The initial results of the 2017 Sydney International Wine Competition were announced recently and Waimea Estates was delighted that four of their winestyles caught the eye of the judges. This wine show is a little different in that the wines are judged twice – once in a formal setting and the second time judged with a dish created by the competition’s in-house chef so as to gauge the wine’s food-matching ability. Waimea Grüner Veltliner 2016 and Spinyback Pinot Gris 2015 were both awarded Gold Medals – placing them in the top 15% of the wine show’s 2000 entries. Waimea Sauvignon Blanc 2016 and Spinyback Riesling 2016 went one step further to be awarded a Blue Gold Medal plus a placing in the TOP 100 wines overall which places them in the top 5% of the show.

Forget the cork, screw cap or even a glass – ‘cracking one open’ isn’t just for beer drinkers anymore. Misty Cove in Blenheim is the first winery in New Zealand to start canning wine, and says it’s not only convenient, but also good for storing the drink. “The can in itself as a vessel is brilliant,” winemaker Andrew Bailey told Newshub. “There’s no light strike, there’s no oxygen getting in there. It’s absolutely perfect for wine really.” He says the can has a protective lining, so the aluminium doesn’t tamper with the taste.

The results of Sopexa’s 2016 Trade Monitor have revealed that while the trade still sees France as the world’s most prestigious wine producer, sales of Spanish wines are expected to rise. The Trade Monitor is the collected two-year forecasts of 1,100 members of the international trade – importers, wholesalers and retailers – and how their clients and customers view wine. According to their responses, France remains the most popular wine-producing country with 94% of respondents having French wines in their portfolios.

South Australia’s wine industry is known for some of the best wines in the world and now we can celebrate its environmental achievements as well.South Australian-based wineries Pernod Ricard Winemakers, Wirra Wirra and Kay Brothers have all received awards from the SA Wine Industry Association (SAWIA) for their commitment to greater energy efficiency. Pernod Ricard has cut winery CO2 emissions by more than 8,500 tonnes per year (equivalent to the output of 1,800 passenger vehicles), Wirra Wirra has made big energy savings from its investment in an efficient refrigeration plant, while Kay Brothers now gets 70% of its energy from rooftop solar panels and has been a leader in introducing “lean production” strategies.

Bryan Fry, the Managing Director of Pernod Ricard Australia, has told TheShout that the company’s plans to continue the strong support of the G.H Mumm brand will see a big push on rosé. Fry said that over the past seven years Pernod Ricard Australia has been investing strongly behind G.H Mumm and in that time the brand has seen 65 per cent growth. That growth has seen the brand move from number eight in Australia to number two with Fry adding “hopefully we’ll overtake the market leader some time very close in the future.”

Wine Australia has released a new online tool to help winegrape growers determine the rootstocks that will best suit their vineyard, based on the most recent research. The Grapevine Rootstock Selector brings together knowledge from Australian and international research about the specific characteristics of different rootstocks into one independent resource for the Australian grape and wine community. Wine Australia general manager research, development and extension Dr Liz Waters said the Grapevine Rootstock Selector is a free tool that helps to share the insights gained from rootstock research in a simple format.

The price of wine grapes in Australia is improving after some years in the doldrums, thanks to China’s growing demand for imported wine. Agribusiness banking specialist Rabobank says grape prices, especially for red grapes in premium growing regions, have rebounded from their low point in 2011.
The lower Australian dollar and relatively constrained production of grapes in Australia and overseas have also helped lift prices.

Trophy winning wines from this year’s Air New Zealand Wine Awards will be the focus of two workshops for Sydney and Melbourne wine trade next month. Hosted by Chair of Judges and Master of Wine Michael Brajkovich, guests will be among the first in Australia to sample the winning wines from each category. Following three days of judging, 91 gold medals were awarded across a number of varieties and regions with the ‘best of the best’ elite gold and trophy winning wines revealed at a black tie dinner in Auckland on 12 November.

While everyone loves Sauvignon, other varieties are eclipsing the perennial star of New Zealand’s show. There is a quiet revolution going on in New Zealand wine and, for once, Sauvignon Blanc is not at the center of the story. The announcement of the gold-medal winners for the Air New Zealand Wine Awards, the country’s top wine competition, proved that, as far as quality is concerned, Pinot Noir rules the roost. Despite making up a little more than 8 percent of the country’s plantings, Pinot Noir accounted for 17 out of 91 gold medals awarded, with Sauvignon Blanc second with 14 golds and Chardonnay picking up 13.

Consumers defy city’s retail woes to show strong appetite for wine and liquor, according to sellers at the city’s largest ever Wine and Dine Festival on Friday. The event, which popped open on Thursday and will end on Sunday, has seen Hongkongers flock to the Central harbourfront after knocking off work and ­exhibitors report steady growth in their business. Analysts say alcohol historically has held up well in weaker economic times, as gloomy employees keep drinking in the face of an uncertain outlook – though they might settle for cheaper brands and drink at home instead of while dining out.