Rolling storms and drenching rain have disrupted the Hunter Valley grape harvest, with winemakers on a knife edge waiting for a window of opportunity to pick their crop. A couple of weeks ago the president of the Hunter Valley Vineyards Association, Andrew Margan, gave an emotional interview to 1233 ABC Newcastle’s Aaron Kearney about the havoc heavy rain had caused with the local harvest. When Aaron checked in with Andrew again to find out the current state of play, he found a slightly brighter picture but the harvest still very much in the balance, reports ABC Newcastle.

The search for Australia’s best wine lists starts today as entries open for the 2012 Wine List of the Year Awards. Presented by Gourmet Traveller WINE magazine and Fine Wine Partners, the awards seek out the best wine lists across Australia in a range of categories and venues from the city to the country, leading restaurants, gastro-pubs and wine bars. This year will feature a new award, the ‘Best Representation of Australian Wine’ sponsored by A+ Australian Wine, an initiative of Wine Australia, reports The Shout.

Global success of Yellow Tail has helped owner Casella Wines buy 11 vineyards covering 1370 hectares in South Australia over the past six years. Director John Casella said the purchases had allowed the company to expand through the downturn and reach 15 per cent of Australia’s bottled wine exports. While some major corporations had pulled out of grower contracts and sold vineyards, he sees a bright future, reports Adelaide Now.

Sauvignon Blanc has, of course, been the success story of the past decade when it comes to varietal whites, but it has also played an important role in another great white style that provides a refreshing taste for summer. Put it with Semillon and a certain magic happens, not only in the winemaking, but in the minds of many consumers. Semillon has some cache, writes News Limited’s national wine writer Tony Love.

The embattled wine industry is on a turnaround, Padthaway Estate’s new owner Nigel Catt believes. “The industry’s all about timing,” says the former senior winemaker at Andrew Garrett Wines, who worked during that company’s rise in the 1980s. “This is my first foray back into the industry after 10 years. (He sold his Middleton Winery in 2001). I think it’s gone through enough.” Mr Catt is buying the 110ha Padthaway Estate, alongside vineyard manager Troy Mathews and marketer Nina Murphy, from former SA Liberal Party leader Dale Baker, reports Adelaide Now.

Over the past two decades, the Mornington Peninsula in Victoria has undergone a stunning metamorphosis from sleepy weekend destination to one of Australia’s hottest wine and food destinations. Today, it is hard to think of a region anywhere in Australia that ticks quite as many boxes as the peninsula: spectacular scenery, surf beaches, fine food, great wines and luxurious accommodation. Winsor Dobbin presents the third in a series of guides to visiting Australia and New Zealand’s top wine regions, in the Sydney Morning Herald.

Startling revelations from the opening session at this year’s annual meeting of the Washington Association of Wine Grape Growers (WAWGG) cast new light on two issues now facing U.S. wineries and winemakers. Powerful reviewers may have been more influential than climate change in driving up the alcohol content in wines; and as new consumer segments open, the wine market is no longer a monolithic entity, reports Wines & Vines.

The coal-rich hills of Australia’s Hunter Valley have long fed China’s steel furnaces but the winemaking region is riding a fresh boom as the Asian power’s middle classes toast their new wealth. Mining delegations are being replaced by wine enthusiasts as China’s upwardly mobile millions get the taste for an expensive drop, and Australia’s vintners are turning their efforts towards the lucrative new market, reports AFP.

Lovers of food as well as wine were spoiled for choice at the Marlborough Wine and Food Festival at Brancott Estate near Fairhall at the weekend. A crowd of about 8000 chilled out at the festival site amidst the vines. A cool wind and cloudy skies saw summery sundresses hidden beneath jackets and jerseys but people warmed up by dancing and eating hot food. Blenheim chef Chris Fortune said the best thing about this 29th festival was seeing the word ‘food’ back in its title, and quality wines complemented by quality foods, reports The Marlborough Express.

Eleven Marlborough wines are in the running for trophies at an international wine competition in Australia this month. Brent Marris, owner of Marisco Vineyards in Marlborough, is among the 12 wine experts from Australia, Britain and New Zealand who will judge at the 31st Sydney International Wine Competition, reports The Marlborough Express.