More than 800 wines are being swirled, sniffed, swished and spat at Cessnock Leagues Club this week as judging for the 2016 NSW Wines Awards takes place

On Sunday 31 July 2016 one of the most innovative pieces of software ever developed for the wine industry was shut down by the company that purchased it a little more than a year before.

Industry leader on board to take Okanagan Valley’s unique wines to the world; the natural progression in celebrating the excellence, the beauty, the outstanding opportunity that is Mission Hill Family Estate

Australia is in the doldrums after slumping to its worst Olympics performance in decades and finishing 10th in the medals table.

Hawke’s Bay wines have picked up 35 gold medals at the New Zealand International Wine Show with Villa Maria’s Bay vineyards coming through with 10 of them.

Geographical indicators have allowed the Australian wine industry to grow and be competitive in export markets, according to Winemakers Federation of Australia acting chief executive Tony Battaglene.

RIVERINA grape growers expect fruit to wither on vines if the government holds firm on the controversial backpacker tax. Originally slated to begin on July 1, the backpacker tax will ditch the $18,200 tax-free threshold for foreign workers under 30 and instead tax them 32.5¢ from the first dollar they earn in Australia.

Last week the business section of the Wall Street Journal Reported that The Australian wine industry is attributing rising temperatures to causing grapes to ripen faster, and that can alter their flavor. Here is aginfo reporter Matt Rice who recently visited Australia with the story.

Wolf Blass chief winemaker Chris Hatcher was recently in town to celebrate 50 years of the brand and also the 40th vintage of Wolf Blass Black Label. Decanter.com went along to meet him.

This week I’ve been drinking something old, something new and something orange. Well, oldish, newish and orange-ish.