The 2012 Central Otago Pinot celebration in Queenstown, New Zealand, from Thursday 26 to Saturday 28 January 2012, attracted nearly 200 passionate pinotphiles from the UK, US, France, Hong Kong, Japan, Australia and New Zealand. Winemakers, winery owners, Masters of Wine, wine educators, wine writers and marketers were shown retrospective snapshots of ‘older’ Pinot Noirs and younger tastings of Burgundy, Pinot Noir and even, to ensured we kicked off in true southern style, Riesling – from Central and from the world, writes NZ wine writer Joelle Thomson.

The 2012 Central Otago Pinot celebration in Queenstown, New Zealand, from Thursday 26 to Saturday 28 January 2012, attracted nearly 200 passionate pinotphiles from the UK, US, France, Hong Kong, Japan, Australia and New Zealand. Winemakers, winery owners, Masters of Wine, wine educators, wine writers and marketers were shown retrospective snapshots of ‘older’ Pinot Noirs and younger tastings of Burgundy, Pinot Noir and even, to ensured we kicked off in true southern style, Riesling – from Central and from the world, writes NZ wine writer Joelle Thomson.

Austrian officials have dropped an investigation launched after a man was found to be selling wine and schnapps with Adolf Hitler on the label. They said there was no proof that the labels break a law against glorifying the Nazi era. State prosecution official Heinz Rusch said the investigation has come to a halt because of lack of proof that the man contravened that specific law. The legal probe was launched last year after complaints that a website posting showed bottles with portraits of Hitler and the swastika, reports Decanter.

A wine company’s effort to convince a national committee to host a symposium here in the Barossa Valley has paid off. Orlando Wines now welcomes 30 professionals and students as part of the 6th annual New Zealand/Australian Sensory Symposium, held at the Jacob’s Creek Visitor’s Centre on February 8 and 9. According to Orlando Wines, the symposium targets sensory professionals who are looking for new ideas and knowledge to use in their research or work environment and would like opportunities to discuss current sensory issues with others working in the field, reports the Barossa Herald.

Judging for the prestigious 2012 Macquarie Group Sydney Royal Wine Show kicked off yesterday at Sydney’s Olympic Park. More than 2240 wines were submitted to this year’s show, representing almost all of Australia’s wine regions. There are 37 trophies and numerous gold, silver and bronze medals up for grabs covering a range of classes across varietal wines, fortified wines and brandy, reports The Shout.

Iconic Australian brand Penfolds dominated the Australian secondary wine market last year – securing 70 places in the top 100. Auction house Langton’s said top Grange wines and a host of experimental wines form the 1950s and 1960s took 70 spots on the top 100 leaderboard of 2011, attracting top dollar from buyers. Eight Penfolds wines were named by Langtons as the top 20 most desired brands, including Penfolds Grange, Bin 707, Bin 28, Bin 407, Bin 128 and Bin 389, reports Harpers Wine & Spirit.

A spate of vineyard sales is kindling hopes that the slide in land ­values has finally been halted after four years of accelerating misery for Australia’s grapegrowers. In November Casella Wines, which produces the Yellow Tail label, snapped up two Langhorne Creek properties, spanning 360 hectares, for $6.2 million after the only listed landowner in the sector, Cheviot ­Kirribily Vineyard Property Group, was forced into liquidation, The Australian Financial Review reports.

The French have ruled the world of bubbles for far too long. If you move your radar just a touch, you’ll come across plenty of other options, from both Australia and other European regions. Italy’s offerings, both imported and now also from varieties grown here and imitated styles, come both dry and sweet and they’re among the trendiest fun drinks of the new year. The Italian fizz of the moment is prosecco, which is exported from Italy’s north and northeast and also has found a vibrant home here, most prominently in Victoria’s King Valley but now growing also in the Adelaide Hills, writes News Limited’s national wine writer Tony Love.

With a history dating back to the 1800s, the Australian wine industry has sailed a tide of highs and lows, particularly over the past 40 years. Capturing the story of Australian wine, and its cycle of boom and bust, is a new documentary film which is set to screen in Australia and the UK in June this year. The film is directed by Stephen Oliver who for the past three months has travelled far to interview some of the most influential wine personalities and, indeed, the people who grow and turn the grapes into wine.

Regularly drinking two large glasses of wine or two strong pints of beer a day triples the risk of developing mouth cancer, a government campaign will warn. Television adverts will aim to show that drinking just over the recommended daily limit for alcohol increases the risk of serious health problems. NHS recommendations are that men should not regularly drink more than three to four units a day, while women should not regularly drink more than two to three, reports The Guardian.