THE 14th annual Blackwood Valley and WA Boutique Wine Show will showcase the premium wines being produced by smaller wineries and growers both locally and from across the state. The show continues to grow each year and develop its reputation as the only show in WA specifically catering for boutique wineries from across the state who crush less than 250 tonnes of fruit per year.
QUEENSLAND winery Sirromet has taken home a large haul of awards from recent international wine shows. The Mount Cotton winemaker has won over international critics at both the Austrian Wine Challenge in Vienna and China Wines and Spirit Awards, bringing home 14 gold, silver and bronze awards. The awards included a double gold for its 2014 Signature Collection Merlot and its 2016 Vineyard Selection Verdelho at the China Wines and Spirit Awards, as well as a gold medal at the Austrian Wine Challenge for its 2014 Sirromet Le Sauvage Pinot Noir.
Today, Australia’s oldest family owned winery, Yalumba Wine Company, together with AGL Energy Limited (AGL), celebrate a milestone in the largest solar photovoltaic (PV) system installation at an Australian winery. The 1.4 MW Solar PV System, one of the largest commercial solar system installations in South Australia, will consist of 5,384 panels, installed across three Barossa locations: Yalumba Angaston winery, Oxford Landing Winery and the Yalumba Nursery.
South Australia’s Riverland region will benefit from a $40 million investment by one of Australia’s largest wine companies. Accolade Wines will spend between $35 million and $40 million setting up a new glass bottling plant and warehouse facilities at its existing winery in Berri.
There has been a sharp rise in grape thefts during the Burgundy 2016 harvest, say police and winemakers, with reports of extra surveillance being set up around vineyards. A Beaune police source confirmed to Decanter.com on 7 October that there have been at least four separate complaints of stolen grapes from the Burgundy 2016 harvest. That’s a new record for the force.
The results of the New World Wine Awards released today highlight the quality of the 2016 vintage. New vintage wines won 137 of 779 medals in this year’s New World Wine Awards, including taking out 15 Gold Medals and three varietal Champion awards. The judging for the New World Wine Awards takes place mid-year, making this the first major wine show of the year to evaluate new vintage wines. There were twice as many new vintage wines entered this year, as well as a record number of entries overall, reflecting the value winemakers see in entering these awards.
A second man has appeared in court following a $50,000 wine heist in Marlborough, denying a charge of receiving stolen wine. Robin Glen Hauwai, 49, of Blenheim, denied a charge of receiving stolen property at the Blenheim District Court on Monday. Police allege Hauwai received wine worth $4455 from persons unknown on September 7.
Successful clusters of competing, complementary and interdependent businesses can boost the wealth of regions – including South Australia – if they are developed and supported in the right way, writes Richard Blandy. The wine industry is our classic economic cluster, of course: myriad small, high-tech firms, networked together with strong intellectual and research foundations, and brilliantly marketed. Collectively, they produce a world-class product that sells competitively all over the planet.
Australian sparkling wine has never been better, particularly if it’s from Tasmania. Although many people think of Australia as a hot country, Tasmania – the island at the bottom of the continent – not only has a moderate maritime climate, but is the gateway to the Antarctic. Temperatures rarely rise above 24°C, and thanks to its mild summers and long autumns, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay thrive. Since the turn of the century, Tasmania has attracted Australia’s top sparkling winemaking talent, and their wines have won multiple accolades, trophies and critical acclaim.
Halfway along the secluded mountain drive of Buckland Valley Road in Victoria’s Alpine region is the exclusive Villa Gusto. Replete with a recently-built swimming pool, a swanky restaurant and a convoy of flash Jeep Cherokees in the driveway, the resort has been locked away for the sole use of Fiat Chrysler Australia’s marketing operations since 2013.