Accolade Wines, the world’s leading provider of new world premium, commercial and value wines, will rope in former Australian Cricketer, Glenn McGrath, as brand Ambassador for the flagship wine brand, Hardys, in the India market. The idea, according to Nick Pringle, Commercial Director – AMESCA/SE, Accolade Wines Limited, is to use the legendary Cricketer and his properties to reach out to their target customer-base, “people with disposable income and follow cricket.” The company had signed McGrath as Hardys Cricket Ambassador for Australia last year.

The fiancee of a man who was killed in a windsurfing accident in the South West has revealed her grief over losing the love of her life shortly before they were to be married. Bunbury resident Simon Burnell, 44, died after he was swept away in rough seas while windsurfing in a popular surfing break, known by Margaret River locals as Cow Bombie, on March 22. At his funeral on Saturday, his fiancee, Perth-based Director of Public Prosecutions Linda Keane, described how she and Burnell were preparing for their wedding and had been looking forward to building a home and starting a family.

A Senate inquiry is examining the profitability of wineries in areas such as the Hunter, along with the impact of taxes and regulations. The inquiry will also assess possible failures in the wine industry supply chain and the power and influence of retailers. Another focus is how the industry benefits regions such as the Hunter, through tourism and employment. Hunter vigneron Bruce Tyrrell says the industry has been proactive, but imposts like the wine equalisation tax are still hurting growers.

The long and mainly sun-blessed Hawke’s Bay summer has seen winemakers smiling at the prospect of another fine vintage, and winery staff in general celebrating a hugely successful tourist-driven season. At Clearview Winery in Te Awanga the numbers of guests who called to wine and dine were “record breaking”, function, events and restaurant manager Kristy Paddick said. “It’s been absolutely pumping,” she said. “We had the full sign out in the driveway by about 10am most days over the holiday period.”

People in Vanuatu are desperate to find work in Marlborough following the devastation left by Cyclone Pam, a Blenheim vineyard contractor says. Vinepower co-director Jono Bushell has been in the island nation since before the storm, and said he had been hounded by people asking him to find them work. Many of the ni-Vanuatu vineyard workers who were in Blenheim at the time of the cyclone returned home to see their families after it hit on March 14. Speaking from Vanuatu on Thursday, Bushell said he warned the workers still in Marlborough not to return, despite knowing they wanted to check on their families.

People in Vanuatu are desperate to find work in Marlborough following the devastation left by Cyclone Pam, a Blenheim vineyard contractor says. Vinepower co-director Jono Bushell has been in the island nation since before the storm, and said he had been hounded by people asking him to find them work. Many of the ni-Vanuatu vineyard workers who were in Blenheim at the time of the cyclone returned home to see their families after it hit on March 14. Speaking from Vanuatu on Thursday, Bushell said he warned the workers still in Marlborough not to return, despite knowing they wanted to check on their families.

Australian wines have challenged the views of leading wine experts at Italy’s biggest annual wine fair, Vinitaly in Verona this week, who say screw capped wines are inferior. Tyson Stelzer, Australian wine writer and host, presented five mature flagship Australian red wines under both cork and screw cap in a blind tasting. In a surprise twist, a panel of international wine professionals voted the screw-capped wines ahead of the corks. “The result was ground-breaking for Italy, where screw caps remain controversial and until recently have been prohibited on the country’s top wines,” Stelzer said.

Three of the Adelaide Hills’ top wineries will feature prominently at the Oakbank Easter Racing Carnival as part of a new partnership to support the iconic event. Sidewood, Somerled Wines and Golding Wines will be served at the Carnival’s food and wine precinct, The Paddock, on Saturday, April 4 and Monday, April 6. Oakbank Racing Club Chairman John Glatz said while the event aimed to work with and support as many Adelaide Hills businesses as possible, this year it has stepped up this promise.

OWNERS of Pinelli Estate Winery say a proposal for a service station opposite their vineyard is the final straw for the tourist facility, which is already squeezed by residential development on one side.
To their relief, the City of Swan rejected an application for a petrol station with shop and service area at 40 Bennett Street in Caversham, just metres from homes and Pinelli Estate Winery last Wednesday. At the close of advertising, City of Swan had received 26 objections and 22 letters with no objection to the development.

Taylors Wine is joining forces with Wild Bush Luxury to bring food, wine and travel together in a series of travel experiences. The partnership has come together through a “passion for local produce” as well as a commitment to the sustainability and conservation of South Australia’s natural beauty and heritage. The collaboration starts with an online campaign that will take guests through a sequence of Wild Bush Luxury outback experiences and then encourage them to create their own “Wild Bush Story”.