Three Hawke’s Bay winemakers have been adjudged by Master of Wine Bob Campbell to be among eight winemakers throughout the country he describes as “on the rise”. Campbell has produced a feature article for the upcoming issue of the international magazine Gourmet Wine Traveller where he has focused on what he called the rising stars across the New Zealand winemaking landscape. Rod McDonald of Rod McDonald Wines, Steve Skinner at Elephant Hill and Dermot McCollom at Stonecroft all made Mr Campbell’s list.

One of New Zealand’s richest families has sold its entire vineyard holding in Marlborough. The Todd family, who have an estimated worth of $3.16 billion, have sold vineyards associated with its company Winegrowers of Ara to Marlborough-based wine company Indevin. On Thursday, the companies confirmed they had signed an unconditional agreement. The vineyard, which is located in the Waihopai Valley, includes 600 hectares of vines and about 900 hectares of bare land suitable for further plantings.

ONE of the state’s most “significant” winery estates, Sweetwater, is expected to fetch more than $15 million under the hammer — half its predicted value in 2015. The new price revision is expected to attract multiple bids from cashed-up Chinese investors for the rolling 48ha property in Pokolbin. Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz vines cover a third of the estate which dates back to the colonial 1820s.

SAWIA is pleased to announce a new program – the Agribusiness Growth Program which is now available for eligible wine businesses in South Australia. The program aims to support small wine businesses (with a turnover between $300,000 and $1.5M). If you are ready to grow your business but not sure where to start, this program aims to accelerate business growth, through expert business evaluation and coaching services for activities that will have a direct impact on your growth.

The Australian wine category will nosedive in a brave new retail world obsessed with everyday low pricing if it does not adapt and improve its average price point, according to Hardys supplier Accolade Wines. Australia has enjoyed strong growth in recent years and is up 3.4% in value to £1.18 billion (Nielsen, year to November 2015), but the average price point has fallen and now sits at £5.20, below the average price of £5.38 for a bottle of still wine.

FOR 27 years Yvonne and Noel Gerke ran a transport business, hauling logs from Tasmania’s forests to mills grinding woodchips for customers in Japan and elsewhere in Asia. Then came the global financial downturn as well as campaigns to protect Tasmania’s native forests (see article). It clobbered the timber industry. “We employed 45 people until it crashed and burned,” says Ms Gerke. Four years ago the Gerkes took a payout from Australia’s federal government to quit logging. They are now gambling on another commodity: water.

Beresford Wines launched its much anticipated Tasting Pavilion last night with South Australian Tourism Minister Leon Bignell officially declaring the site open for business. Located in the heart of the McLaren Vale, the facility offers a premium wine and food experience – with three tiers of wine available for tasting, matched with local, seasonal produce. Angelo Kotses, managing director of parent company Bickford’s Australia, said the Tasting Pavilion was the result of extensive research into successful wine businesses from across many regions.

Imagine arriving in a foreign country at the age of 13, unaccompanied, knowing no one and not being able to speak the language. This was Jing Song’s experience when she came from China to Christchurch 16 years ago. At her family’s advice and expectation, she became an accountant but no one guessed she would find her true passion in a Central Otago paddock.

An advert promoting French wine brand Fat Bastard has been banned by the Advertising Standard Authority (ASA) after complaints that it could cause “widespread offence” and be seen by young children. Two direct mail circulars were delivered to 175,000 homes, including a primary school, by UK supermarket Iceland which featured the “Fat Bastard” brand name on the front cover alongside the text: “Outrageous name, outrageously good wine”.

After 113 years in a farmhouse cellar, a bottle of wine believed to be the oldest ever opened in New Zealand has astonished critics by still tasting great. “It’s superb. Amazing, really … It’s still hanging on, shaking its fist at you out of the glass,” was how wine writer John Saker summed up the 1903 Landsdowne Claret opened in Wairarapa on Wednesday.