Coonawarra to herald in the new vintage with a bang
‘A smash and a squash’ - that’s how the Coonawarra Grape and Wine industry are set to herald in the 2023 Vintage (aka. V23), with community members and dignitaries to gather at the iconic Coonawarra Railway Siding for the first official Vintage Launch Ceremony in many years ... “Vintage in Coonawarra is more than when a wine's grapes are harvested. It heralds the anniversary of a new year in Coonawarra, where we reflect and say goodbye to the previous season”: Coonawarra Vignerons Executive Officer, Hugh Koch.
Wine industry wrap
The annual South Australian Wine Industry Snapshot for 2022 was recently released. A collaboration involving the South Australian Wine Industry Association (SAWIA), the report is designed to provide an annual overview of the South Australian wine industry each year, including challenges and wins ... South Australian Wine businesses report volume has declined 13 per cent year on year in 2022 compared to 2021 which was a record vintage.
Seasonal rural update
Danielle Moore. A seasonal update of where things are at in our local area ... This season has not let up. I’ve been an agronomist for 32 years, while there is rain there is still work to be done and it hasn’t stopped!: Jamie Weatherald, Nutrien Ag Bordertown ... “Its been pretty challenging from the vineyard side of things with many rainfall events...": Will Malone, Wrattonbully.
Ag Speak – Helping vineyards get ‘appy
Kristin Murdock. Biosecurity is a buzzword in the agricultural industry, now more than ever with the recent threat of foot and mouth disease and an infestation of varroa mite affecting bees in New South Wales. Vineyards are just as vulnerable to risks and with that in mind, Willo Brown from Oparina Wines in Padthaway has put his university IT skills to good use creating an app called myVineyard.
Australia’s best of the best – Halliday Wine Companion Awards 2023
Boutique Hunter Valley winery, Briar Ridge Vineyard, wins “Other White (& Blends) Wine of the Year” with the 2021 Limited Release Albariño by winemaker Alex Beckett ... Winemaker Alex Beckett also recently took out the Riedel 2022 Hunter Valley Young Achiever of the Year award that recognises exceptional talent and contribution to the wine industry by winemakers under the age of 35.
Castlemaine Central Wine Store
Castlemaine Central Wine Store specialises in wine from small and medium-sized producers (mostly family owned and operated) from around Victoria. You will find a wide range of varietals such as Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon - surely specialties of our part of Central Victoria - to wines made from less well-known grapes including Durif, Grenache, Nebbiolo, Sangiovese, Tempranillo, Mataro and of course Pinot Noir.
What did the Winemaker drink OS?
Just back from three weeks overseas ... I thought I would write a few lines about booze overseas: quality, range and distribution ... Our first stop was the US ... We used to drink wine on our visits to the US ... Spent the first day in London walking the “Monopoly board”, stopping for a reviver or two in beautiful pubs.
Australian wineries and vineyards moving ahead in the transition to net zero emissions and to tackle climate change
Sustainable Winegrowing Australia has released its inaugural Impact Report detailing the wide range of sustainable practices being successfully implemented by vineyards and wineries across Australia. The report outlines the program’s first national data set and the significant steps being taken towards net zero emissions for the sector, with 100% of members measuring and reporting their scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions.
The global wine industry must reassess supply chain assumptions and strategies: Rabobank
The global wine sector is facing significant disruptions in different links of the supply chain. The common assumption was that these issues were transitory. Now there are increasing signs that some of these changes are structural and could even get worse, requiring more strategic responses.
Stubble smoke taint fears for red grapes
Chris Oldfield. As the stubble burning season fires up, the region’s grape growers hope their red grape harvest is not affected by smoke taint. Each year, traditional grain growers burn their stubbles before working their soil for next year’s crop in a bid to control weeds, pests and fungal spores. Meanwhile, a cooler grape growing season means a harvest that could clash with stubble burning.
Restdown’s sustainable tourism recognised
Jo and Don Hearn from Restdown Winery and Jungle Lane Beef Co and their business were recently recognised as part of Tourism Australia’s new international marketing campaign on sustainable tourism, and Tourism NSW has also included them in the top 10 things to do along the Murray River, alongside the iconic Mungo National Park.
