On the evening of October 20 there will be glasses raised to a special wine. It will be the wine adjudged to be the Champion Wine of Show; the best of the Bay; the top drop, as declared by the judges of the 15th Hawke’s Bay A&P Bayleys Wine Awards. The event is now an established part of the region’s world-class wine industry and the nod as the Bay’s best wine is eagerly sought after by winemakers, viticulturists, winery management – everyone on deck, so to speak.

THE Marlborough Wine Show, now in its fifth year, is being held at the Marlborough Convention Centre, in Blenheim, on Tuesday and Wednesday. Featuring exclusively Marlborough wines, which are judged by a panel of international and domestic critics, the event aims to showcase diversity of wine in the region. Awards will be presented at a dinner on Thursday, October 22.

A TINY vineyard in the back blocks between Truro and Kapunda in the northern Barossa districts has blitzed the rest of the wine world with a red wine judged to be the best Shiraz on the planet. The St Kitts Vineyard, owned by Angaston based Thorn-Clarke, was the exclusive source for the winery’s flagship red, the Ron Thorn 2012 Shiraz ($95), which this week was voted the world’s top shiraz by judges at the prestigious London-based International Wine and Spirit Competition.

Bill Hardy, Hardys Global Brand Ambassador and a fifth generation Hardy winemaking family member, has been named the 2015 South Australian Legend of the Vine by Wine Communicators Australia (WCA). In addition to the award, Hardy also becomes a life member of WCA. The award was designed to recognize an individual who made an outstanding and lasting contribution to the Australian wine industry. Fellow recipients of the award include: James Halliday, Rob Hirst, Patrick Iland, David Lowe, Phil Laffer, Chris Anstee and Lyndey Milan.

Despite fears of a looming grape glut, the Hunter Valley’s wine sector is hoping for an export boost, with a group of international industry experts singing the region’s praises. Delegates from the Institute of the Masters of Wine have sampled several local wines, noting the variety and quality. Local winemaker Bruce Tyrrell said the changed perspective will make a big difference in the market place.

A free spirit, rebellious, eccentric. Michael Glover has been described in many ways. Perhaps the most fitting would be passionate. Early this year, the New Zealand born winemaker completed a 10-year stint at Bannockburn in Victoria and returned to his roots in Nelson. Emilie Reynolds caught up with him to find out why, after two decades in Australia, he decided to go home.

After five years at the helm of Wine Grape Growers Australia, Executive Director Lawrie Stanford has decided it’s time to hand over the reins. “This is the right decision for me and for the organisation,” Stanford said. “Renewal is important for any organisation and it’s time for me to pursue some of my own personal challenges.” Stanford’s association with the Australian wine sector spans 20 years, commencing in 1994 at the Australian Bureau of Agriculture and Resource Economics, where he worked in wine.

Among the record number of medals awarded at this year’s New World Wine Awards, the unsung hero varietal this year is Riesling. Of the 47 Rieslings entered, 38 won a medal with 35 of these coming from New Zealand vineyards. “Riesling is a varietal that is often considered unfashionable and is one that people tend to ignore. But it’s the wine that winemakers drink and deserves more attention especially given the relative quality for the price per bottle and the cellaring potential as a wine that ages very well,” says Jim Harré, chair of the judging panel.

The Trans-Pacific Partnership will level the playing field for Marlborough wine exporters, opening up international markets and saving them millions of dollars in tariff fees. After five years of negotiations between 12 Pacific Rim countries, the New Zealand wine industry has come out a winner. All tariffs on wine exports between the countries will be eliminated. At present, each country in the partnership has different tariffs on wine.

Former Pernod Ricard wine boss Adrian Atkinson has joined Australian wine producer Wakefield Wines in the new role of European market manager. He will be working with export general manager Neil Hadley MW and be responsible for managing the growth of Wakefield in the UK, working with importer Louis Latour Agencies. Atkinson left his role as wine development director at Pernod Ricard in July 2014.