South Australian wine producers are seizing opportunities to boost their wine sales in the Shandong province, as part of the recently signed China Australia Free Trade Agreement. Barossa-based winery Seppeltsfield said last week that it has secured a 1.5-million-litre annual exports deal with the Shandong-based Nanshan group, as one of the several business agreements signed during an official visit of South Australian Premier’s delegation to the Shandong province, China.

New Zealand’s primary sector export revenues will probably drop 8 percent to $35.2 billion this year, due to a substantial decline for dairy and forestry products although the outlook for the next four years is rosier. The Ministry for Primary Industries’ latest Situation and Outlook for Primary Industries shows revenue for dairy, the traditional heavyweight in the primary sector accounting for 40 percent of total export revenue, is expected to decrease 22 percent to $14.2 billion in the year ending June 30, 2015.

Tyrrell’s Wines has unveiled one of Australia’s first commercial solar power purchase projects as part of a string of environmentally-friendly measures that the winery has introduced. The 1350 solar panels were installed by Sunlease (a Solgen Group company) after Tyrrell’s had the dream five years ago to reduce energy production per dozen by 20 per cent. They didn’t know where to start or if the economic investment would be worth it, so approached Solgen three years ago to get the ball rolling.

NORTHDOWN is home to the first commercial winery on the North-West Coast after Ghost Rock officially opened its $1 million venture yesterday. Hundred Acres is a winery and food interpretation centre that will allow the Northdown vineyard to grow, pick, make and bottle its own wines on-site. The food interpretation centre has been equipped to host food and cooking workshops that will be matched with the vineyard’s world-class wines.

Pernod Ricard, maker of wine including Jacob’s Creek and Wyndham Estate, has filed court action against the Environment and Heritage Department. It wants the Environment, Resources and Development Court to overturn the department’s refusal to allocate extra River Murray irrigation water to its South-East vineyards over winter. The department denied the allocation application, saying it was filed two days after the deadline, but Pernod Ricard claims it can prove otherwise.

Faults were found among almost half of the 1,815 Swiss wine producers inspected in 2014, with 854 showing minor irregularities and 36 major shortcomings. “In particular the companies committing major errors blended wines illegally,” said Philippe Hunziker, head of the Swiss Wine Trade Inspection on Thursday. Improper labelling was also noted in the report of the wine inspectors and cantonal chemists. “All the irregularities were the result of human error or administrative negligence,” said Patrick Edder, a chemist in canton Geneva, adding that small as well as large cellars were involved.

The Hawke’s Bay Winegrowers association have launched their new branding campaign after acknowledging the regions third stellar vintage in a row. They said their new look is about telling the Hawke’s Bay story, which will provide them with a great platform to build on. Plans for a new central brand were approved last year and will rovide an umbrella brand that all Hawke’s Bay wineries can come under. It’s new branding will feature what designers considered to be the heart the industry – the rivers.

Jackson Family Wines has augmented its import portfolio with the addition of New Zealand winery Jackson Estate. Marking its entry into the booming New Zealand wine category, Jackson Family will import Jackson Estate Stich Sauvignon Blanc (retailing at $22) and Vintage Widow Pinot Noir ($30), both sourced from Marlborough. Named for the Jacksons that emigrated from England in 1842 and acquired the first blocks of land in Marlborough in 1855, Jackson Estate’s wines are now available across the US.

A historian tracing the story of the wine industry in the Hunter Valley says Australia needs to recognise the importance of its vineyards. Dr Julie McIntyre is a research fellow at the University of Newcastle, and is currently studying the historical and social significance of Hunter wine production and consumption. The Hunter Valley is the country’s oldest wine region, but is not protected by legislation like other areas in Western Australia and South Australia. McIntyre said it does not make sense.

Brian McGuigan and Ian Ferrier announced their retirement from Australian Vintage. The two will retire from their roles on the Board as Chairman and Non-Executive Director respectively. Both joined the board in 1991 as Directors of the company, then known as Brian McGuigan Wines. Over 24 years, Brian and Ian have seen the successful merger between Simeon Wines and Brian McGuigan Wines, forming McGuigan Simeon Wines in 2002, as well as the transition to the Australian Vintage name in 2008.