Cath does Coonawarra proud
Gabrielle Duykers. In the latest addition to her many accolades, Cath Kidman of Wynns Coonawarra Estate has been crowned Viticulturist of the Year at the recent 2021 Women in Wine and Spirits Awards. Ms Kidman was one of 50 finalists to win one of the 18 award categories, with recipients spanning across 12 countries and regions around the globe.
Margaret River’s Gralyn Estate scoops a trio of national awards
Gralyn Estate has added to its trophy room winning the 2021 ANZ Boutique Wine Show for their Gralyn Estate Artizan Rare Muscat NV, the 11th trophy win for the storied wine. Adding to that, Gralyn Estate was awarded a double gold medal at the Global Fine Wine Challenge and a score of 95 Points and Gold at the Melbourne Royal Wine Awards, further cementing Gralyn Estate as a preeminent name in Australian fortified winemaking.
So what is the Winemaker drinking this summer?
Here we are in the middle of a La Nina summer. On the east coast where we live the nights are warm but mild, and the days are hot and humid. As I opened my first beer of the evening – make that afternoon – I was inspired to put fingers to keyboard and tell my half dozen or so readers what I’m drinking.
Coonawarra cabernet crowned country’s best
Gabrielle Duykers. A Coonwarra winery has won gold in a national wine competition, making history as the first winery outside the Margaret River region to claim the prize ... The prestigious competition saw the Yalumba 2019 'The Menzies' Cabernet Sauvignon take out both the top gold of the Coonawarra Wine Region and the overall trophy for Australia’s finest Cabernet.
Winemaker awarded ‘Riverina Legend’
Second-generation winemaker Bill Calabria AM has been recognised as the 2021 Riverina Legend at this year’s Riverina Wine Show following his namesake winery’s sweeping of the competition with a total of six trophies and the award for most successful exhibitor for the third consecutive year. Mr Calabria has been a notable figure in the Riverina since first working for the family’s winery at the age of 14.
Cancellation of popular events ‘disappointing’
Rockliffe Winery’s summer events, six in all, have been cancelled, a move which both the Shire of Denmark and winery owner Steve Hall call disappointing ... Via an email he received ... from the Shire, Mr Hall was informed that 30 days was necessary for an event application to be lodged because he did not have an event-approved venue ... Mr Hall has been running events at the winery for 18 years ...
Australia’s top 50 vineyards in 2021
"In the vineyard is where the magic happens! This is our opportunity to celebrate the innovative and regenerative approaches being taken to produce exceptional grape quality, which is reflected in stunning wines while nurturing the soil, vines and landscapes with an ecological focus": awards panellist Dr Mary Retallack
Hunter Valley tourism ripe for Mulpha
Mulpha Australia has snapped up a vineyard in Lovedale, growing its tourism reach in NSW’s Hunter Valley wine region. The boutique Emma’s Cottage Vineyard is located on Wilderness Road and comprises a three-hectare established vineyard on 12-hectares of land, with a fully licensed cellar door and 40-seat café with a commercial kitchen.
Fruitshack ripe after three decades
Entering the market after almost 30 years, an expansive citrus farm and vineyard in the New South Wales Riverina region is ripe for picking, in the country’s largest citrus-growing and NSW’s largest wine producing region.
Broadening the Australian palate with new wine grape varieties
The McGowan Government continues to support the expansion of the State's wine industry, backing the local development of three new wine varieties from the Mediterranean - two receiving a medal at a recent Western Australian wine show ... Prosecco, a sparkling white grape variety, and Nero d'Avola, a mid-body red variety, were sourced from Italy while the Mencia variety originates from Spain.
The Winemaker – Picking a winner
As a producer in our highly competitive industry it's important and difficult to keep up with the market. For over 20 years we tried to sell Rose. We made different styles, different grape varieties, fancy packaging. Our Rose wines won numerous show awards. We tried targeting various markets: women, young people, the gay market. But we were pissing into the wind. So we gave up. Then Rose took off. Wrong place, wrong time.
