As world leaders unite in Paris to hash out a global response to climate change, a boutique wine maker in South Australia’s Coonawarra is taking matters into her own hands. Award-winning winemaker Sue Bell of Bellwether winery said being a small winery was a distinct advantage to factoring climate change into her business plan.
MAJOR investment decisions in South Australia’s wine industry are being delayed amid warnings many growers and winemakers will face financial ruin unless the Federal Government moves quickly to overhaul the Wine Equalisation Tax Rebate. A Federal Government investigation revealed in August that the rebate system was being rorted by “virtual winemakers’’ – some of which exist solely to claim tax concessions.
The Sydney International Wine Competition (SIWC) produced an illustrious list of medal winners, with diversity of wine regions and wine varieties key features of the event. The 36th annual competition featured 1812 wines from nine countries with 100 different grape varieties and blends represented. A total of 288 wines were then selected for TOP 1OO™, Blue Gold, and Gold awards, and 31 of these also received a trophy.
Nova Scotia will spend $1 million to nearly double grape growing in an effort to boost the province’s wine industry. “We’re putting in a small amount of public money to leverage a lot of private sector money,” said Premier Stephen McNeil, who announced the Vineyard Development and Expansion Program Tuesday at the Avondale Sky Winery in Newport Landing, N.S. The program will pay each grower up to $6,550 per acre to cover land clearing, tile drainage, plant material, stakes and contracted labour.
You don’t need me to tell you that canned wine is kind of hip. Chalk that up to a winning combination of novelty, extreme portability, and the kind of casual anti-snob vibe that appeals to young urbanites with disposable incomes these days. No real mystery that canned wine is hip, and we put everything in cans (Washington State University has been canning a very nice cheese since the 1940’s), so why is canned wine still a mystery to me?
The bill inspired by the legal battle between New York’s State Liquor Authority and Empire Wine has reached the Governor’s desk. Empire Wine’s ongoing case against the New York State Liquor Authority could become a lot more clear-cut this week as a bill limiting the authority’s jurisdiction is reviewed by New York Governor Andrew Cuomo. The bill, A.5920, will “amend the alcoholic beverage control law, in relation to limiting the authority of the state liquor authority to penalize licensees based on perceived violations of the laws of other states.”
Winemakers and other local businesses have joined forces to agree a legally binding deal to protect the environment and biodiversity across the commune of Montalcino, home to one of Italy’s best known wines. Representatives from 47 Montalcino businesses – including Brunello di Montalcino winemakers – signed a legally binding charter, ‘Comitato Promotore Montalcino Bio’, promoting collective biodiversity and environmental responsibility.
Chemical drift from pesticide sprays is an ongoing problem in New Zealand, says Lincoln Agritech crop protection scientist Rory Roten. “When pesticides are used on farms and in forests, the wind can carry droplets of the sprays far away from the targeted area, potentially causing severe damage to neighbouring crops and harming the environment,” Mr Roten says. “Spray drift has wreaked havoc on wine grapes and kiwifruit in several New Zealand orchards recently.”
Grapegrowers are facing a multi-million dollar pay cut this year after the 2015 harvest came in under target. Interim grape prices, released by New Zealand Winegrowers, show grape growers have been paid an average of $1713 per tonne of grapes this year, compared with $1656 per tonne last year – an increase of $57 per tonne. However, with a 326,000-tonne vintage, it can be estimated that growers’ total income is about $296m – a pay cut of more than $89 million.
It appears the impact of spray drift on Hunter Valley vineyards is more widespread than first thought. Last week, grape growers near Denman revealed their plants are being harmed when the weed killer 2,4-D blows over their vineyards. Now a vigneron near Clarence Town has reported his grape crop has been all but destroyed by phenoxy herbicides. Ross Arnott said he does not know where the chemicals are coming from. “It’s coming in in plumes,” he said.