Wine Enthusiast magazine has named Kim Crawford winery ‘New World Winery of the Year’ in their annual Wine Star Awards, which honour outstanding achievements in the international wine and beverage industry. “I’m so proud that we’ve brought this one home for New Zealand wine against the new world competition,” said Kim Crawford Winemaker Anthony Walkenhorst. “My team and I work hard to make wines that people love to drink and we’re really pleased to get a pat on the back for it from our peers and industry leaders.” In the U.S, New Zealand’s largest wine export market, Kim Crawford is now New Zealand’s most purchased wine brand, and produces the #1 selling Sauvignon Blanc.

It was just over a year ago when Maygars Hill Winery owner Jenny Houghton facilitated the district’s first Australian Women in Wine Awards event. The Longwood-based viticulturist, along with renowned wine writer Jeni Port, will again host the event this month in Euroa. Conducted in a slightly different format, the awards are broadcast to celebratory events across the country, with Euroa’s being held at The Naturally Made Store.

De Bortoli Wines efforts in growing its export business has seen the family-owned company named the winner of the ‘Asian Success’ category at the AFR & PwC’s Private Clients Aspire Awards. Announced last night at a ceremony in Sydney, the awards celebrate outstanding achievements made by Australia’s private and family businesses. The quality of the 2016 entrants were as high as ever, as businesses from all of Australia’s major vertical industries presented the solid business practices that successful companies portray.

The Limestone Coast and Coonawarra wine regions will reap the benefits of a new $1.8 million State Government scheme designed to attract visitors and grow our wine industry. Minister for Agriculture, Food and Fisheries Leon Bignell said the South Australian Wine Industry Development Scheme would help to ensure growth in the state’s wine sector and further cement South Australia’s reputation as a producer of premium wine. “Funding from the scheme will not only directly benefit individual cellar doors but also extend to grape growers, winemakers, individual wine brands, culinary tourism operators, restaurants as well as regional food and wine events,” Mr Bignell said.

The election of tee-totalling winery owner Donald Trump to the White House may pose a risk to the meteoric growth of New Zealand wine exports. The United States is the largest export market for New Zealand wine, with about $470 million worth of the luxury good flowing stateside in the year to September. But the election of Trump as the 45th president of the US is raising eyebrows among exporters concerned by his protectionist stance, or restraining trade between countries, and the falling US dollar.

Shares in Treasury Wine Estates have surged more than eight per cent as the wine supplier provided a bullish outlook at its annual general meeting. TWE shares were 81 cents, or eight per cent, higher at $10.93 at 1402 AEDT. Chief executive Michael Clarke told shareholders gathered in Adelaide that TWE, whose labels include Penfolds, Wolf Blass and Lindeman’s, had a very bright future. “I am confident that we can continue to deliver outstanding results and, therefore, further value creation for you,” Mr Clarke said.

Marlborough wines held their own across the Tasman, making the region the most successful winegrowing area at a prestigious Australian competition. The results of the 37th annual Sydney International Wine Competition, featuring 1911 wines from eight countries, has been revealed after judging took place in October. The competition is noted for pairing food with the wines being judged, which organisers say makes it more relevant for consumers and the way they experience wine.

South Australia’s Wrattonbully wine region has won the prestigious Bill Redman Trophy for ‘Best Wine of Show’ at the Limestone Coast Wine Show – for the second year in a row! The incredible result saw back-to-back wins for Wrattonbully’s Pepper Tree Wines, with the 2013 Pepper Tree ‘Elderslee Road’ Single Vineyard Wrattonbully Cabernet Sauvignon the latest vintage to shine. The wine won the David Wynn Trophy for ‘Best Red Wine of Show’, the H.R. (Ron) Haselgrove O.B.E. Trophy for ‘Best Cabernet Sauvignon of Show’ and was also named the ‘Best Individual Vineyard Wine’ before going on to claim the Bill Redman Trophy for ‘Best Wine of Show’.

Justin Cohen from Ehrenberg-Bass Institute has said that China’s rapidly evolving wine consumer market is like “dog years” with one year in China equating to seven years elsewhere. Speaking at the Wine in China conference hosted by Debra Meiburg MW at ProWine China, Justin Cohen also discussed China’s gifting culture from a sales point of view. While the Government has cracked down on the policy of gifting for its officials, the traditions of buying expensive and luxury gifts is deep-rooted for consumers which can be used an advantage for companies focusing on high end wines. “If you look at the frequency people buy wine for a special occasion in China, it is maybe one to two times per year,” he said.

Newly elected US president Donald Trump could hinder New Zealand’s prosperity if he goes through with his policies, BusinessNZ warns. BusinessNZ chief executive Kirk Hope said New Zealand’s prosperity relied on open and free trading of export products. If the US, which was New Zealand’s third largest export market, were to take a more closed approach to trade in the future, New Zealand export returns could be affected. “Trade with the US earns New Zealand over $5 billion a year in products including meat, dairy and wine, and over $2 billion a year in services,” Hope said.