Riverland grape producer Shane Nettle is grateful to no longer be at the mercy of big wine corporations. After returning to the family property near Cobdogla several years ago, the innovative farmer decided to diversify in a bid to stay profitable. His 130 acre block still supports a productive vineyard, but now also produces lucerne, cereal hay, fat lambs and wool. With much of the farm’s produce sold through their on-site fodder store, the family certainly have their hands full managing the multi-faceted business.

With signs the US economy is picking up, a leading international wine judge believes now is the time for Australian premium winemakers to renew efforts in selling across the Pacific. Rieslings from the US, Germany, New Zealand, France and South Africa — and for the first time the Czech Republic — are up against the Australian product at this week’s International Riesling Challenge in Canberra. A member of the judging team is International Riesling Foundation president Jim Tresize, from New York.

Bourg producers north of Bordeaux are to plant 1,200m of hedgerows around vineyards in 27 ‘sensitive sites’ around the appellation, including crèches, schools and sports fields. The planting programme, which is underway and will continue over winter 2015/2016, comes one year after 20 children and their teacher were affected with headaches and nausea following a pesticide treatment carried out on vines belonging to Château Castel la Rose and Château de Barbe in Villeneuve, Bourg. The plots were located directly next to the schoolyard.

Stories of entrepreneurs are usually inspiring, but not many tales are as dramatic as that of Cloudy Bay wines, whose makers are celebrating its 30th vintage. This is the stuff of urban legend. One minute, a gung-ho Australian takes a couple of sips of Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc (1983), the following year he is travelling to Marlborough and unwittingly planting the seeds of one of the most successful wine brands in the last half century.

The Six Nations Wine Challenge has wrapped up for another year with New Zealand dominating the competition. New Zealand went home with the title of Nation of Show, Wine of Show, five Class Trophies and a haul of gold medals. Australia came in second with one class trophy. Wine of Show was awarded to Framingham for its 2014 vintage Noble Riesling. The trophy was presented by New Zealand’s Consul General Ms. Billie Moore to winemaker Dr Andrew Hedley.

Organised by Wine Australia, the annual Wine Australia Award winners will be announced on October 27 in Shanghai, commending companies or individuals that made significant contribution to the effort of promoting Australian wine in China in the year. Candidates for best importers or distributors, best retailers, best restaurants or sommeliers, best educators came from 135 Australian Wine Trade Specialists certified by Wine Australia.

It’s been a huge year for Prosecco so far in 2015. Far from a poor man’s Champagne, the newest trend in sparkling wine has taken the world by storm with sales so strong there was even fear of a ‘global Prosecco shortage’ crisis. Building a reputation as a premium sparkling wine, the Italian variety overtook Champagne as the most popular choice of bubbles across the globe.

Discussions about tax reform between the Australian wine industry and the Federal Government are being closely watched by their counterparts across the Tasman, according to New Zealand’s minister for food safety. In a wide-ranging interview with ABC Rural, Jo Goodhew said there was recognition within New Zealand’s wine industry that Australian winemakers were displeased with the current arrangement.

The Winemakers’ Federation of Australia (WFA) has urged Parliamentarians to turn on the green light when debate starts on the China-Australia Free Trade Agreement (ChAFTA) implementing legislation. The draft legislation was introduced in September and the Joint Standing Committee on Treaties was expected to lodge its report on ChAFTA sometime this week. “Any delays would cost the wine industry over $50 million – and the clock is ticking,” Paul Evans, WFA chief executive, said.

Murray Valley Winegrowers (MVW) has warned that grapes prices must increase next year to help secure the future of the winegrape industry in the Murray-Darling and Swan Hill regions. An annual growers’ survey conducted by MVW to track changes from the previous year has revealed a net loss of 1818 acres of winegrapes since this time last year. In two years, more than 3700 acres have been discarded due to prices that have been among the lowest in 10 years. Growers harvested 285,000 tonnes this year, down 45,000 tonnes on the 2014 vintage.