Wine Australia announced it will invest $8.5 million over the next four years in 12 new research and development (R&D) projects. The new projects will be aimed at helping increase demand and the premium paid for Australian wine and increase the grape and wine sector’s competitiveness. Brian Walsh, Wine Australia chair, said he was delighted with the quality of the research projects that Wine Australia planned to fund through this round.

Wine Australia celebrated a strong and positive reception from guests who attended the recent Wine Australia Roadshow in China. The Roadshow followed ‘Australia Week’ in China and highlighted the history and evolution of Australian wine to more than 1500 guests. Rui Liao, a journalist from Wine in China, said Andrew Caillard’s masterclass presented a very clear picture of the history and development of Australian wine.

It seems that we are always hearing about small wineries being bought by larger wineries or companies. Whether it be the financial challenges to run a small business or the “American dream” to make a profit, many family wineries cease to be family-owned when they are acquired. Rarely do we hear the converse but Jamieson Ranch is a story of locals taking back the winery from a private equity firm and putting it back in family hands.

Siobhan Thompson, the CEO of Wines of South Africa began her opening address at Cape Wine 2015 by describing South Africa’s wine industry as one that “has a nervy energy that comes from walking a tight-rope of contradictions.” The spirit of revolution has perfumed the air. The waters of radical change are licking at the roots of our vines and are bearing the first fruits of dynamic change.

Instead of the usual frantic rush, Marlborough wine companies have labelled this year’s harvest ‘relaxing’. Just two rainfall events between early March and late April meant companies could take their time bringing in the crop. Giesen Wines Marlborough general manager Rhyan Wardman said there was usually a 30-day window for harvest, however this year was the exception to the rule. “We were in this luxurious position, which is unusual in Marlborough, where we could take our time,” he said.

Organisers of the 2016 Irrigation Australia International Conference and Exhibition have announced an increase in support from the federal government. The Department of Agriculture and Water Resources will be hosting workshops during the exhibition on ‘Commonwealth on Farm Irrigation Efficiency and Infrastructure Programs’, after the government announced plans to increase funding for irrigation projects across the country.

THE Sunshine Coast hinterland is the “uncut diamond” of Queensland’s tourism industry, and should be known nationally and internationally. That’s according to farmer, viticulturist and successful business owner Tony Thompson, of Flame Hill Vineyard and Restaurant. “It’d just be wonderful to get Queenslanders more parochial about Queensland food and wine,” he said. “We’ve got some fantastic food and wines.”

In the first official interview since winning her case and the right to keep her brand, Champagne Jayne appears true to her name – full of vitality and depth – her account of her Kafka-esque experience is interwoven with fascinating tales of Champagne and its history. “I am just as excited as I have ever been about Champagne – I still love it, but I can’t understand why the CIVC pursued me for years and wasted hundreds of thousands of dollars in legal costs.”

Changes mooted for eligibility to the wine industry’s generous tax rebate scheme have caused concern among smaller winemakers, but the Federal Government says the reforms are not yet set in stone. The federal budget revealed the Government intended to reduce the rebate amount and tighten eligibility to the scheme, in an effort to stamp out rorting and return the rebate to its original focus of boosting regional employment.

While Cider Australia has welcomed the moves to tighten eligibility for the Wine Equalisation Tax (WET) rebate, the industry body said it is disappointed the rebate cap will be reduced. In his first Federal Budget this week, Treasurer Scott Morrison announced changes to the WET rebate. The Government announced that from 1 July 2019 eligibility criteria will be tightened to require claimants to own a winery or have a long term lease over a winery and sell packaged, branded wine domestically.