New Zealand wines have notched up a record number of top awards at the prestigious UK-based International Wine and Spirit Competition (IWSC). New Zealand beat entrants from all other nations to take home both the IWSC Pinot Noir and Sauvignon Blanc Trophies, as well as 20 gold medals across one of the widest spread of styles and varieties ever seen from New Zealand at the competition.
The receivership of Marlborough’s Isabel Estate Vineyard is drawing to a close, but the wine company still owes more than $4.5 million. The latest six-month receiver’s report, released on September 1, showed around $4 million was paid to secured creditor Bank of New Zealand in the year to July. But a further $4.5m remained unrecovered. Unsecured creditors, who were collectively owed $200,000, were “unlikely” to be repaid, the report said.
For many years, fortified wines have been an intricate part of the Rutherglen Wine Show, so much so, that in 2010 the first ‘Australian Fortified Wine Show’ was launched. The home of great fortified wine, Rutherglen is hosting the premier Rutherglen Wine Show and Australian Fortified Wine Show this week. More than 1,300 entries have been sampled since Friday by a judging panel of renowned judges from across Australia.
Château Tanunda claimed 17 medals at the 2015 China Wine and Spirits awards, including the trophy for Australian Wine of the Year. John Geber, Château Tanunda proprietor, said he was thrilled that the result came in the winery’s 125th anniversary year. “Our 125th anniversary year is continuing with such a comprehensive performance in a very competitive show,” he said.
Minister for Regional Development John Barilaro will launch The Hunter Valley Wine & Tourism Alliance on Thursday. The alliance, a partnership between Cessnock and Singleton councils as well as the Hunter Valley Wine and Tourism Association, aims to double overnight visitor expenditure in the region by 2020. “International tourists will be encouraged to travel due to the strength of the Australian dollar, domestic tourists will be encouraged to tour within Australia and we must all ensure we pursue excellence.”
Grape and wine researchers are reminded that applications for Wine Australia’s travel and visiting scholar bursaries will close on Friday 2 October 2015. Each year, Wine Australia invests $50,000 in travel bursaries and $30,000 in visiting scholar bursaries with applications open to grape and wine researchers twice a year. Applications are currently open for travel set to commence between 1 January and 30 June 2016. Dr Liz Waters, Wine Australia RD&E portfolio manager, said the bursaries help to support local researchers to increase their knowledge and develop skills that will benefit the Australian grape and wine community.
COMMENT | Riverland grapegrowers are more water-efficient and contribute to better wines than they’re given credit for, argues Waikerie grower Henry Crawford. Last Tuesday, InDaily readers were treated to the reflections of wine writer Philip White on the change of Prime Minister and the possible ramifications for wine tax policy in this country. Philip, like all of us, is entitled to his opinion, however his comments got the heckles up of many in the industry.
SANTA ROSA – The first method for sanitizing large capacity 100,000 gallon stainless steel wine storage tanks without using any water or chemicals – and the only one commercially available on the market today – was demonstrated at the Jackson Family Wines production facility in Santa Rosa on Friday. The new system uses advanced short-wave ultraviolet ray technology in the “C” band of UV light, called UVC, to sanitize large stainless wine storage tanks using low pressure mercury lamps.
California’s wine industry will continue to split most of its sales above and below the $10-dollar-per-bottle mark, enjoying a rise in overall consumption and a growing emphasis on premium, rather than economy, wines, reported wine industry leaders surveyed by UC Davis. Challenges remain in the form of consolidation in the distribution and retail arms of the industry as well as in water and other environmental issues, the survey respondents said.
The New Zealand premium sparkling brand, Daniel Le Brun, scooped three gold medals at the recently held 2015 New Zealand International Wine Show. In an exceptional display of consistency, the Daniel Le Brun Brut Non-Vintage, Daniel Le Brun Rosé and the Daniel Le Brun 2009 Blanc de Blancs were all awarded with gold medals, from a pool of over 2,000 wine entries worldwide. Daniel Le Brun’s three winning wines will be formally honoured along with other medallists at the 2015 Awards Dinner, to be held at Auckland’s Crowne Plaza Hotel on September 26 2015.