Accolade Wines CEO-in-waiting Michael East has taken over the top spot in the Australian wine company, it has been confirmed. East was appointed to the role as deputy chief executive in August after outgoing CEO Paul Schaafsma signaled his intent to step down following Champ confirming it was planning to list Accolade on the IPO. Schaafsma has allegedly announced to the board he would remain in the role until the conclusion of Champ’s ownership, which is not expected to happen before the end of the first half of 2017.

According to papers filed at Companies House in the UK in November, Schaafsma ceased to be a director of the UK business on November 11, but a spokesman for the company at the time told db at the time this was merely “part of the ongoing transition”. However it was confirmed today that East, who joined the business in 2012 and became general manager of its Australian and Asian business, was officially appointed CEO in September, with a handover period.

The technology to help the wine and grape community get through the 2017 vintage fits into a pocket. This week has delivered the latest news on two phone apps, one for grapegrowers and one for winemakers. One will help winemakers manage ferments in vintage 2017, the other has been designed to help grapegrowers monitor water stress in their vineyards. The Australian Wine Research Institute (AWRI) has launched an online version of a Ferment Simulator –allowing winemakers to track ferments online and identify problem ferments earlier.

Accolade Wines, the number one wine company in Australia and the UK by volume, and the fifth largest wine company in the world, honored suppliers at their annual awards dinner. Constantia Flexibles was honored with the Supplier of the Year award, as well as the Highest On Time In Full Performance, and Excellence in Quality awards. The strong and collaborative partnership between Constantia Flexibles and Accolade Wines is the backbone of these successes, the wine maker said.

The team at Sacred Hill have had an exciting run of accolades, most notably, a double gold in the 6 Nations Wine Challenge and two medals at the Hawkes Bay Wine Awards. The premiere award is the double gold for the Helmsman at the 6 Nations Wine Challenge in Sydney recently. The international judging panel compare the very best from Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Canada and The United States with New Zealand wines performing strongly this year. David says “It’s no mistake that the Helmsman is good. The team love crafting wine from our very special site in the heart of the Gimblett Gravels.”

New Zealand’s Stoneleigh have pushed for a big presence in Sydney during these next few weeks, taking over an overrun and abandoned hotel in Chippendale to create a Jumanji-like immersive wine experience that sketches the wondrous Stoneleigh vineyards onto the concrete jungle that is inner Sydney. The philosophy of minimal intervention winemaking will be fully showcased at one of the more unique pop ups of the summer, inviting guests to head on into the hotel and lose themselves in the wild, overgrown interior while enjoying some of Stoneleigh’s finest.

In the first eight months of 2016, Italian wine exports to China outperformed the overall market by more than six points. The Italian market share (5.5%), however, remains too low for such a top exporter, despite being the world’s largest wine producer, the country is still only in fifth place among the main partners of Beijing. In the first eight months of 2016, China imported wine for €1.4 billion, with a jump of 24%. Italy grew by 30.4%, according to data from Nomisma’s Wine Monitor. “These are the first positive effects of the promotion policies set in place in China by the Italian government,” said Giovanni Mantovani, the CEO of Veronafiere trade fair.

With American distribution finally catching up to Australia’s innovations, this most loved/hated variety is more diverse and expressive than ever. The pendulum of style swings swiftly in the world of Australian wine. Chardonnay, once broad and richly oaked, swung toward slimness and finesse, then rebounded to become fleshy yet refined—all in just the last decade. Shiraz hasn’t been immune to change, either. Momentum had been building for cool-climate Shiraz when Glaetzer-Dixon’s 2010 Mon Père Shiraz from Tasmania won the Jimmy Watson Trophy in 2011.

The Vintner’s Daughter is pleased to announce that they will be opening a cellar door on site at the vineyard and winery at Crisps Lane Murrumbateman on Saturday 3 December 2016, and will then open Saturdays and Sundays from 10 till 4 pm. Husband and wife team, Stephanie Helm and Benjamin Osborne, established the Vintner’s Daughter in 2014 after they purchased a winery and vineyard, formerly known as Yass Valley Wines, at Murrumbateman in the Canberra District. The vineyard was one of the earliest in the district, having been established in 1978.

Cabernet Franc’s gentle characteristics and aroma is like “perfume on a woman”, according to Chateau Tanunda’s dapper yet forthright proprietor, John Geber. Speaking to dbHK at last week’s Wine and Spirits Fair, Geber said: “Cabernet Franc is like perfume on a woman. It brings out the best qualities of the wine, it’s lovely on the nose and releases these gentle aromas – if used subtly.” The proprietor of iconic Barossa property, Chateau Tanunda also said that the “Barossa is like Australia’s Napa” but at much better value.

Australia’s and South Korea’s trade ministers have patted themselves on the back over boosted exports stemming from a close-to-two-year free trade pact. South Koreans are going nuts for macadamias and the Australian wine is flowing. But a jubilant Trade Minister Steve Ciobo and counterpart Joo Hyung-hwan only had water available to toast the progress of the close-to-two-year free trade pact between Australia and South Korea. The pair reviewed the deal’s progress so far during their bilateral meeting on Thursday afternoon (Peru time) on the sidelines of the APEC summit.