China’s taste for top Australian wines is climbing as living standards rise and demand lifts, according to the latest wine sales data. Last year, the rapidly growing market become the third largest destination for Australian wine with sales shooting up to $201.5 million in 2011, behind only the major markets of the United States and the United Kingdom. Wine sales to China and Hong Kong helped prevent a larger decline in Australian wine exports which fell to $1.89 billion last year as exports to the US and UK went into reverse, reports AdelaideNow.

Winemakers in the Margaret River wine region have their fingers crossed the weather remains fine for the next month or so as they prepare to harvest this year’s vintage. So far, everything is looking good with grape picking due to start in about five weeks. David Rankin of Vinepower contracting said plenty of people were ready to do the picking this year, especially French visitors, reports the Augusta-Margaret River Mail.

Wine lovers will have a chance to discover some of the alternative varieties being grown in Langhorne Creek as part of a new festival in the region. The Love Langhorne Creek festival is the newest festival in the cool-climate wine region which will take place through inviting cellar doors on the Valentine’s weekend, from11-12 February.

Wine bosses in Australia are frustrated by the slow progress of the country’s vine removal program, with around half the projected amount of vines being grubbed up since 2009. The 2009 Wine Restructuring Action Agenda (WRAA) indicated there were 20-30,000 hectares of surplus vineyards in Australia. The Winemakers’ Federation of Australia estimates 14,000 ha have been removed since the Agenda’s launch but reform has not been as been as extensive as hoped, reports Decanter.

A slow and rain-affected flowering is likely to reduce the Sauvignon Blanc crop across the top of the South Island. Last week’s downpour came just as the flagship variety was finishing flowering in Nelson, adding to headaches faced by vineyard managers in a difficult and disrupted season. The deluge three weeks ago hammered Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, Gewurztraminer and some Chardonnay crops, reports the Nelson Mail.

Producers in Burgundy are thrilled with their new vintage and although quantities are small, prices will largely stay down. For both whites and reds, producers such as Alain Chavy from Domaine Alain Chavy in Puligny-Montrachet described themselves as “very happy indeed” with 2010 and expressed more enthusiasm for it than 2009, reports The Drinks Business.

American consumers will be drinking more sparkling wines from around the world than ever before in 2012, according to a new study published by Wine Intelligence. A broadening of the consumer base, a greater range on offer, and an increasing desire among some consumers to make sparkling wine a regular rather than occasional treat are the main factors driving the trend, according to the report’s authors. The Wine Intelligence USA Sparkling Report 2012 states that over 30 million Americans say they drink sparkling wine at least once a year, reports Tiz Wine.

Wine bosses in Australia are frustrated by the slow progress of the country’s vine removal programme, with around half the projected amount of vines being grubbed up since 2009. The 2009 Wine Restructuring Action Agenda (WRAA) indicated there were 20-30,000 hectares of surplus vineyards in Australia. The Winemakers’ Federation of Australia estimates 14,000 ha have been removed since the Agenda’s launch but reform has not been as been as extensive as hoped, reports Decanter.

Australia’s second-largest wine company, Treasury Wine Estates, has failed to arrest declining sales in its biggest market, the United States. In the 13 weeks to December 10, the amount of wine Treasury sold fell 5 per cent and the value of sales declined 6 per cent, according to The Australian Financial Review. It was a performance that lagged the broader market as revenues fell heavily from its big-selling American wine labels and its imported Australian brands such as Rosemount.

Work began yesterday at the Fairmont Homes Seaford Heights housing development. It has prompted opponents to repeat calls for laws to protect the McLaren Vale district from further encroachment. The development was hotly contested last year but approved in May, clearing the way for about 1300 homes to be built on 77ha just north of the McLaren Vale wine region, reports AdelaideNow.