For years, vintages of Burgundy have been smaller and smaller, while prices have gone up and up. Rain, floods, and hailstorms have decimated vineyards since 2010, especially in the Côte de Beaune (the southern part of the famous limestone strip that’s home to the most famous vineyards). Growers invested in weird anti-hail devices, but, alas, they haven’t worked. Regional businesses are facing a crisis of how to survive.

Dairy, meat and wine industries anticipate toll on sales as British vote strengthens currency and upsets market. New Zealand’s primary product exporters are in for a tough period if the local dollar retains its new-found strength against the pound and euro following Britain’s decision to leave the European Union.

Ahead of the next Central Otago Export Forum, Jo McKenzie-McLean finds out how boutique winery Archangel Wines boosted its global reach with support from New Zealand Trade and Enterprise. Archangel Wines had an ambitious, but simple goal when it was established in 2003 – to produce the best wine possible. Their efforts paid off. The first wine the family-owned business produced, the “Archangel Pinot Noir 2008”, won a gold medal at the first show it entered – the Air New Zealand Wine Awards.

Being home to numerous renowned wine regions such as the Barossa Valley, Hunter Valley and Margaret River, it’s no secret that Australia is one of the world’s most exciting markets for wine. Although we locally produce a large variety of premium wines such as Shiraz and Chardonnay, Australians also have a taste for an array of imported wines from the globally acclaimed vineyards of France, Italy and Spain.

PATISSIER extraordinaire Adriano Zumbo, Masterchef’s Gary Mehigan and Spanish expat Miguel Maestre, who will be in Perth from July 8-10 for this year’s Good Food and Wine Show, named Margaret River as their favourite wine region in WA. Adriano said his ideal WA escape would be spending a few weeks in Margaret River, “eating, beaching, drinking and doing nothing.”

PRINCESS Mary had Clover Hill wines at her Danish wedding. Queen Elizabeth — on her most recent visit to Australia — enjoyed a Clover Hill sparkling at Melbourne’s Government House. So it was fitting that this year the Royal Agricultural Society of Tasmania awarded Clover Hill Tea Tree the Tasmania’s Vineyard of the Year, a competition where entrants are required to outline production aims and are judged on all aspects of management.

Swedish appliances giant Electrolux has purchased Vintec, the Sydney-based wine fridge company, as its product becomes more mainstream in Australia’s kitchens. Vintec, based in Leichhardt in Sydney’s inner west, generates about $22 million in annual sales, with about 70 per cent of those coming from Australian buyers of the temperature-controlled wine cabinets. It is closely involved with an aggressive discounting promotion with Treasury Wine Estates, the owner of the Penfolds wine brand.

Dozens of prestigious wine collections with a value of more than $5 million have gone missing from the New South Wales Hunter region. Police said the company holding the wine, Wine Investment Services, went into receivership in 2013 and while other assets were seized, the wine was not surrendered to liquidators.

Philip White marvels at the wine industry’s sudden surprise at the Brexit referendum and its implications. Jeez. Everyone’s shocked. But over the weekend, Marc Soccio of the wine and agriculture industry finance house, Rabobank, worked out a statement. He thought a lower pound would send whatever was left of the United Kingdom out looking for suppliers of cheaper meat and wine.

The closure of Morris Wines in Rutherglen is a devastating blow: for the people who will lose their jobs, for the heart and soul of the region, and for Australian wine lovers, especially those of us who think the Morris Rare Muscat is one of the greatest wines in the world.