Jacob’s Creek Chief Winemaker Bernard Hickin ponders which vintage to pour as he begins his retirement AFTER 40 YEARS of wizardry at Australia’s Jacob’s Creek, chief winemaker Bernard Hickin is passing the baton at the end of this month to Ben Bryant to carry on the brand’s world-renowned legacy. Hickin’s departure has meanwhile inspired Bryant to create an exceptional tipple, the 2010 Limited Edition Shiraz Cabernet, to honour Hickin’s four decades of dedication in maintaining the trusted quality and style that has earmarked Jacob’s Creek wines since 1976.

“It is said that if you stand by river long enough you will eventually see your own life and it.” This was Paul Henry’s opening remark at a simple ceremony to launch the Riverland Trust Mark on Wednesday. Pride was the keyword and there was plenty of it on show. In front of more than 60 guests, the founder and brand strategy director ofwinehero spoke of the importance of building stronger regions through the development and support of premium food, wine and tourism industries in the Riverland region.

WHAT happens when Australian wine takes an Italian lover? A new beverage start-up is born. Crowdfunded by Queenslanders Tommy McLean and fifth generation wine maker Simon Gilbert, SOFI Spritz has now taken a step into the spotlight to snag investment from Channel 10’s Shark Tank judges.

The Australian Wine Research Institute (AWRI) announced today the winners of the dux of three recent Advanced Wine Assessment Courses (AWACs). Oakridge Wines winemaker Tim Perrin took out dux of AWAC 36, Sons of Eden assistant winemaker Tim Bourne was named dux of AWAC 37 and Penfolds winemaker Stephanie Dutton was awarded with dux of AWAC 38.

A warm and wet spring has caused havoc in the vineyards of Andalusia where vintners report that fungus is threatening this year’s sherry production. Winegrowers fear that as much as 80 percent of their crop could be destroyed thanks to mildew fungus caused by warm temperatures and unusually high rainfall during spring. Wine producing cooperatives across the Jerez region, which lent its name to the fortified wine, have reported devastating effects on their crop.

Cape Town – South Africa’s wine industry could add a further 100 000 jobs by 2025, mostly in the Western Cape, following the signing this month of the Economic Partnerships Agreement (EPA) between the European Union (EU) and the Southern African Customs Union (Sacu) countries. So said Michael Mokhoro, stakeholder relationship manager for South Africa’s wine and brandy industries.

Over the past couple of weeks, the issue of chequebook wine reviewing has had another round of airplay. It’s a tangled web that has raised a number of questions. For example, are all the shiny “Recommended by” stickers you see on wine bottles in our stores created equal? And are all wine writers who are hosted by a winery, or groups of wineries, compromising their integrity?

Australian winemakers are fuming that their New Zealand counterparts receive $18 million in tax rebates funded by Australian taxpayers. As part of the Closer Economic Relations trade deal between the two countries, New Zealand winemakers are entitled to rebates from a system originally set up in 2004 to boost regional employment in Australia. The Australian Financial Review has reported that winemakers were expecting that following an overhaul of the Wine Equalisation Tax (WET), the rebates would end for New Zealand producers, who have up until now been claiming $25m a year.

A poll in the Murray-Darling and Swan Hill wine regions later this year will have a say in shaping the future of the local winegrape sector. The current four-year term of the Murray Valley Wine Grape Industry Development Committee (IDC) ends in December, meaning that all wine grape growers in the two regions will be required to vote on it continuing. The IDC operates under Victorian legislation, which by agreement with the NSW government also extends across the border.

A national survey of small and medium winemakers has found widespread pessimism about proposed changes to the wine equalisation tax. The 2016 Federal Budget revealed plans to lower the WET rebate from $500,000 to $290,000, with businesses without a financial stake in processing facilities no longer eligible. The results found more than one third of the 600-odd producers who took part in the survey would be worse off under the changes, while 40 per cent would not be eligible for the rebate.