. Association President Andrew Margan told ABC Radio AGL was accepted as a member in 2010 on the understanding it wanted to work towards the betterment of the Hunter Valley wine industry. But Mr Margan says that is clearly not the case and coal seam gas mining does not belong in an iconic wine growing region like the Hunter.
The Hunter Valley Wine Industry Association has moved to expel gas giant AGL from its ranks because of its plans for coal seam gas exploration. Association President Andrew Margan told ABC Radio AGL was accepted as a member in 2010 on the understanding it wanted to work towards the betterment of the Hunter Valley wine industry. But Mr Margan says that is clearly not the case and coal seam gas mining does not belong in an iconic wine growing region like the Hunter.
Drinkers will be able to count the calories as they work out if they are “over the limit”, under new labelling requirements that have been given the nod by the nation’s food ministers.
According to The Australian wine, spirit and beer bottles will have to be labelled with tobacco-style health warnings to tell pregnant women that drinking will damage their unborn babies.
Drinkers will be able to count the calories as they work out if they are “over the limit”, under new labelling requirements that have been given the nod by the nation’s food ministers.
According to The Australian wine, spirit and beer bottles will have to be labelled with tobacco-style health warnings to tell pregnant women that drinking will damage their unborn babies.
When glasses clink over a meal this Christmas, they’re more than likely to contain a drop of Sauvignon Blanc. But if drinkers are catching up with friends at a bar, they will probably knock back a cider or a craft beer. And if you happen to receive a bottle-shaped gift under your tree, chances are it will be a wine worth $20 to $30, reports Sydney Morning Herald.
When glasses clink over a meal this Christmas, they’re more than likely to contain a drop of Sauvignon Blanc. But if drinkers are catching up with friends at a bar, they will probably knock back a cider or a craft beer. And if you happen to receive a bottle-shaped gift under your tree, chances are it will be a wine worth $20 to $30, reports Sydney Morning Herald.
A little-known winery has lost its battle to sell port and fruit wines in a Porirua shopping mall. Porirua City Council refused to grant Ruahine Wines a special licence to sell unopened bottles of wine and gift packs from a stall in the North City Shopping Centre in the lead up to Christmas. It made the decision behind closed doors after winery director Damon Pratt pleaded for the initial refusal by the Porirua District Licensing Agency to be overturned in order for his business to stay afloat, reports The Dominion Post.
Albert Bichot’s winemaker Alain Serveau has described 2010 as having a better expression of terroir than 2009. Speaking to The Drinks Business, Serveau said that while 2009 was “very easy to drink and charming it did mask the terroir”. By contrast he described 2010 as “precise, fresh, a little less tannic than 2005 and with much better potential to show the vineyard in individual wines”.
Offering a veritable smorgasbord of festive feasting, the Kiwi Christmas calls for a similarly diverse range of wines to match its many flavours. Now’s the time to splash out on some special bottles, as well as getting in a good stock of more affordable staples to see you through the season, writes Jo Burzynska in The New Zealand Herald.