The election of tee-totalling winery owner Donald Trump to the White House may pose a risk to the meteoric growth of New Zealand wine exports. The United States is the largest export market for New Zealand wine, with about $470 million worth of the luxury good flowing stateside in the year to September. But the election of Trump as the 45th president of the US is raising eyebrows among exporters concerned by his protectionist stance, or restraining trade between countries, and the falling US dollar.

Wine Enthusiast magazine has named Kim Crawford winery ‘New World Winery of the Year’ in their annual Wine Star Awards, which honour outstanding achievements in the international wine and beverage industry. “I’m so proud that we’ve brought this one home for New Zealand wine against the new world competition,” said Kim Crawford Winemaker Anthony Walkenhorst. “My team and I work hard to make wines that people love to drink and we’re really pleased to get a pat on the back for it from our peers and industry leaders.” In the U.S, New Zealand’s largest wine export market, Kim Crawford is now New Zealand’s most purchased wine brand, and produces the #1 selling Sauvignon Blanc.

The Limestone Coast and Coonawarra wine regions will reap the benefits of a new $1.8 million State Government scheme designed to attract visitors and grow our wine industry. Minister for Agriculture, Food and Fisheries Leon Bignell said the South Australian Wine Industry Development Scheme would help to ensure growth in the state’s wine sector and further cement South Australia’s reputation as a producer of premium wine. “Funding from the scheme will not only directly benefit individual cellar doors but also extend to grape growers, winemakers, individual wine brands, culinary tourism operators, restaurants as well as regional food and wine events,” Mr Bignell said.

It was just over a year ago when Maygars Hill Winery owner Jenny Houghton facilitated the district’s first Australian Women in Wine Awards event. The Longwood-based viticulturist, along with renowned wine writer Jeni Port, will again host the event this month in Euroa. Conducted in a slightly different format, the awards are broadcast to celebratory events across the country, with Euroa’s being held at The Naturally Made Store.

Shares in Treasury Wine Estates have surged more than eight per cent as the wine supplier provided a bullish outlook at its annual general meeting. TWE shares were 81 cents, or eight per cent, higher at $10.93 at 1402 AEDT. Chief executive Michael Clarke told shareholders gathered in Adelaide that TWE, whose labels include Penfolds, Wolf Blass and Lindeman’s, had a very bright future. “I am confident that we can continue to deliver outstanding results and, therefore, further value creation for you,” Mr Clarke said.

De Bortoli Wines efforts in growing its export business has seen the family-owned company named the winner of the ‘Asian Success’ category at the AFR & PwC’s Private Clients Aspire Awards. Announced last night at a ceremony in Sydney, the awards celebrate outstanding achievements made by Australia’s private and family businesses. The quality of the 2016 entrants were as high as ever, as businesses from all of Australia’s major vertical industries presented the solid business practices that successful companies portray.

Wine Communicators of Australia (WCA) announced the eight winners of its Wine Communicator Awards at an exciting Awards Night at the Four Seasons Hotel, last night (Tuesday, November 8th), including the coveted Wine Communicator of the Year. This year, the Wine Communicator of the Year was awarded to Gourmet Traveller WINE Magazine, the first time the award has gone to a business not an individual. The Wine Communicator of the Year is selected by the Board of Wine Communicators of Australia from the category winners, who this year are:

South Australia’s Wrattonbully wine region has won the prestigious Bill Redman Trophy for ‘Best Wine of Show’ at the Limestone Coast Wine Show – for the second year in a row! The incredible result saw back-to-back wins for Wrattonbully’s Pepper Tree Wines, with the 2013 Pepper Tree ‘Elderslee Road’ Single Vineyard Wrattonbully Cabernet Sauvignon the latest vintage to shine. The wine won the David Wynn Trophy for ‘Best Red Wine of Show’, the H.R. (Ron) Haselgrove O.B.E. Trophy for ‘Best Cabernet Sauvignon of Show’ and was also named the ‘Best Individual Vineyard Wine’ before going on to claim the Bill Redman Trophy for ‘Best Wine of Show’.

It’s all about timing and right now the timing couldn’t be more perfect for Moppity Vineyards and Southern NSW. The results for the 2016 Seguin Moreau Great Australian Shiraz Challenge have been released and Moppity Vineyards have won Best NSW Shiraz and the overall title of Best Shiraz for a second time, with their 2015 Escalier Shiraz outscoring over 350 wines from 60 different regions. Moppity Vineyards is still the only NSW winery to have won the Great Australian Shiraz Challenge, and the only Single Vineyard producer to have won it twice. Further, Moppity had two wines in a tie for second place

Marlborough wines held their own across the Tasman, making the region the most successful winegrowing area at a prestigious Australian competition. The results of the 37th annual Sydney International Wine Competition, featuring 1911 wines from eight countries, has been revealed after judging took place in October. The competition is noted for pairing food with the wines being judged, which organisers say makes it more relevant for consumers and the way they experience wine.