There’s a lot of extra energy in the industry at vintage time. The sound of gas guns firing in the distance; the eagerness of grapegrowers comparing Baumes; the sight of both old Bedfords and brand new B Doubles loaded with grapes; meeting purple-stained cellarhands at the local servo and finding out how many tonnes were crushed this week. Nathan Gogoll shares his excitement.
Yellowglen’s iconic Yellow Brut Cuvée is erupting in rainbow flair. From 26 February, Yellowglen’s limited edition Rainbow Celebration Pack will feature the bold rainbow stripes of the LGBTI pride flag. Samantha Wills, Yellowglen Creative Director, championed the introduction of this limited edition sparkling.
Treasury Wine Estates yesterday announced that iconic wines from regional Australia will form a key part of the next stage of the company’s global brand strategy. A second portfolio of wines, including regional ‘gems’ from Coldstream Hills, Devil’s Lair, Seppelt, T’Gallant, Heemskerk and Saltram will follow the trajectory established by TWE’s global focus brands; supported by a new team focused on maximising the potential of these regional wines.
The days of cheap Prosecco could be numbered as the base price has risen by around a quarter in the past year, a leading importer has warned. Hallgarten Druitt made headlines last year after freezing its prices and said it has been able to repeat the feat on most wines this year, but Prosecco is a notable exception. Managing director Andrew Bewes told OLN: “Prosecco will hit everyone. The cost of production has risen. The base price has gone up 20%-25%. We will see it moving more in line with the Champagne market.
There’s an old saying: If you want to make a small fortune in the wine business, start with a large one. Many a wealthy person has discovered the axiom’s truth the hard way, buying a winery with the idea of being a gentleman farmer, overseeing a picturesque and prestigious business, with the added bonus of living atop a hillside covered with vines.
A pre-harvest party being held in Renwick hopes to bring residents and their winegrowing neighbours together, an organiser says. The party, organised by Renwick Smart and Connected, is being held on March 12 at Rousehill Reserve. Smart and Connected deputy chairwoman Belinda Jackson said the party was a way of bringing together two groups, residents and members of the wine industry, that lived side-by-side but traditionally had little to do with each other.
What white grape produces the globe’s most consistently good wines? According to US wine writer Matt Kramer, it’s a well-known variety, but it’s not Chardonnay. Speaking earlier this month in New Zealand – where Kramer was asked to speak at the country’s first International Sauvignon Blanc Celebration – the respected commentator began his presentation by stating the dependable credentials of one grape.
One of the trendiest wine styles of the moment is pet-nat, short for petillant-naturel, or naturally sparkling. This style is produced by the methode ancestrale, by which a wine finishes its primary fermentation in bottle, capturing both carbon dioxide bubbles and a sediment of yeast lees.
The Sydney International Wine Competition, the first wine show in the world to judge wine in the presence of food, has new owners. After 36 years, founders Warren and Jacquie Mason have sold the business and moved aside to allow the new owners, Brett and Michaela Ling, to take over. The Lings met while studying chemical engineering at university, and Brett works as a senior research manager at IBM.
Harvest for the 2016 vintage is underway in Western Australia with producers grateful for strong finish to the growing season. Winemakers say recent hot weather across the south west of the state has been a gift, after heavy rains threatened the start to harvest. The heavy rain that fell in mid-January had the potential to disrupt quality and could have created pest issues, just as many vineyards were about to start picking.