One day, pub owner Rosie Cupitt got to thinking about the glasses of wine she was serving every day at her Bowral bar. But it wasn’t just an idle thought. Before long, she was studying winemaking and working in local vineyards. Then she travelled to France and learnt some more in the Loire Valley near Sancerre. That still wasn’t enough for this born-again wine lover. She sold her pub and bought some land between Milton and Ulladulla on the NSW South Coast and started pegging out vines, reports Adelaide Now.

People thought Central Otago’s wine pioneers were one grape short of a bunch when they first planted vines in the region: way too cold to ripen grapes there, it was maintained. Decades later and the Pinot Noir from Central Otago’s cool climes is regarded as hot stuff in the world of wine, with events such as the recent Central Otago Pinot Celebration attracting aficionados from near and far, writes Jo Burzynsca in The New Zealand Herald.

While many Marlborough wine companies are gearing up for an influx of overseas workers for vintage at the end of next month, smaller boutique wineries will carry on with minor staffing changes. Villa Maria Estate Marlborough chief winemaker George Geris said the usual number of 50 to 60 employees would begin work about the third week of March for the grape harvest. Workers were an international brigade, including from the United States, Italy, Chile, Poland, Brazil, Australia, France, Belgium, and Spain, reports The Marlborough Express.

Grapegrowers in the Riverland are warning that the rains and an international grape glut could choke off any recovery in the wine industry. That’s despite conditions for grape growing improving this year after last year’s torrid season, reports The World Today.

Never thought we’d ever, ever say this, but McDonalds serves wine…good wine. Don’t rush out to the drive-thru just yet, however; the bottle is only available as part of a value meal in the Argentine wine capital of Mendoza. Billed as the “Sabores Mendocinos” menu, the meal includes a double-patty burger of Angus beef, two meat empanadas, and a 187mL (glass!) bottle of local Malbec produced by Bodega Santa Julia, reports Wine Times.

South Australia’s wet weather has thrown much of the state’s winegrape harvest into upheaval. Heavy falls have hit key regions at a critical time. Rain totals in the past 24 hours include 26.8 millimetres at Clare, 24.8 at Nuriootpa and 62mm at Renmark. The chairman of the state’s winegrape council, Simon Berry, says potential disease problems are just part of what is a worrying weather event, reports ABC News.

The hosts of a delegation of Chinese trade representatives believe their visitors will take a positive message about Orange wine back home with them. Representatives of retail stores and restaurants were among the delegation that toured Orange this week under the Wine Australia Regional Heroes Foundation Partnership Program. The program aims to increase export opportunities in key overseas markets for a selection of Australian wine regions, including Orange, reports Central Western Daily.

A growth rate of 1,000 per cent would be welcome in any industry. But it’s particularly impressive in the wine industry which has had a tough time in recent years. West Australian wine producer Ferngrove has grown its Chinese exports dramatically over the past 10 months after adopting a new approach to marketing and distribution, reports ABC Rural.

Boutique Barossa Valley winery Hentley Farm has been awarded a $25,000 State Government grant to go towards converting a 1880s barn into a high-end restaurant and function centre. Regional Development and Tourism Minister, Gail Gago, said the Regional Development Infrastructure Fund (RDIF) grant would assist the Seppeltsfield based winery to attract more customers and visitors, particularly from overseas, reports the Stock Journal.

Australian Vintage, owner of the McGuigan, Tempus Two and Nepenthe brands, increased sales to the UK and Europe by 9 per cent in the half year to December 31 despite a record high Australian dollar. Australian Vintage’s sales were up 4.4 per cent overall to $116.4 million, a result chief financial officer Mike Noack attributed to the company’s strong performance in Europe, reports The Shout.