Wine grape growers from around South Australia will meet at the Adelaide Oval this week to share ideas and learn about innovative practices to meet the challenges of a changing climate and volatile markets. Already more than 240 people have booked for the Summit to be held on Friday June 17 at Adelaide Oval. The Summit will focus on providing early season market outlook information and the sharing of ideas for reducing costs and building vineyard profitability

Wine Australia has welcomed today’s announcement by Deputy Prime Minister the Hon. Barnaby Joyce of a project to develop innovative processes for grape and cotton growers using advanced technology. The four-year project – a collaboration between Wine Australia, Cotton Research and Development Corporation and Horticulture Innovation Australia – will integrate systems capable of simultaneous measurement and data provision to assist cross-sectoral holistic decision making for the management of yield, disease and stress.

WA’s wine industry is facing a period of “extreme rationalisation” and significant job losses as a result of Federal Government tax changes. Independent analysis by RSM Australia found the wine equalisation tax (WET) changes would result in “a perfect storm of unintended consequences” for WA and warned the rationalisation would be generational.

THEY’RE the farmers trading orange juice for water — crop growers who have been forced to find an alternative source of income, quite literally, to survive life on the land. Fruit growers in the Riverina district are turning their sights to “farming water”, rather than toiling on the land, to help them put food on the table as farmgate prices are slashed. As the dairy industry faces milk price cuts, so too are wine grape and citrus growers, which is crippling the industry.

Britain’s biggest wine retailer is to increase pay for its store managers in an attempt to prevent one in four of them leaving the business each year. Majestic Wine is introducing new share incentive plans and overhauling cash bonuses for its 213 store managers, who typically earn a £30,000 salary – up from £28,000 in November – plus an annual bonus.

As early as this fall, beer, wine, and spirits manufacturer and marketer Constellation Brands, Inc. (NYSE:STZ) may spin off its Canadian wine business in an initial public offering on the Toronto Stock Exchange. Bloomberg News, which reported the details on a move management had previously disclosed it was considering, reports that the IPO could be worth $1 billion in Canadian dollars, or about $787 million at current exchange rates.

A conversation with Loveblock winery founder Erica Crawford reminds you that love isn’t just an emotion – it can be a catalyst for creating something truly special. When wine industry veteran Ericaand her award-winning winemaker husband Kim stood on the hills overlooking Marlborough’s Awatere Valley in New Zealand, they fell in love with the stunning view. They purchased the property in 2006 and to make the wines, Erica jokes that she “hired the best winemaker I know – my husband.”

A world-class wine research centre in Marlborough looks set to get the green-light from Government, an industry group says. The proposed New Zealand Research Institute of Viticulture and Oenology is one of three finalists seeking to capture $25 million in government funding and be established as a Regional Research Institute. The proposal is being led by New Zealand Winegrowers. New Zealand Winegrowers general manager for science and innovation Simon Hooker said there was a strong indication from the Government they would be backed.

THE organisers of this year’s Winery Walkabout are hopeful recent rainfall in the region will hold out for the event. Tickets for Sunday have sold out and a small number of tickets are still available for Saturday. Rutherglen Wine and Tourism executive officer Natalie Ajay said about 14,000 people would attend the event and a further 6000 would enjoy the region’s attractions at the weekend.

On the eve of the 24th Festival, the McLaren Vale Sea & Vines Festival, event organisers are expecting a record attendance of over 27,000 people. The June long weekend will see over 35 dedicated events taking place across McLaren Vale, with themed dinners, structured masterclasses and demonstrations. Jennifer Lynch, McLaren Vale Grape Wine & Tourism Association general manager, said she was excited to showcase the region’s world-class wineries, unique personality and picturesque landscapes.