Accolade Wines has completed its acquisition of Grant Burge Wines, including the Grant Burge brand, Burge and Rathbone Fine Wine Merchants business and Krondorf Winery. Michael East, Accolade Wines General Manager Asia Pacific, said the company is pleased to now have a base in the Barossa. “We have a major historical presence in McLaren Vale through Hardys, in WA through Houghton, in Margaret River throug…

After 6 years with Bacardi Lion as NSW On-Premise Field Sales Manager, Ben Hallett has made a start in his own company – Brand Pathway, specialising in brokering on-premise pouring contracts. “I realised that with my on-premise passion and 17 years management experience in both the venue and supplier sides of the industry, I was well placed to be able to broker pouring agreements that all stakeholders are…

Riverland Wine, the representative body for South Australian Riverland wine producers, is calling on Government to put an end to Australian wine’s “preferential” tax rate. The body joins the Winemakers’ Federation of Australia, along with others such as the Wolf Blass Foundation, in their campaign to reform wine tax hikes. Federation Chief Executive, Paul Evans, said the support for Riverland Wine’s actio…

Carlton and United Breweries (CUB) reports that beer sales are expected to surge in the lead up to and on Australia Day. The brewing giant says sales have been increasing year on year, and saw a significant increase by 3.4 per cent between 2013 and 2014. “Relaxing and beer go hand-in-hand with most people who drink beer, seeing it as something which makes them feel laid back and sociable”, CUB’s Jeremy Gr…

McWilliam’s Wines has completed a Sale and Leaseback initiative to reduce the company’s debt. The transaction has seen McWilliam’s Wines sign two of its Coonawarra vineyards and three in Hanwood over to Belvino Investments, via long-term leases on all of the vineyards. In addition, the Sale and Leaseback initiative will also see a capital investment into the Coonawarra vineyards, with the aim of improving…

The drinks association would like to extend a warm welcome to AMA Commercial Collections, National Credit Insurance Brokers (NCI), Core Element, Liebherr and tic technologies – the first of the 2015 Australian drinks Awards Best in Class sponsors! The association is thrilled to be working with each business on what promises to be yet another exciting evening for the drinks industry. Stay tuned as more…

The Australian Grape and Wine Authority’s (AGWA) latest Wine Export Approval Report December 2014, released on Wednesday, reports that Australian wine exports are up by 1.9 per cent in both volume and value. This is the first increase to have been seen in export values since the global recession in 2007. In addition, the Wine Export Approval Report also finds that Australian wine was exported to 121 desti…

Distributor and wholesaler, Single Vineyard Sellers (SVS), has signed a new sponsorship agreement with National Rugby League club, the Gold Coast Titans. The sponsorship deal, commencing in February, will see SVS come on as the club’s principal wine supplier, taking over from Yalumba’s Samuel Smith and Co. As a result, Grand Sud Sauvignon Blanc and Merlot will be served at all of Gold Coast Titan’s games,…

The first fourth generation and female Brown family member, Katherine Brown, is joining Brown Brothers’ winemaking team for the coming vintage. Leaving the Brown Brothers marketing team in Melbourne, Katherine will now join the team at Brown Brothers’ Milawa Winery as Assistant Winemaker for the 2015 harvest period. Katherine has a Masters of Oenology and Viticulture from Charles Sturt University, during …

Coca-Cola Amatil Limited (CCA) has announced that two individuals in senior management roles, including Group CFO and Managing Director of SPC, will be leaving the company in the next few months. Ms. O’Sullivan, Group CFO, will step down from her role following completion of year-end processes and the February EGM, and will then continue to assist as required until the end of May. Mr. Peter Kelly, Managin…