News

The Board of Wine Australia has suspended the licence to export grape products from Australia held by Dalefold Wines (Australia) Pty Ltd with immediate effect and until further notice.

Wine Australia has appointed peak industry body the Australian Tourism Export Council (ATEC) and Hydra Consulting to develop its Wine Tourism and Wine Export Capability Building Programs for the wine sector.

Wine Australia today released its plans for 2018–19, the fourth year of its five-year Strategic Plan 2015–2020.

Wine Australia and the National Wine and Grape Industry Centre (NWGIC) have signed a $9 million co-investment research, development and extension (RD&E) agreement to develop new technologies and provide practical information to growers and winemakers to increase profitability and competitiveness, as well as improve environmental sustainability.

The Institute of Masters of Wine (IMW) has announced that Adelaide will host its next international Symposium in June 2022. The announcement was made at the closing ceremony of the Institute’s 9th international Symposium, ‘Living Wine’ in Logrono, Spain.

The red blend in wine is not new and equally it is not unique to any one wine producing nation. However, there is a difference in the way that many regions approach a blended wine.

Among the activities held during Vinexpo Hong Kong 2018 will be a master class on Australian Cabernet Sauvignon. Cabernet Sauvignon vines arrived in Australia in the mid-1800s, and over the years it has become an essential part of Australian wine heritage, both in single variety wines and classic blends.

The modern consumer is busy. According to the 2016 ABS Census data, 22 per cent of couple families in Australia have both partners working full-time and in another 22 per cent one partner works full-time while the other is employed part-time. This results in many families having restricted time outside of work for free time and shopping.

Earlier this year, we reported that the Australian wine sector was in the strongest position for more than a decade, following its above-average harvest in 2017 in the context of historically low production globally. In this issue we report on the early indications for the 2018 harvest, both globally and at home.

Wine Australia’s State of the Sector 2018 report is a detailed and entertaining look at the Australian wine sector, its history and evolution, current situation and future prospects.