Exports of US wine for 2011 are expected to set a new record, according to the California-based Wine Institute.
US wine exports rose by 26% for the nine months to the end of September, to US$1bn, according to Wine Institute figures published at the end of last week. Export volumes rose by 7% on the same period of 2010.
Environmentally minded Nelson organic winery Richmond Plains has released its first wine in New Zealand’s lightest 750ml glass bottle. Weighing in at a mere 325 grams and at just over 1kg full of wine, it’s lighter than some other bottles empty, says owner Lars Jensen.
The wine world is already so masculine, making special efforts to underscore its machismo seems akin to gluing chest hair to Rambo.
Nevertheless, “manly” wines are the industry’s latest fling, in large part due to young men being part of the fastest growing wine consumption demographic today: millennials. The challenge, however, is getting them to permanently swap beer for Bordeaux.
New Zealand Winegrowers (NZW) has released the results of a strategic review of the nation’s grape and wine sector. The review was conducted for NZW over the past three months by consulting firm Price Waterhouse Coopers (PWC). Commenting on the review, Stuart Smith, chair of NZW, said: “The Review is a comprehensive examination of the industry: how it has changed in recent years, the opportunities and challenges facing it, and the future role of New Zealand Winegrowers.”
Back in May, while en route to get a beer at Giants game, I noticed someone sampling wines out of a can, so I stopped to find out what it was all about, writes Pamela Busch in the San Francisco Examiner. You might wonder why I would ever put myself through such torture — after all, isn’t nine innings of a Giants game enough? I returned to my seat with a couple of samples for my friends to try, and we all agreed that they exceeded our expectations.
Christmas is one of the few times in the year when wine-drinkers think about sweet and fortified wines. It may be their unique warming qualities, or possibly we need something sweet to drink alongside all those sugary treats. But even then, both remain neglected in a world full of dry whites and fruity red wines, writes John Wilson in The Irish Times.
The wet spring weather which boosted grass growth on pastoral farms has taken a toll on vineyards in the country’s largest wine-producing region. The cold and wet conditions have affected the flowering of vines in Marlborough, which produces three-quarters of the country’s wine, reports Radio New Zealand news.
Deloitte’s sixth annual wine industry financial benchmarking survey, which tracks wineries responsible for about a third of export sales, reveals early signs of an export-led recovery, despite the high exchange rate in key markets. The National Business Review reports big and small wineries are showing healthy improvements in profitability as the industry swings back from oversupply. But not everyone has benefited.
Deloitte’s sixth annual wine industry financial benchmarking survey, which tracks wineries responsible for about a third of export sales, reveals early signs of an export-led recovery, despite the high exchange rate in key markets. The National Business Review reports big and small wineries are showing healthy improvements in profitability as the industry swings back from oversupply. But not everyone has benefited.
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.