The demand outlook for winegrapes leading into the 2017 season will be a major focus of the third Annual Winegrape Growers Summit in South Australia held on Friday June 17 this year. Peter Hackworth, Wine Grape Council of South Australia executive officer, said the summit was happening a month earlier this year, giving growers more time to take on board the information they gain from the summit prior to the 2017 season.

Kingston Estate Wines announced its launch of Coonawarra Premium Wines at this year’s ProWein trade fair held 13-15 March in Dusseldorf Germany. Bill Moularadellis, Kingston Estate Wines owner, said Kingston would have a stand at the fair for the 14th year in a row and ProWein was a suitably global event to introduce a very special, premium wine offering.

There are concerns for the future of hundreds of small wine businesses across Australia if the Federal Government moves to scrap a generous rebate paid to producers. The rebate was introduced to support regional wine operators allowing businesses to claim a refund on the amount of tax they pay, potentially up to $500,000 per year. Last month a Senate inquiry into the Australian grape and wine industry recommended phasing it out over five years and re-directing the money for schemes like an annual grant to cellar door operators.

The absence of absolute control over the grape-growing process has always been part of the charm of winemaking. But now a new generation of sensor-driven viticulture tools is giving growers the ability to monitor and measure their vines like never before. Remote sensors with the ability to detect everything from how much water a plant is storing to how much light is falling on the ripening grape are revealing valuable information about just how variable the biosphere of a single vineyard can be.

In an industry traditionally dominated by men, Tuscany’s Il Casato Prime Donne winery employs only women. On International Women’s Day, we raise a glass to owner Donatella Cinelli Colombini and her pioneering winery. Nestled between oak casks and clutching glasses of Brunello di Montalcino, one of Tuscany’s finest wines, a group of wine tasters listens attentively to their remarkable host.

Hawke’s Bay’s Sileni Estates has launched a new logo and package design as well as a revitalisation of the labelling. “The new packaging rejuvenates the look of the Sileni range while ensuring that our packaging is still clearly recognisable to our customers,” Sileni Estates CEO and president Sir Graeme Avery said. “We wanted to create a package that communicates how we think our wines are best enjoyed — with great food and good company.”

For the second year Villa Maria has been named as the only NZ winery in a prestigious top 10 list of the most admired wine brands. The Drinks International ‘World’s Most Admired Wine Brands’ is an annual list compiled by polling over 200 wine industry experts. Included in the top 10 are some of the global wine industry’s big hitters that have been established for hundreds of years – in Chateau d’Yquems’ case – 400 years.

Twelve winemakers from Australia’s Mornington Peninsula are to offer a one-day masterclass and walkabout tasting of their wines in London. The tasting, which takes place on May 10, offers a rare opportunity to explore the premium cool-climate wines from the region. Only 900ha of land is under vine, which has been producing wines for over 40 years.

On International Women’s Day, Philip White seeks to clarify some misunderstandings about the first Australian Women In Wine Awards. “The numbers of women in the wine industry are dropping,” Oliver’s Taranga winemaker Corrina Wright said, “and in the 20 years that I’ve been in the industry they’ve almost halved. And I just don’t feel really good about that. Sitting back and wishing for it to change has simply not been working.”

WHEN the Caudo family’s water-skiing shack on the Murray River was transformed into their winery’s cellar door, it didn’t stop Zac Caudo from his favourite sport. “I’ll water ski most days,” Zac said. “And now I just have a glass of wine at the end of it.” For Zac, 29, manager of the family’s 450ha winery and mixed farm (almonds and citrus), between South Australia’s Waikerie and Morgan, the lifestyle of the area has been a major contributor to Caudo Vineyard’s business direction.