Wine writer and broadcaster Oz Clarke is to become the first person from the UK to be inducted into the New Zealand Wine Hall of Fame. Clarke, who is credited as one of the original wine commentators to have put New Zealand Wine on the map, will receive the Hall of Fame accolade on International Sauvignon Blanc Day on Friday May 6, New Zealand Winegrowers announced.
The wine variety that put the New Zealand industry on the map will light up social media on Friday as people around the globe come together to celebrate sauvignon blanc. The seventh annual International Sauvignon Blanc Day will start in New Zealand and follow the sun around the world as wine lovers leap to Twitter, Facebook and Instagram to show their appreciation of the variety.
Natural cork producers are ramping up their efforts to stay ahead of alternative closure suppliers with the development of new technology that promises to eliminate TCA cork taint. While the percentage of natural cork closures affected by TCA has declined dramatically in the past decade, it continues to impact a very small percentage of global cork production.
Submissions for the 2016 Melbourne International Wine Competition on July 3rd are Open! Get early bird pricing and enter now. The Melbourne International Wine Competition is the first major international wine competition with TRADE ONLY judges comprised of: buyers from the top retail stores, sommeliers, restaurant owners, hotel beverage directors, distributors and importers. Unlike other wine competitions, these judges have purchasing power and the ability to make a direct impact on brand sales.
On balance, a lot more good points than bad. It would be churlish to be anything but pleased, albeit that the transition period may seem to be too generous. Legislative amendments will be necessary. There will be opportunities for further consultation around any negative or unintended impacts.
More than 300 members of the UK drinks trade turned out at Australia House in London this week to mark the launch of Matthew Jukes’ 100 Best Australian Wines 2016 – the 13th edition of the list. This year saw nine wineries make their debut appearance on the list. In addition to making the quality grade, all wines included on the list must be available in the UK for the coming year.
Entries are now open for the 2016 Royal Hobart International Wine Show, with organisers announcing new reduced volume entries to encourage smaller vineyards from across Australia and New Zealand to participate. John Ellis, managing director of Hanging Rock Winery and chair of the show’s committee, said organisers were constantly refining and building the event.
Prosecco has continued its recent record as the star performer of the UK drinks market and sales growth of 34% over the past year is propping up a struggling wine category. Still wine is down 2.1% in volume and 1.8% in value to just over £5 billion in the off-trade (IRI, year to March 26, 2016). Toby Magill, head of BWS ?at IRI, told OLN: “Wine faced ?a difficult time in late 2015 ?as the major multiples made range reductions to simplify the shopping experience for customers. This made life much harder for the market as it went into the key Christmas period.”
International wine lovers will celebrate Sauvignon Blanc by marking the 7th annual International Sauvignon Blanc Day on May 6. Festivities will kick off in New Zealand and continue around the globe, following the sun. “New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc has come from humble beginnings, and is now a $1.2 billion dollar export earner, boosting New Zealand Wine to be the country’s 6th largest export,” said Chris Yorke, Director of Global Marketing for New Zealand Winegrowers.
Bellbird Spring has joined a burgeoning list of New Zealand vineyards making the change to organic, wine production. The, family-owned vineyard has announced it has been certified as organic by BioGro, New Zealand’s leading organic certification agency. They are one of seven certified organic vineyards in the Waipara Valley.