John Key says he would be “extremely surprised” if a far-reaching ban on alcohol sponsorship and advertising went ahead. A ministerial forum on alcohol advertising and sponsorship has put forward a raft of recommendations – including a ban on alcohol companies sponsoring sports teams and events. Organisers of major Marlborough events that rely on sponsorship from the wine industry, including the Forrest GrapeRide and Saint Clair Vineyard Half Marathon, have said their future would be threatened if the recommendations were implemented.

Japanese wine drinkers are increasingly open to trying new styles and countries as the country’s wine market ‘comes of age’, according to a new report. Chile has been a major beneficiary of this maturing trend in Japan, with the country’s wines more than tripling their share of the market over the past seven years and overtaking France late in 2014, says Rabobank in its latest wine quarterly report. Australian winemakers are also seeking a greater presence in Japan.

SOUTH Australia and its iconic wine regions star in the second season of satirical comedy Plonk, heralding a new frontier of tourism. The web series Plonk takes an off-kilter look at the South Australia wine industry that is “part comedy narrative, part documentary”. The mockumentary follows the many misadventures of a film crew who are making a wine show – but the true star is the burgeoning wine and hospitality industry of Australia’s south.

Difficult trading conditions have plagued the Wine Production industry over the past five years.
Volatile demand from key export markets, a soaring Australian dollar for much of the period and rising competition from low-cost overseas wine producers have all hurt wine exports, according to IBISWorld’s updated report on the Wine Production in Australia. In the domestic market, producers have been forced to contend with changing consumer preferences and have lost bargaining power to retailers.

On the heels of a study by Macquarie University’s accounting and sustainability expert professor Roger Burritt, Australia’s winemakers are wondering what they can do to conserve water in the midst of predictions about a dry future. According to a story on Australian eco website Sustainability Matters, there’s a difference of opinion about the solutions. “There is clear gap between the wine industry’s perception of the importance of water efficiency and wastewater production issues, and what the actual statistics reveal,” the article said.

The Langhorne Creek Wine Show Luncheon is held on Friday May 1st in the Grand Marquee, overlooking the picturesque gum trees and vineyards at The Winehouse in Langhorne Creek. This ticketed event has established itself as the region’s premier event, attended by winemakers, industry members, wine enthusiasts, invited media and sponsors. Joining previous judges, wine writer Nick Ryan and Iain Riggs of Brokenwood, will be Margot Muir, manager of Edinburgh Cellars and judge for the last 3 years at the Royal Adelaide Wine Show.

A campaign to get Australians involved in the Federal Government’s reforms to the tax system has been launched by the Distilled Spirits Industry Council of Australia (DSICA). The Henry Tax Review called for a more open, understandable and responsive tax system, but the DSICA has said that the current system is anything but, saying, “there are over sixteen different tax rates across two tax systems, depending on the type of drink, the size of the container and how much alcohol is in it.”

A new scheme for authorizations of vine plantations has been published by the European Commission, which allows for a yearly limit in expansion of the EU’s wine areas. The new rules are in agreement with the reforms in the Common Agricultural Policy in 2013, and were also approved by the European Parliament and the member states. The publication confirms that the member states should, at a national level, manage a system of free, non-transferable planting authorizations.

Visitors to Marlborough for the region’s biggest party spent more than $1.3 million and contributed almost $800,000 to the region’s gross domestic product. The first economic impact report for this year’s Marlborough Wine & Food Festival, held in February, was released on Friday and shows the economic impact the event has on the region. More than 7800 people attended the event this year, including 230 organisers, 620 staff and 6970 attendees.

Near parity with the Australian dollar has presented a speed bump for Hawke’s Bay wineries trying to gain traction in the Aussie market. The Kiwi dollar jumped half a cent against the Australian dollar this week, moving above A99c and sparking renewed speculation of parity. The strength of the dollar is putting a strain on exports to Australia for some industries – among them, New Zealand winegrowers. Hawke’s Bay Winegrowers Association chairman Michael Henley said the dollar was a hindrance to breaking further into the Australian market for local wineries.