From this month, Wyndham Estate will be renamed to George Wyndham, recognising the man that planted Australia’ first commercial vineyard of Shiraz grapes in 1830. The new packaging features George Wyndham’s signature and pays homage to his character, said the company’s chief winemaker, Steve Meyer. “This change bestows full honour to our founder. George Wyndham epitomised the Australian spirit. With vision and courage, he embraced the enormous potential of the land around him to create rich robust wines.

Wine Australia and the Daniel Pontifex Memorial Trust are searching for the next big name in hospitality. The Daniel Pontifex Scholarship recognises the passion and enthusiasm of tomorrow’s leading hospitality professionals, rewarding them with a place on Wine Australia’s trade and press visit to Australia in November. Daniel Pontifex, whom the scholarship commemorates, was killed in a car accident during his employment at Kensington Place Restaurant in London.

GOVERNOR General Sir Peter Cosgrove has praised Australian farming industries in describing agribusiness as an industry the nation can’t do without. “Here in Australia we are fortunate to have an agribusiness sector that delivers bountiful, fresh, high quality and delicious food to our table and to the tables of 60 million people right around the world,” Cosgrove said. “So on this – the longest night of the year – we come together to feast and to give thanks for all that we have.

Wine grape growing is Australia’s largest fruit industry and you’ll find few climate sceptics among winemakers. Many are already seeing their grapes ripen earlier because of temperature rise. By the middle of the century, places with a Mediterranean climate – such as South Australia, Victoria and Margaret River in Western Australia – will be less suitable to grow current grape varieties, particularly red ones used for Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.

In the midst of the Greek financial crisis, a contingent of Greece’s top wine producers is touring Australia hoping to capitalise on the lucrative Australian wine market. Twenty-five of Greece’s leading wineries are undertaking the tour which, according to producers and officials, will hopefully increase both consumer awareness of Greek brands and exports to Australia. The Trade Commissioner from the Greece Embassy, Vaianos Oreopoulos-Kelenis, said that Greek wine exports to Australia were currently worth around $1m.

It wasn’t exactly California weather but one of the bright lights of the American wine industry, Charles Banks, was not too bothered by the distant dark skies and low-teen temperatures of rural Hawke’s Bay yesterday. He was more interested in taking in the “remarkable” landscape of the Gimblett Gravels and being back in a part of the world he confessed he had fallen in love with. “Hawke’s Bay is a very special place and it has great people – and nothing works without great people.”

The Organic Focus Vineyard Project followed the experiences of three prominent wineries – Mission Estate in Hawkes Bay, Wither Hills in Marlborough, and Gibbston Valley Wines in Central Otago – while each company transitioned one of their vineyards to BioGro-certified organic production. The vineyard managers agreed to participate the reality show by switching half of their land to organic methods while the industry watched their every move via the internet, scientific reports, and on the ground at public events.

New Zealand brewers want to further capitalise on their booming beer exports by accessing a tax break currently only accessible to Australian brewers. By excluding NZ brewers, Australia’s Brewery Refund Scheme that was introduced in 2012 may be in breach of the current free trade agreement between the countries. The NZ brewers say the success of their winemaking counterparts after they were given access to the Australian Wine Equalisation Tax (WET) rebate gives an indication of the scope for growth.

Wine exporters from across the region have raised a toast to the Chinese free trade deal which they hope will grow the Australian brand in the major market. Shaw Vineyard Estate owner Graeme Shaw, of Murrumbateman, said the greatest benefit of the progressive elimination of trade tariffs would likely be promotional opportunities. The free trade agreement, signed by Prime Minister Tony Abbott on Wednesday, was expected to remove the 14 per cent tariff on Australian bottled wine, and 20 per cent slug on bulk wine, across four years once in effect.

Australian restaurants have some of the best wine lists in the world, after winning big at the annual World’s Best Wine Lists Awards. Organised by the UK-based magazine The World of Fine Wine, the awards give out one-, two- and three-star rankings to restaurant wine lists. Australia won big, with 249 restaurants picking up awards, second only to the United States, which has 312 restaurants making the grade.