This is a tale of two blokes, both Australians, who crossed the Tasman to establish for themselves, and for New Zealand wines, reputations that are respected throughout the world. We are talking, of course, about John Hancock and Larry McKenna, mates from high school in Adelaide, where Larry’s father shared with them his passion for the fruits of the vine, which encouraged them both to pursue careers in wine. The rest is history. Now both are facing the winds of change rustling through the industry, writes Warren Barton in the Southland Times.

A Thinking Party. That’s the theme for Pinot Noir NZ 2013 – to be held in Wellington in January. Pinot Chair Alastair Maling MW says while there will be plenty of splendid Pinot poured he expects everyone to contribute to the talk, reports Voxy News. “Most events have speakers where the audience just listens. Our event will have the audience debating the relevance of natural wines – or if funky means faulty, or whether terroir is more about marketing than place.”

A Hawkes Bay winery has appeared alongside world-renowned vineyards in Burgundy, Tuscany and California in a major travel guide’s top 10 list – a win being hailed as a boost for the fast-growing wine tourism market. Black Barn Vineyards, in Havelock North, was picked among the world’s greatest vineyard inns and hotels by the long-running and best-selling US travel guide Frommers. The guide pitches Black Barn as “the place to go” with family, another couple or a small group, reports The New Zealand Herald.

Hunter farmers and irrigators say rivers and underground water are unprotected and resource exploration inadequately controlled in the state government’s draft strategic regional land use plan. The Hunter Valley Water Users Association has called for tougher regulation of mining and coal seam gas explorers ahead of today’s march and rally in Sydney to press for big changes in the government’s plan. The protest will bring together Hunter farmers, environmentalists, community groups, thoroughbred breeders and the wine industry, reports the Newcastle Herald.

The management team behind South Australia’s Tasting Australia festival is negotiating to start a similar event in Western Australia, setting the scene for a battle over celebrity guests and status between the two states. The 2012 festival, which finishes Thursday, will be the last run by the WA-based Consuming Passions. While the name “Tasting Australia” is owned by the State Government, Consuming Passions is confident it could make a similar food and tourism showcase work in its home state, reports News.com.au.

Paul Evans has been appointed chief executive of the Winemakers’ Federation of Australia, succeeding Stephen Strachan on June 1. Mr Evans was director of government, regulation and community affairs for Lion Nathan National Foods for seven years, with broad responsibilities across regulatory, consumer and sustainability issues. His current role is as an Adelaide based executive for multinational petroleum company BP, reports AdelaideNow.

Australian Vintage Limited (AVL), owner of the McGuigan, Nepenthe and Tempus Two wine brands, expects its profits to be down this year on the back of a smaller 2012 vintage. However, the wine producer’s CEO Neil McGuigan, says that fruit quality across the vintage is of excellent quality and the lower yields will help to bring wine stock back into balance following years of oversupply, reports The Shout.

Australian winemakers do things differently. Sometimes they are celebrated for it. Imagine taking grapes not only from different vineyards within a state but also from different states and blending them. Crazy logistics but some fabulous wines can result. Penfolds’ latest releases take the Aussie red into new territory, writes Jeni Port in The Age.

Katharina Prum is the current vintage – if I can put it that way – of a revered Mosel Valley estate that makes some of the finest Riesling in the world. Joh Jos Prum is affectionately known to wine lovers as J.J. Prum, and Katharina is the great-granddaughter of the founder, J.J. She’s a straight-shooter: there’s none of the hyperbole you find with a lot of wine people. She is a doctor of law who never practised law – just like her father, Manfred, now in his 70s. They make the wine together, writes Huon Hooke in the Sydney Morning Herald.