Jonny Hiscox is rightfully very proud of his workplace, the Whenua Matua vineyards that are home to Aronui Wines. The name Whenua Matua means significant land – and significant it is. The Whenua Matua vineyard land in the Moutere Hills has special significance to iwi in the region. It is part of tenths reserve lands and can never be sold. I spent some time walking around the Upper Moutere vineyard when the vines were only a few years old and the impression I got at the time was of a special place that was being developed with sensitivity by a passionate viticulturist.

Clare Burder, wine educator, author and winemaker, has launched an innovative new training program specifically for cellar door staff. The aptly-named ‘Vintuition’ workshop is designed to meet the unique needs of cellar door staff, and goes beyond basic wine and hospitality training, giving participants the tools to deliver an exceptional visitor tasting experience, every time.

B&T’s resident favourite Millennial experts, Brian Mitchell and Evan Mitchell – Directors of Love & Wine, and co-founders of Gen Y brand specialists HOW&Y – go behind the winning of the Australian Business Awards “New Product Innovation” with Australian Vintage’s YOU Wines. The term “craft beverage” is tossed around with casual abandon. Yet surely there is only one craft beverage par excellence. Wine.

Wine Communicators Australia (WCA) has announced the appointment of a new Executive Officer as the organisation continues to build its relevance as the ‘go to’ resource for its members. Lynda Schenk (pictured), who has over two decades’ experience in marketing and sales in the wine industry has come into the role. The WCA said that Schenk has “a demonstrated track record of developing and executing strategic initiatives, leading and managing teams and working with a diverse range of people”.

In a major coup for the Clare Valley, Pikes Wines have been awarded a $320,000 Regional Development Fund grant. This grant will complete their two-stage upgrade. Stage-one was to get the brewery up and running, while stage-two will see an expansion to include a modern visitors’ centre showcasing regional and local produce, as well as creating an enhanced visitor experience to the region.

Following a meeting with the Australian Liquor Stores Association, TheShout has spoken to Jeff McWilliam regarding McWilliam’s Wines role in purchase of The Wine Society. Last month TheShout reported that a consortium called Australian Wine Finance is looking to purchase The Wine Society and that McWilliam’s has a small shareholding in that group. Then last week we reported on a meeting between McWilliam and ALSA in which he said the winemaker has no plans to move into retailing.

You raise a glass of French wine and you think of the winemaker. You probably imagine someone with sun-soaked wrinkles, his hands as knotty as the vines he tends, sort of a knowing Mother Earth look about him. Maybe you picture him walking the vineyard, gently grazing his thick, worn knuckles against tender green leaves, cupping a cluster of violet-purple grapes, thinking of the vintage to come.

The shrinking trend of social drinking is causing a massive shift in the hospitality industry. Brittany Baker reports on how pubs are coping with the change in order to make a buck. Hospitality guru Kymon Hill reckons if he had to start all over, he would choose not to serve booze. “If I were to give any advice to someone looking to open up their own place, I would say to keep it small and don’t serve alcohol,” he says.

Just one week to go until the Bayer Young Viticulturist of the Year National Final 2016. This year there are five regional finalists, all strong candidates with great viticultural knowledge and a real passion for the industry, so it is set to be an exciting competition. The main day of questions and challenges will be on Tuesday 23 August at Villa Maria, Marlborough. “It’s a tough day for the contestants and they have all been studying hard over the last few weeks.” says Nicky Grandorge, the National Co-ordinator of the competition.

TALK show host and wine lover Graham Norton is releasing a South Australian Shiraz following the international success of his Sauvignon Blanc. The Irish comedian teamed up with New Zealand’s Invivo Wines in 2014 and has sold more than 500,000 bottles of their 2015 Graham Norton’s Own Sauvignon Blanc By Invivo in Ireland, the UK, Australia and New Zealand since its release in October.