Pernod Ricard Winemakers places immense focus on innovation as core of its strategy when developing wines for different markets and tastes worldwide. Samuel Tait met with Gwenola Hanaut, innovation director, to discuss their broader approach to innovation and how it is driving growth for the business at a global level.
Jacob’s Creek presents ‘Made by Moments’ for the second year starring Novak Djokovic in promotion of the Australian Open. The Australian wine brand launched 13 short videos that features Djokovic being asked questions including what is your ultimate BBQ (prawns, asparagus and aubergine) and where did you go on your first date?
New South Wales wine producers are being encouraged to sign up for the Sydney Morning Herald’s Cellar Door event, which brings together the best of the state’s produce. Highlighting NSW’s wine, food and produce the Cellar Door event will take place in Hyde Park over the weekend of 26-28 February 2016.
USHER Tinkler was feeling good on Thursday after harvesting half of his chardonnay grapes from the family vineyard on Pokolbin Mountains Road. “We have a long way to go yet,” the winemaker said. “We’re only 10 per cent of the way there. But it’s nice premium chardonnay. It’s a good start.” Andrew Margan at Broke was also satisfied with the 50 tonnes of chardonnay picked for his wines this week.
Researchers say polyphenols from winemaking by-product red grape pomice has potential as a functional ingredient in nutraceuticals, pharmaceuticals and cosmetics. Grapes arte the world’s largest fruit crop. Mainly used in winemaking, about 20-30% of the weight of processed grapes ends up as the by-product pomace, which consists of the skins, seeds and stems.
Marlborough-based off-trade supplier Free Run Wines will be exhibiting four wines from New Zealand winery Selaks Wines at the New Zealand Wine Annual Trade Tasting in London today. The team will be presenting the latest vintages, two reds and two whites, from each of Selaks’ ranges alongside Constellation Brands.
Grapegrowers are being warned to keep an eye out for a fungal disease which appearing in a growing number of vineyards in the Marlborough region. Powdery mildew commonly affects grapevines at this time of year and in extreme cases can result in crops being written off. Marlborough Wine Growers chair Clive Jones said most growers were aware of the disease but an increase in incidents over the past two years had prompted a fresh warning to be more vigilant.
Two Barossa businesses out of a pool of eight in the state will share in more than $74,000 to help them gain a competitive edge in national and international markets. Henschke Cellars will undergo international environmental standard certification assessment. This project will help to increase market access in Europe where customers commonly require the certification as a pre-requisite.
Tousle-haired and bright-eyed Peter James (PJ) Charteris was 13 when he stepped into the Vilagrad Wines Vineyard at Hamilton, in the North Island of New Zealand, to earn pocket money, learning how to prune vines in the process. The wine bug bit, and when he left school aged 18 in 1986 he spent two years as a vineyard and cellar hand at Vilagrad.
Alternative varietals, organic hand-made wine and a belief that the Riverland can produce outstanding fruit with minimal irrigation has earned 919 Wines quite a following. Chief winemaker Eric Semmler moved to the Riverland to work, while his wife and business co-director Jenny came for love, but they both fell in love with the region.