The microbial mix found in grape juice during the winemaking process may help shape the terroir of a finished wine, report food scientists at the University of California, Davis. In a study published in the May/June issue of mBio, an online open-access journal from the American Society of Microbiology, the researchers found that the microorganisms found in must – freshly-pressed grape juice, before fermentation – can be used as biomarkers to predict which metabolites will be found in the finished wine.

It’s all the rage in Spain. There’s red wine, white wine, even pink wine. But now thanks to six young Spanish entrepreneurs, in collaboration with the University of the Basque Country and Azti Tecnalia (the food research department of the Basque Government), blue wine—which targets millennial drinkers—is about to hit European markets.

The Marlborough District Council has set aside a substantial kitty to help drive regional development over the next five years. Councillors have unanimously backed a proposed world-class wine research centre in Blenheim to the tune of $75,000 this year and a further $150,000 a year for five years. They have also increased the Marlborough Research Centre’s funding from $110,000 to $250,000.

Foley Family Wines, the NZAX-listed company majority owned by US businessman Bill Foley, will bring forward the final payment to its grape growers for its 2016 vintage, reflecting the strength of its balance sheet. The winemaker will pay growers the final instalment in May instead of July as it benefits from a 31% increase in the 2016 grape harvest to a record 6954 tonnes, it said in a statement.

Closer scrutiny of the cheapest alcohol available at Western Australia’s major liquor retailers shows Aldi has every right to appeal a decision to reject its application to sell booze at one of its stores. The director of Liquor Licensing rejected the German supermarket giant’s bid to sell alcohol at its Harrisdale store, one of a number of Aldi’s soon to open in Perth, because it believed its booze was so cheap it would cause more harm to public health than rival competitors owned by established conglomerates Woolworths and Coles.

Australia’s Wine & Viticulture Journal celebrates 30 years of publishing with the release of its May-June issue this week. To celebrate its three decades publishing articles on grapegrowing, winemaking and wine marketing and exporting, the Journal’s 30th anniversary issue, with its special cover design, features three contributions from members of the industry reflecting on some of the changes that have taken place during the publication’s lifetime:

PRELIMINARY crush results for the Murray Valley wine- grape growing region are down 10-15 per cent, according to Wine Australia. The results were discussed by Wine Australia manager for market insights Peter Bailey at the Murray Valley Winegrowers forum, held near Mildura last week. Bailey said 250,000 tonnes of the crush had been received so far and while crush results were down, prices were up.

New figures suggest that “abstinence” in young Australians is behind the recent nose-dive in alcohol consumption across the country – although wine consumption is on the up. According to figures published last week, Australia has reached the lowest level per capita consumption since the 1960s, but wine continues to gain traction in the market.

“This,” says Emma Gao as she races through the sun-scorched countryside of north-west China in a dusty Nissan Livina, “is la Route des Chateaux. There are almost 40 different entrepreneurs – maybe more. Every day it is changing,” the Chinese winemaker explains, slaloming between French, English and Mandarin as she tours her 70-hectare (170-acre) vineyard at the heart of a region government officials are calling China’s Bordeaux.

The time is ripe for New Zealand to democratise the enjoyment of fine Pinot Noir and leading producer Cloudy Bay intends to be at the vanguard, declared estate director Ian Morden last week. In London for a Pinot Noir Salon blind tasting Morden said the estate’s brand and strong distribution network gives it a great opportunity to showcase New Zealand Pinot Noir to a wider audience than the best Burgundies will ever reach.