Wine Australia has announced Ben von Doussa has commenced in a newly created role of market entry program manager in the North American market. Stuart Barclay, general manager – market development, said that von Doussa’s role demonstrated Wine Australia’s long-term commitment to the critical North American market. “The US is one of the largest wine markets in the world and yet, despite its potential, Australian wine exports to the US have declined for more than six years,” Barclay said.

Penfolds was named International White Winemaker of the year by the International Wine Challenge (IWC) at a celebratory dinner held in London last week. The award was collected on behalf of the Penfolds team by senior white winemaker Kym Schroeter, who boasts over a quarter of a century of Penfolds winemaking experience. “The Penfolds team is truly honoured to receive such a prestigious award from the IWC.”

Wine brands Stowells, Jack Rabbit and Hardys are the current top three most popular wines in the UK on-trade, according to the latest report by CGA Strategy. Figures released by CGA on wine brand performance to the end of June reveal the trio to be the most popular in the UK off-trade. All three of the wines are distributed by Accolade Wines.

Specialist Australian wine importer Aussie Rules is adding Margaret River producer Domaine Naturaliste to its portfolio. The producer won Margaret River regional trophies at this year’s International Wine Challenge for its Artus 2013 Chardonnay and Sauvage Sauvignon Blanc- Semillon from the same vintage. Aussie Rules will be importing both along with other wines from all three of Domaine Naturaliste’s price tiers.

IF there’s just one wine that captures the agrarian spirit of the Barossa Valley, it’s David Lehmann’s astonishing Red Rose. The unusual wine, sold under the artisan David-Franz label, realises what David, son of the Margaret and the late Peter Lehmann, calls one of his “dearest oenological dreams” — to make a wine from more than 100 different varieties.

A steady stream of wine buyers are shelling out more than $500 on bottles of Penfolds, Wolf Blass and Wynns wines so they can buy a steeply discounted large-scale wine fridge normally worth $3000, in early signs that an expanded high-risk promotion by Treasury Wine Estates chief executive Mike Clarke is paying off. Campbell Stott, general manager of Woolworths’ Dan Murphys superstore chain, said in the first two weeks of the Treasury Wines promotion his chain had been surprised at the number of shoppers choosing to trade up

Decanter will return to the Ritz-Carlton in Pudong on 28 November for its second edition of the Decanter Shanghai Fine Wine Encounter. The first Decanter Shanghai Fine Wine Encounter was described as ‘the best wine show of the year in China’ and drew plaudits from visitors and exhibitors alike. News of the second edition was announced today (15 July) at a press conference in Shanghai and hosted by Decanter’s publishing director, Sarah Kemp.

Mornington Peninsula’s potential for cool climate Australian Shiraz should not be ignored as the region’s reputation for Pinot Noir rises, but consumers need more convincing, says the owner of Paringa Estate. Shiraz is still strongly associated with Barossa in Australia, and all of the spicy, ripe and jammy character that entails. But, many Australian winemakers argue that Shiraz is quite the chameleon in their country.

The Italian arm of British sports car manufacturer Aston Martin has teamed up with Dom Pérignon to offer a luxury Champagne extra that James Bond would be proud of. Taking luxury to another level, Aston Martin Milano has partnered with Dom Pérignon to offer buyers of its Milano Rapide S sports car the optional extra of having a bespoke Champagne cellar installed into the boot.

Chuck Byers, wine writer, recently attended the 25th anniversary celebration of the Milestone restaurant chain. Milestone’s marketing and public relations specialist, Lindsay Kirsh, met Byers at Milestone’s Yonge and Dundas location and introduced him to the ‘Bringing Tasty Back’ theme. Kim Crawford, together with parent company Constellation Brands, was the winery in the spotlight, and rightly so.