Another Taranaki fruit winery is at risk of going into liquidation after failing to pay tax. The New Zealand Customs Service has applied to put Cottage Wines Limited into liquidation over an unpaid debt of $14,625.25, most of which is related to excise duty. The Companies Office register shows Cottage Wines Limited’s sole director is Barbara Burnard, who took over the role from husband Zane in August 2015. The paperwork against the company was filed last month in the High Court.

Queensland winery Sirromet has been named the official wine partner of the Brisbane Bullet’s return to the 2016/17 National Basketball League (NBL) season. After eight years, the Brisbane Bullets are returning to the NBL after strong support from a long list of partners and fans. Rod Hill, Sirromet head of sales and marketing, said the sponsorship would allow the Queensland born and bred winery to further connect with the rich history of the Brisbane Bullets.

AUSTRALIA’S peak wine industry body will make its way to the South Burnett for a seminar next week. The Australian Wine Research Institute hosts a seminar at Tipperary Estate Winery in Moffatdale on Wednesday, June 22. Queensland Wine Industry Association President and Dusty Hill Winery winemaker Nick Pesudovs said the institute made its way to Queensland every two years for research.

The Hunter Valley was one of the first Australian regions to be planted with grapevines, almost 200 years ago, and in a way befitting that history, Bruce Tyrrell offers up a sweeping interview that goes across the decades of the modern Australian wine industry with ease and first person insight. Along the way, the history of Australian wine is recounted. Few people could have told this story the way Bruce tells it.

West Australians could soon be paying higher prices for local wines as the federal government looks to make controversial changes to the Wine Equalisation Tax. Margaret River wineries might be enjoying widespread praise for the quality of wine produced in the region recently but the tax changes could halt them in their financial tracks.

WINE grape growers are still optimistic about the season despite a forecast opening water allocation of zero. At a meeting in Mildura last week Murray Valley wine grape growers discussed industry issues including irrigation allocations. Goulburn Murray Water has forecast irrigators on the Murray System face an opening allocation on July 1 of zero, and only 25 per cent on August 1 under average inflow conditions.

Harpers columnist Guy Woodward used his column in this month’s magazine to challenge the wine industry to be more inclusive and encouraging of female career development in all areas of the wine trade because ultimately it is good for business. The wine trads will has the image of being predominately a “man’s world”.

Tim Adams from Mudbrick has become the Bayer Auckland/Northern Young Viticulturist of the Year 2016. Although the national competition is now in its 11th year, this is the first year Auckland has been added as a region to feed into the national final. Congratulations also goes to Jake Dromgool from The Landing in Kerikeri who came second and to Mohit Sharma from Man O War who came third.

Giesen Wines has reached agreement with Winegrowers of Ara to purchase from it the Ara Brand and associated business to complement its own brand portfolio. Alex Giesen says Ara’s focus on premium single estate wines fits well with the company. “We have invested increasing resources into our global growth and the growth experienced by Ara in recent years positions the brand well within the Giesen portfolio. It will enable us to become even more relevant to our global customers.

Sevenhill Cellars winemaker Brother John May has been recognised on the Queen’s Birthday honours list, being made a member of the Order of Australia. Brother John has dedicated much of his life to producing wine and promoting tourism in the Clare Valley. He said he had become a winemaker overnight at Sevenhill in 1972, after a string of unfortunate illnesses and bereavements.