Wolf Blass has been named ‘red winemaker of the year’ at last night’s 33rd International Wine Challenge in London. The South Australian based winery topped more than 15,000 entries from over 50 countries, demonstrating their strength and consistency of winemaking across wine styles. Chris Hatcher, Wolf Blass chief winemaker, said he was humbled to receive the award on for the third time on behalf of the winery following wins in 2008 and 2013.
Two of New Zealand wine’s most prominent luxury players—Cloudy Bay and Loveblock—see openings to diversify the kiwi category by moving beyond the core Sauvignon Blanc varietal and secondary offering Pinot Noir—but they aren’t necessarily agreed on what comes next. Created by New Zealand industry veterans Kim and Erica Crawford following the 2003 sale of their Kim Crawford brand to Vincor (now part of Constellation), Loveblock launched in the U.S. in 2013.
Wine Australia’s commitment to help Riverland growers and wineries improve their businesses and their bottom line by reducing waste and improving efficiency is moving up a gear. A Lean Production for Growers and Wineries workshop will be held in Renmark at Angove Family Winemakers on Tuesday August 9. The principles and benefits of ‘lean production’ will be outlined along with ways of doing things to identify and help eliminate hidden, non-essential activities and production steps in the vineyard and the winery.
More than 80 members attended the Padthaway Grape Growers Association annual dinner on June 17. It was great to be back at the Limestone Coast Wine cellar door with the fires roaring and local Padthaway wine pouring. Everyone enjoyed a three course menu catered for by Finn’s Fine Foods, and enjoyed the local Padthaway wines.
The Canberra International Riesling Challenge (CIRC) 2016, will launch its 17th event today in Wellington New Zealand, as the first official event following the ACT Government signing a sister-city agreement between the two Capital Cities. Peter Woolcott, the Australian High Commissioner to New Zealand, will provide the venue for showcasing Rieslings from both countries through a unique Capital Cities Riesling Challenge.
An average man would need to put back five glasses of wine per day, every day, to consume enough inorganic arsenic to run the risk of causing health problems, according to a leading expert on food and beverage toxicology. At such a rate of consumption, however, that hypothetical person would likely have several other health concerns that would be more evident than anything related to arsenic. “The health issues for this particular individual is not the arsenic in the wine,” said Dr. Carl K. Winter.
Heather Webster from Langhorne Creek has been announced as the new chair of the Wine Grape Council of South Australia (WGCSA). WGCSA is a grower-funded organisation that seeks to represent SA’s over 3,000 independent wine grape growers. Webster has worked across a number of industries and brings extensive executive and director experience from roles within the wine industry as well as transport and science.
Fine wine buyers in the US, Asia and also Europe have wasted little time in seeking to take advantage of the weak pound sterling currency following the UK’s vote to leave the European Union, according to the country’s merchants. Growing numbers of the UK’s fine wine merchants are reporting a post-Brexit boost in demand, but they are also wary that the cost of replenishing their cellars with top wines from Europe could be significantly more expensive.
There are many visual clues wineries use to showcase their marketing vision, ambition and skill. Artistic rendering of stately chateau, ornate fonts and/or buzz words like Private Reserve or Select are common ones employed to denote that wine on offer is special, premium and worthy of attention. The obvious signal is also the most expected. It comes in a bottle. The idea of wine coming in anything else is enough to send wine geeks into a tizzy. Cans and kegs are for beer. Cartons are for juice. Wine calls for a glass bottle. No exceptions. Its superior nature demands it.
The Geographical Indications (Wine and Spirirts) Registration Act (GI Act) is currently being amended in a Bill before New Zealand’s Parliament. The Draft Geographic Indications Regulations have just been released. Among other things, the Regulations set out proposed procedures for the examination and registration of a Geographical Indication, as well as the process for maintenance of the Register of Geographical Indications in New Zealand.