The wine business has always been hospitable to iconoclasts and idiosyncratic types – it allows for a healthy amount of personal expression, and a certain non-corporate flair – and American producer Charles Smith certainly fits that mould to a T. With his wild explosion of long, frizzy hair and frequently salty language, not to mention his unbridled enthusiasm for grapes, Smith stands out in a crowd – and so do his wines.
The 10th Annual New Zealand Syrah Workshop, held at the Bayview Chateau Tongariro from the 4 to 6 November, has “seriously impressed” international guest speaker Gary Mills.
The owner and winemaker of Jamsheed Wines in Victoria said the competition showed a high quality of New Zealand Syrah across the board. “Perfumed, elegant wines with low alcohols and fresh acidity which are basically my kind of wines,” Mills said.
Bayer Young Viticulturist of the Year Caleb Dennis has proven his skills on a wider scale, taking out the 2015 Young Horticulturist of the Year. Representing the Viticultural sector, Dennis competed against five other finalists from various horticultural areas including Landscaping, Nursery & Garden, Amenity Horticulture and Vegetable, Fruit & Flower Growing.
Home to some of the oldest vines in the world, Australia needs to keep telling the fascinating stories of its proud heritage, according to a panel of experts at Wine Australia’s Old Vines seminar in London recently. Hosted by wine journalist Sarah Ahmed and featuring Wynns Head Winemaker Sue Hodder, journalist Jamie Goode and Hewitson Winemaker Dean Hewitson, the seminar explored Australia’s old vines through 15 premium wines.
It provides the ultimate in a captive audience. A group of 37 small-to-medium winemakers are taking matters into their own hands on a small island in Sydney Harbour just a five-minute kayak ride across the pristine waters from one of Sydney’s most prestigious residential enclaves, Darling Point. Clark Island, which takes less than 10 minutes to walk around and is largely natural bushland, provides the backdrop for a push by a group of wine companies to expand the reach of their brands to a different clientele. For many of them the ability to bypass the powerful liquor chains run by Woolworths and Coles is a godsend.
In a nondescript building in Sydney’s trendy Surry Hills a team of market researchers and brand developers are designing dozens of bottles of wine. They’ve used focus groups to work out exactly why you like the wines you do – even if you don’t have a clue. Sales data from hundreds of stores tells them which flavours are catching attention and which labels are most likely to lead to a sale. It might be the wine you like has a little extra residual sugar, maybe a bit more tannin, or a little less oak.
Hot weather across Australia is causing anxiety to wine growers, due to the rising cost of irrigation and the increased risk of fire. This year has seen an early, hot spring across the country, and one of the strongest El Nino systems ever declared, according to the Australian Wine Research Institute (AWRI). This weather system is one of the most important climate drivers in Australia and is typified by reduced rainfall, warmer temperatures, a shift in temperature extremes and increased risk of frost.
The value of the Australian dollar has been declining over the past 12 months, increasing opportunities in export markets. The Wine Australia export report for the 12 months to June showed exports rose overall in value and volume by five per cent. It is the first time export value has risen on a financial year basis since 2006-07.
We hear a lot of talk about organic and biodynamic wine but do we understand its importance in the world of wine? And its impact on the planet? It’s pretty big picture stuff. In the early 1920’s, a group of farmers, concerned with the decline in the health of soil, plants and animals (yes, even back then it was a concern) worked with Rudolph Steiner, the founder of anthroposophy (spiritual science). He had spent his adult life researching and investigating the subtle forces in nature that influenced the health and wellness of all life.
Over 1400 entries, with 84 Gold medals awarded, the Air New Zealand Wine Awards are here again. The competition is organised by the New Zealand Wine growers and has been running for over 30 years. This year the Trophy and Elite Gold Medal winners will be announced on November 28 in Nelson. Brian Kelly caught up with the Chief Judge Michael Brakovich to talk about this year’s entries.