Bad weather is usually the worst thing that vintners have to worry about in Santa Barbara County, but a decision last week to require full-scale environmental review for a proposed winery in Ballard Canyon is making some wonder whether the county’s planning department is putting a cork in the growth of the Santa Ynez Valley’s wine industry. So says vintner Michael Larner, whose plans for a winery on his 134-acre property — already home to some of the most coveted Grenache and Syrah vineyards in the state — were thwarted on December 3 when the county’s long range planning director Jeff Hunt determined that, due largely to the 20 special events proposed each year and a number of vocal opponents, the winery should produce an environmental impact report.

Wine Australia, Austrade Brazil, Winetitles and Instate are teaming up to provide the opportunity for Australian exporters and wine companies to explore the burgeoning market of Brazil. The exciting study mission to Brazil, from 21-28 April 2012, has two main objectives: to assess the market potential for Australian wine, and to examine possibilities for collaboration between the Brazilian and Australian wine industries.

The Yarra Valley and Mornington Peninsula are known for Pinot Noir, yet each has just a handful of wonderful producers. The Clare Valley is known for Riesling, but it has only a few great producers. Coonawarra is the eastern states home of Cabernet Sauvignon, but how many very good Cabernet producing wineries can you name from there, questions John Jens for inmycommunity.com.au

A planned $100 million coalmine in Western Australia’s Margaret River premium wine region would have more impact on its social surrounds than Woodside’s proposed $30 billion gas hub near the tourist town of Broome, according to the state’s environment watchdog. Environmental Protection Authority chairman Paul Vogel told The Australian Financial Review that the absence of a direct environmental link between Woodside’s Browse Basin gas hub and Broome meant it could not include social aspects in its assessment of the gas project, unlike the case for the coalmine.

The price of wine is set to rise as the balance between supply and demand tightens, according to a strategic review of the billion-dollar export industry. The New Zealand Herald reports the national grape harvest soared to 285,000 tonnes in 2008, creating an oversupply which helped erode grape and land prices, before decreasing to 266,000 tonnes in 2010 and rising again to 328,000 tonnes this year.

Revered wine regions such as the Barossa are at risk of losing their identities because of the “homogenisation” of liquor chains, the industry warns. A federal parliamentary committee has heard the dominance of the two big supermarkets is leading to more own-brand wine labels – resulting in a decline in choice and diversity, reports The Advertiser.

With more than 1,000 Australian wine brands now available in China, third-quarter results show Chinese mainlanders bought 2.54 million cases of Australian wine. The Drinks Business reports China is Australia’s fastest growing market and fourth largest export market by value, after the UK, US and Canada.

Australian Vintage chief executive Neil McGuigan has told The Australian winemakers in Australia should concentrate on quality and stop whining about the high dollar. McGuigan says he’s working hard to grow enthusiasm in the company he has lead since July last year, and recapture the successes Australian Vintage (AVL) achieved in the early 2000s.

Scotland as a wine producer? The implications of climate change may not make it such a fanciful idea, and Fife chef Christopher Trotter isn’t hanging around waiting for proof. Lynda Hamilton talked to him of grape expectations. In the spring of 2011, Christopher Trotter planted a 2.4-hectare vineyard on his Upper Largo estate on the southern coast of Fife. Facing his first winter as a pioneering Scottish viticulturist, Trotter, who’s Fife’s official ‘Food Ambassador’, isn’t at all worried about the threat of frost and snow, reports The List.

New Zealand Winegrowers (NZW) has released the results of a strategic review of the nation’s grape and wine sector. The review was conducted for NZW over the past three months by consulting firm Price Waterhouse Coopers (PWC). Commenting on the review, Stuart Smith, chair of NZW, said: “The Review is a comprehensive examination of the industry: how it has changed in recent years, the opportunities and challenges facing it, and the future role of New Zealand Winegrowers.”