Increasing the cost of the cheapest alcohol could reduce consumption by nearly 12 standard drinks a week for low-income wine consumers, a new Monash University study says. Called Are Alcohol Taxation and Pricing Policies Regressive? Product-Level Effects of a Specific Tax and a Minimum Unit Price for Alcohol, the study was conducted by Brian Vandenberg and Anurag Sharma. Mr Vandenberg, who is at the Centre for Health Economics, said the study took a year to complete.

Australian entrepreneur Bob Oatley has died. He was 87. Oatley was a winemaker and businessman but was probably best known in Australian life as the owner of Wild Oats XI, the eight-time winner of the Sydney to Hobart yacht race. He made his fortune in wine, establishing the Rosemount wine business in 1969 and selling it to Treasury Wine Estates back in 2001 for a stunning $1.4 billion.

In 1998, heavy rains hit California mid-winter in what was described as one of the strongest El Niños to date. It caused flooding, abnormally high waters, and multiple storms that led to substantial damage. That year, the wine was different, too. Winemakers at the time prepared for what they knew was going to be a rough year. Vineyards, indeed, do need rain.

Chinese buyers pay much more per litre for New Zealand wine than other leading global consumers. They spend $14.57 compared with Canadians ($10), Americans ($7) Australians ($6.50) and British ($5.92). New Zealand Winegrowers chief executive Philip Gregan said the difference was explained by two factors: in the UK in particular, but also in other markets, a lot of wine was sent in bulk and repackaged.

One of the leading ladies of New Zealand wine, Jane Hunter says her Hunter’s winery is seeing a new generation of winemakers step up and take on key roles as Hunter’s approaches 30 years. She says Hunter’s produces about 100,000 cases and export to 23 countries and this is her 29th year in the role of owner and managing director of Hunter’s. “Things have certainly changed in Marlborough since I arrived here in 1983 to take up the role of Viticulturist for Montana Wines.

Riverland Grape Harvester operators are encouraged to join the chorus of primary producers having a say on possible changes to machinery movement on roads at night. The Winegrape Council of SA (WGCSA) is a member of Primary Producers SA (PPSA). These two organisations are working in conjunction with the Ag Bureau of South Australia, seeking feedback via an online survey on three options for night travel exemptions

The market for wine is rebounding strongly for New World wines, according to reports in the Chinese news media. In particular sales of wines from Australia and New Zealand are booming as Chinese consumers turn to more affordable imports which are perceived to offer better value for money. The market for high-value fine wines in China has collapsed over the last couple of years.

The historic Wynns estate in Coonawarra is to host Australia’s biggest ever vertical tasting of Cabernet Sauvignon, according to its head winemaker Sue Hodder. Scheduled to take place at the winery in “around 18 months’ time”, the tasting will line up all 60 vintages of Wynns’ celebrated Black Label Cabernet Sauvignon – from 1954 to 2016 (no Black Label was produced in 1961 or 1963) – Hodder told the drinks business.

A new generation of winemakers is hoping to strengthen the reputation of the Canberra wine district with a newfound confidence. One of the district’s more established wine makers, Nick Spencer of Eden Road, believes the recent success of the region has encouraged many younger winemakers to launch their own ventures. “I have noticed a change with people becoming more engaged with the Canberra district and willing to do more research about the wine,” he said.

For the third time in 12 years the Darling River in south western New South Wales has run dry. Block banks have been placed across the river to hold up water for irrigators with permanent plantings and high security licenses. But now irrigators around Pooncarie are being forced to turn off water to citrus trees and wine grape vines to save the precious water that is left in the river for other crops.