Winemaker Australian Vintage has lately been the subject of been several major developments. The first was the announcement by S&P Dow Jones Indices that Australian Vintage has been removed from the All Ordinaries Index as part of its March 2015 quarterly rebalance. The All Ordinaries rebalances once a year. While this is non-operational in nature, it is not ideal from a share liquidity point of view and is a reflection of the deweighting of Australian Vintage’s market capitalisation relative to the largest 500 companies listed on the ASX.

Naked Winemaker Ben Gould has purchased of a 50-acre Vineyard in Margaret River, following a crowd funded Christmas wine sale, to raise the deposit. As a result of increased sales from Naked Wines and a special wine sale for his mailing list, Gould has been able to finally own a vineyard big enough to produce all the grapes required. “We crowd funded the deposit with wine specials at Christmas time, telling customers the revenue was to be used to purchase a vineyard. The response was overwhelming,” Gould said.

Yealands Wine Group plans to expand its land holdings in New Zealand’s Marlborough region as competition for wine-growing property drives up prices, founder Peter Yealands said. New Zealand’s biggest producer of Pinot Gris owns 1,500 hectares (3,705 acres) of vineyards and Yealands said he would double the company’s acreage if he could. Apart from Marlborough’s signature Sauvignon Blanc varietal, Yealands makes wines from grapes such as Chardonnay and Pinot Noir under the Yealands Estate and Peter Yealands brands.

The Hawke’s Bay wine industry looks to have scored a hat-trick of quality vintages. Many in the business are describing the almost-harvested 2015 vintage as a “great one”. With more than 85 per cent of the grapes now in, there were already plenty of smiles. The 2013 and 2014 vintages across the Bay were stand-outs with several winemakers describing them as among the best over the past century, and initial indications for the latest harvest are that it will be three in a row.

The 2010 vintage of one of Australia’s greatest wines, Henschke Hill of Grace, is about to be released and wine critics are already singing its praises, with several scoring it 99/100. Winemaker Stephen Henschke, the fifth generation to tend the vines at this family-owned winery in the Eden Valley, just behind the Barossa, says the wine matches the 2002 and 2005 vintages. He describes the 2010 vintage as having “radiance”.

Tasmania’s wine industry is celebrating a solid vintage, with a larger crop expected to help bridge the gap between supply and growing demand for the state’s wine. Australia’s wine industry is grappling with a national grape glut, unlike Tasmania, where demand outstrips supply. Grape quality has been high across the state, with an increase in fruit tonnages in some regions welcome news after a lighter vintage in 2014.

The Hunter Valley Wine Festival will be moving from its previous October date to Saturday 20 June to join the Hunter Valley Wine and Food Month line up. The festival will be staged at Crowne Plaza Hunter Valley boasting over 40 exhibiting vineyards including the Valley’s major wineries, as well as boutique producers. Beer and cider tastings from the on-site Lovedale Brewery, along with a host of food options will also be on offer.

Fair Work Ombudsman inspectors will visit Tasmania’s Tamar Valley and Coal River wine regions next week as part of an ongoing focus on the entitlements of seasonal workers. The Agency’s Regional Services Team will conduct site visits to up to 15 randomly-selected vineyards as part of its three-year Harvest Trail project. Fair Work inspectors will speak to growers and labour-hire contractors about their obligations under federal workplace laws and encourage any employees with concerns to come forward.

Friday marked the start of Aussie Wine Month, Australia’s nationwide celebration of its wine industry with tastings, tours, and festivals. On the surface, the industry seems to be prospering. Australia has seen a rise of 3.6 per cent in volume and 3.9 per cent in value of wine exports in the 12 months ending in March 2015, according to the Australian Grape and Wine Authority (AG&WA). Markets in Asia are driving this growth, for both bulk wine and high-end vintages, the latter of which is particularly popular in China. But where’s the profit?

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