For the past few decades, icewine makers here have been doing well. According to the Canadian Vintners Association, between 2004 and 2010 the export market for icewine nearly doubled to 12m Canadian dollars; in terms of volume it grew 43%. Icewine has to be harvested at temperatures of -8C or below. But Canadian vintners like Quebec icewine maker Charles-Henri de Coussergues are worried that similar wines are produced all year round in places where winters are much milder – simply by artificially freezing the grapes.In Canada, they call these wines cheap knock-offs.

The sixth Frankland Estate International Riesling Tasting will be held in Sydney on 6-7 February to once again celebrate the quality and diversity of the world’s finest Riesling wines.

Growers have reported few immediate problems from the heavy rain that occurred across South Australia’s Riverland region over the weekend, according to senior viticulturist for the CCW Group, Andrew Weeks. According to the Riverland Winegrape Growers Association’s latest online newsletter, Weeks said inundation of low-lying areas in vineyards where the rainfall was heaviest was the biggest concern for growers immediately following the downpour, which saw the towns of Renmark and Loxton receive 56.8mm and 44.4mm, respectively, over Saturday night and Sunday morning

Heirs to one of California’s oldest wine families are battling for control in a bitter power struggle that recalls the epic clashes among the Mondavis and Sebastianis. Louis M. Foppiano, 64, chairman of his family’s 115-year-old winery and vineyards in Healdsburg, is being sued by his sister, Susan Valera, 59, who alleges her brother threatened the health of the family trust by using it to make a series of loans to the company, in part for executive bonuses, reports Press Democrat.

Amps Fine Wine is heading to New Zealand after coming top in a competition encouraging on-trade buyers to boost wine sales. Harpers reports the incentive competition, which coincided with the Rugby World Cup, was held by New Zealand Winegrowers along with tournament organisers NZ2011. The aim was to encourage on-trade buyers to increase the diversity of New Zealand varietals offered by the glass and on main wine lists.

Amps Fine Wine is heading to New Zealand after coming top in a competition encouraging on-trade buyers to boost wine sales. Harpers reports the incentive competition, which coincided with the Rugby World Cup, was held by New Zealand Winegrowers along with tournament organisers NZ2011. The aim was to encourage on-trade buyers to increase the diversity of New Zealand varietals offered by the glass and on main wine lists.

There is only one way to lift this current malaise and economic gloom and that is with a glass of fizz. The Yorkshire Post reports if we all pop the corks on sparkling wine this season then we won’t be able to hear Europe’s currency collapsing around us and our spirits will be lifted sufficiently to cope with whatever crisis appears next.

There is only one way to lift this current malaise and economic gloom and that is with a glass of fizz. The Yorkshire Post reports if we all pop the corks on sparkling wine this season then we won’t be able to hear Europe’s currency collapsing around us and our spirits will be lifted sufficiently to cope with whatever crisis appears next.

Another tough year for the Australian wine industry. Another excellent year for Australian wine drinkers with strong national and international competition keeping a lid on prices, writes Jeni Port, in The Age. Spoilt for choice, we saw the continued rise of the BOB phenomenon – the Buyer’s Own Brand – with more shelf space in supermarkets devoted to anonymous wines sourced and bottled by the big two, Woolworths and Coles (and, to a lesser extent, independent retailers), at prices competing with and sometimes undercutting known Australian brands.

Australian Rieslings in all price ranges are better than they ever have been.The flavours and textures have changed from being peculiarly Australian up to about seven to eight years ago to being more internationally recognisable as Riesling, reports inmycommunity.com.au