Industry Veteran Don Buchanan passed away on the Sunshine Coast in September after a two-year battle with cancer. Judy Buchanan has shared a summary of Don’s proudest moments throughout his wine career which spanned more than four decades. “Don’s life was certainly full of good experiences and ventures among them piloting his own 2-seater Ultralight plane. Don came from Melbourne and with a passion for wine making, studied Agricultural Science at Dookie and then onto Roseworthy College where he graduated in 1973 in Oenology.”

The biggest Riesling event in the southern hemisphere was launched this week in Canberra, with almost 500 wines from seven countries up for judging. Canberra International Riesling Challenge chairman Ken Helm said there would be plenty of opportunity for the public to get involved in the event, which he said was not “just a wine” show. Events include master classes and seminars on Friday showcasing wines never seen in Australia before, an awards ceremony on Friday and a public wine tasting of all 500 Rieslings on Saturday.

The winery Wynns Coonawarra Estate has forced a drought on part of its vineyard in the name of climate change research. Coonawarra wine region suffers extreme seasonal conditions, including frost, drought, cold flowering and high precipitation. Chief winemaker from Wynns, Allen Jenkins has been at the helm of the climate research for the past 14 years and said understanding how these factors impact yield potential is critical.

Riverland grape producer Shane Nettle is grateful to no longer be at the mercy of big wine corporations. After returning to the family property near Cobdogla several years ago, the innovative farmer decided to diversify in a bid to stay profitable. His 130 acre block still supports a productive vineyard, but now also produces lucerne, cereal hay, fat lambs and wool. With much of the farm’s produce sold through their on-site fodder store, the family certainly have their hands full managing the multi-faceted business.

With signs the US economy is picking up, a leading international wine judge believes now is the time for Australian premium winemakers to renew efforts in selling across the Pacific. Rieslings from the US, Germany, New Zealand, France and South Africa — and for the first time the Czech Republic — are up against the Australian product at this week’s International Riesling Challenge in Canberra. A member of the judging team is International Riesling Foundation president Jim Tresize, from New York.

Bourg producers north of Bordeaux are to plant 1,200m of hedgerows around vineyards in 27 ‘sensitive sites’ around the appellation, including crèches, schools and sports fields. The planting programme, which is underway and will continue over winter 2015/2016, comes one year after 20 children and their teacher were affected with headaches and nausea following a pesticide treatment carried out on vines belonging to Château Castel la Rose and Château de Barbe in Villeneuve, Bourg. The plots were located directly next to the schoolyard.

Stories of entrepreneurs are usually inspiring, but not many tales are as dramatic as that of Cloudy Bay wines, whose makers are celebrating its 30th vintage. This is the stuff of urban legend. One minute, a gung-ho Australian takes a couple of sips of Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc (1983), the following year he is travelling to Marlborough and unwittingly planting the seeds of one of the most successful wine brands in the last half century.

The Six Nations Wine Challenge has wrapped up for another year with New Zealand dominating the competition. New Zealand went home with the title of Nation of Show, Wine of Show, five Class Trophies and a haul of gold medals. Australia came in second with one class trophy. Wine of Show was awarded to Framingham for its 2014 vintage Noble Riesling. The trophy was presented by New Zealand’s Consul General Ms. Billie Moore to winemaker Dr Andrew Hedley.

Organised by Wine Australia, the annual Wine Australia Award winners will be announced on October 27 in Shanghai, commending companies or individuals that made significant contribution to the effort of promoting Australian wine in China in the year. Candidates for best importers or distributors, best retailers, best restaurants or sommeliers, best educators came from 135 Australian Wine Trade Specialists certified by Wine Australia.

It’s been a huge year for Prosecco so far in 2015. Far from a poor man’s Champagne, the newest trend in sparkling wine has taken the world by storm with sales so strong there was even fear of a ‘global Prosecco shortage’ crisis. Building a reputation as a premium sparkling wine, the Italian variety overtook Champagne as the most popular choice of bubbles across the globe.