For Mike and Angela Sparks there is immense satisfaction to be found looking out over their vineyard while sipping a glass of syrah made from the grapes they’ve grown there. Not such an unusual thing in a winemaking country you might think, except the Sparks’ family vineyard is right in the middle of Auckland city, planted in the backyard of their home. Where other people might have shrubs, trees and vegetable beds, they have vines staked in neat rows, growing up a high wall and over a pergola, covering a large part of their steep section on the slopes of Mt Eden.

New Zealand’s winemakers and brewers from big to small will now be able to supply direct to customers through a locally-owned platform. New Zealand’s oldest independent wine retailers, Glengarry Wines are a family-owned company established in 1945. As an independent, Kiwi born and bred enterprise, we have always championed the small guys and brought the rarer, more eclectic wines to our customers. We are delighted to be still operating from a position of strength in what is an increasingly hectic and crowded market, flooded now with a number of operators from outside our borders.

The fourth edition of ProWine China – the leading international trade fair for wines and spirits in Shanghai was hailed a success, with an increase in visitor and exhibitor numbers from last year. This year’s exhibition attracted 12,431 trade visitors – an increase of 20% from 2015 – with over a third coming from outside of Shanghai. There was also a larger contingent of international exhibitors from last year hailing from all over the ‘Silk Road’ route, including Ningxia and Xinjiang provinces of China, Kazakhstan, Georgia, Macedonia, Bulgaria, Hungary, Belarus and Latvia.

Would you drink wine that is $2.89 a bottle? Alcohol is the latest battleground in the price was between retail giants Woolworths, Coles and Aldi. Wine has never been cheaper in Australia, with some varieties costing less than bottled water. A high demand from supermarkets and shoppers, imported wine competition and an oversupply of local wines has meant good news for consumers looking for a cheap bottle of plonk. CEO of the Winemakers Federation, Tony Battaglene said most consumers don’t want to pay a lot for their wine.

While Australian wine exporters enjoy the surge in the value of their sales to China, cellar doors at home are also noticing a greater number of eager Chinese tourists. Winemakers believe the increasing sales both at home and abroad are strongly influenced by the relatively weaker Australian dollar, but they are quick to add it is also due to a growing awareness among Chinese consumers about Australia’s many wine regions. The industry in Australia has been working to educate Chinese consumers not only about wine culture, but also the many regions where Australian wine is produced.

Amongst Great Southern winemakers, Mr Diletti is something of a household name, and his talents won the 2015 Winemaker of the Year title from the famed wine writer and critic James Halliday. Mr Diletti’s winemaking journey began when he created his first vintage back in 1986 after his father Angelo established Castle Rock close to the Stirling Ranges and backed his son’s passion. “Dad not being a wine maker is definitely why it’s worked so well, he’s left me alone to make all my own mistakes!”

The days of Australian winemakers producing “palate killing” Shiraz to please Robert Parker are finally over according to one key winemaker in the country. Speaking to the drinks business during a trip to London this week, Chris Hancock MW of Robert Oatley Vineyards in New South Wales, said, “We have just about lost all of the jammy, alcoholic, heavy, dead skin Shirazes that are Parker pleasing palate killers, which is an hallelujah moment. Instead, we’re moving towards lighter, brighter more interesting wines from quality producers.

China’s increasing thirst for premium Australian wine has helped push export values to a 13-year high. Local winemakers are hiring Chinese speaking staff to cater for an influx of savvy wine tourists at the cellar door. Despite the surge there are warnings that Australian export vintages are under growing threat from the vineyards of France and South America.

Competition (IWSC), winning the trophy for New Zealand Wine Producer of the Year, announced last night in London. The winery, which produced New Zealand’s first Sauvignon Blanc in 1974, had a medal tally which incorporated the Trophy alongside 12 medals, including Gold Outstanding for the 2013 Matua Single Vineyard Pinot Noir, five Silver Outstanding medals, four Silvers and a Bronze. This now means that Matua has received the title of NZ Wine Producer or Winemaker of the Year at a major international wine competition four years consecutively.

Wine industry experts in Marlborough are saying the 7.8 magnitude earthquake on Monday was more damaging than the last event to shake the region. The 2013 Seddon earthquake caused an estimated $100 million worth of damage to wine companies and grape growers, who are putting a brave face on the latest tremors. Wine Marlborough general manager Marcus Pickens said he had been out to inspect more than 20 wineries, and was impressed at the resilience shown by staff. “There has been damage, and it’s fair to say it’s bigger than the last event across the board, most wine companies have had some impact in terms of wine loss or tank movement,” he said.