Discussions about tax reform between the Australian wine industry and the Federal Government are being closely watched by their counterparts across the Tasman, according to New Zealand’s minister for food safety. In a wide-ranging interview with ABC Rural, Jo Goodhew said there was recognition within New Zealand’s wine industry that Australian winemakers were displeased with the current arrangement.
The Winemakers’ Federation of Australia (WFA) has urged Parliamentarians to turn on the green light when debate starts on the China-Australia Free Trade Agreement (ChAFTA) implementing legislation. The draft legislation was introduced in September and the Joint Standing Committee on Treaties was expected to lodge its report on ChAFTA sometime this week. “Any delays would cost the wine industry over $50 million – and the clock is ticking,” Paul Evans, WFA chief executive, said.
Murray Valley Winegrowers (MVW) has warned that grapes prices must increase next year to help secure the future of the winegrape industry in the Murray-Darling and Swan Hill regions. An annual growers’ survey conducted by MVW to track changes from the previous year has revealed a net loss of 1818 acres of winegrapes since this time last year. In two years, more than 3700 acres have been discarded due to prices that have been among the lowest in 10 years. Growers harvested 285,000 tonnes this year, down 45,000 tonnes on the 2014 vintage.
If overcoming adversity is a typically Waikato trait, then the Nooyen family personify it. The family behind the 100-year-old Vilagrad Winery could hardly be blamed for being tempted to throw in the towel after fire tore through the Rukuhia Rd business in June. The blaze destroyed the winery offices, kitchen, and parts of the 100-year-old wine cellar. It could have been a killing blow and yet – true to their bold predictions made just a day after the disaster – the family have just resumed operations with the first of their regular grand Sunday lunches, three months and 10 days later.
David Babich has a view from his office window to die for. Twenty minutes after battling through traffic from his home in Auckland’s bustling suburb of Pt Chevalier, he is relaxing at his desk at his family firm in a lush city oasis. The 47-year-old is general manager of Babich Wines, one of New Zealand’s oldest family-owned wineries. Yesterday he raised a glass to the company being in business for 100 years.
Hatch Mansfield will take on the UK agency for Australia’s Robert Oatley Vineyards from January 1. It will take over from North South Wines and add Robert Oatley to a portfolio that includes Chile’s Errazuriz, New Zealand’s Villa Maria and Champagne Taittinger. Hatch Mansfield managing director Patrick McGrath MW said the breadth of wines being offered will complement the company’s existing portfolio.
Wealthy baby boomers and young professionals focused on health are increasingly turning to half bottles of wine. And hundreds of wine companies are responding with mini-me versions of their mainstream bottles. Sydney-based online business halfbottles.com.au, which began as a side venture for the owner of the Bellevue Hill Bottle Shop in Sydney’s affluent eastern suburbs, is growing quickly as customers opt for the smaller 375ml bottle size over the usual 750ml bottle, which is the traditional size in Australia’s $4 billion wine industry.
Treasury Wine Estates has entered the second phase of its supply chain optimisation program that should bring in an annual saving of around $50m by fiscal-2020. In a filing to the Australian Stock Exchange earlier this week, the company said it has completed the first phase, which was announced at the end of March. At the time, the company said it expected the first phase, which would mainly effect its operations in Australia and the US, to result in a write-down of around $50m.
Australian winemakers produce many wonderful drops but it’s a drop in overseas trade tariffs that’s got them giddy. A string of new free trade deals, culminating in last week’s long-awaited 12-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement, are bringing down barriers to markets across Asia and the Pacific. Coupled with a weak Aussie dollar, the deals are fuelling hopes of a new boom in wine exports. After a decade of stagnant international sales, things are finally looking up. “There’s a slow return to optimism,” says Tim Kirk, chief winemaker of Clonakilla Wines.
Two spring vine health field days hosted by NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) will see wine grape growers from Orange and Murrumbateman benefit from the latest research and practical management options. Held at Highland Heritage Estate in Orange on Wednesday 21 October and Four Winds Vineyard in Murrumbateman on Thursday 22 October, the field days will feature DPI viticulture development officers, Darren Fahey and Adrian Englefield joined by some of Australia’s most respected scientists and viticulturists