At the end of last year, Raj Nagra, Global Brand Ambassador of 13 years for Bombay Sapphire was in Australia, supporting the launch of the brand’s latest initiative here – Project Botanicals. Project Botanicals was a unique activation run by the brand between mid-November to the beginning of December, which invited consumers to its pop-up bar and restaurant in Melbourne for a unique and new ‘Ginstronomy’ …

Despite concern over heavy rainfall in the Hunter Valley three weeks ago, the region reports positive forecasts. Since the rain passed, the Hunter Valley has experienced temperate (26-28 degrees) weather. Although still cooler than the region’s typical vintage standard, a good strong breeze has dried out tightly bunched fruit, avoiding disease, while the warming temperatures have successfully ripened the …

The Wine Company (TWC) has signed a new trading partnership with Blue Pyrenees Estate. The new partnership will see TWC appointed as the wine producer’s eastern seaboard distributor from March 1 this year. Both companies say the partnership will enable Blue Pyrenees to be marketed in a “uniformed manner” and to meet current demand. The Blue Pyrenees site was established in 1963 and was among the modern Au…

Robert Hill-Smith, fifth generation descendant of Samuel Smith and proprietor of Australia’s oldest wine company, Yalumba, has been appointed as Australia’s First Families of Wine’s (AFFW) new Chairman, taking over from Mitchell Taylor, Managing Director and third generation Winemaker at Taylors Wines. AFFW represents 12 of Australia’s leading and oldest Australian families, who since 2009 have been raisi…

The Wine Communicators of Australia has appointed Angus Barnes, current Brand Communications and Heritage Director at Pernod Ricard Winemakers, as its new National Chairman. Angus takes over from former Chair, Angie Bradbury. Angie will continue on the national board as Deputy Chair. Mr. Barnes said he was incredibly happy to take on the new role. And shortly after announcement of his appointment, Mr. Bar…

Rob McMillan, Exec. Vice President & Founder at Silicon Valley Bank Wine Division, has released his report on the State of the Wine Industry 2015. The report provides insight into predictions for the US wine market in 2015 – the largest wine market and one of the most influential – wider global trends and how Australian wine producers should approach the US market. Overall, the report suggests that 20…

Feral Brewery from WA has been voted as the number one Australian craft beer in the ‘Hottest 100 Aussie Craft Beers’ poll, for the third year running. Run by co-owners of The Local Taphouse venues, the Hottest 100 Aussie Craft Beers poll asks craft beer venues across Australia to vote for their favourite Australian craft beers each year. Feral Brewery took out the top position with its Hop Hog American Pa…

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…

A report conducted by the Australian Liquor Stores Association (ALSA) and released this week, has found that that both “risky” drinking and alcohol related violence are down. The ‘Report into Australia’s Changing Drinking Habits: The facts about Australia’s alcohol usage’, finds that alcohol consumption has declined by 25 per cent since the 1970s, while alcohol-related violence has reduced by 30 per cent …

Heavy rain over the last few days has Hunter winemakers worried for the 2015 red vintage. While the majority of white grapes have been picked in the region, the reds are not quite ready. Weather stations in the region have recorded 40mm of rainfall. Hunter Valley Vigneron and Winemaker, Andrew Margan, says the rain could not have come at a worse time, due to the fact that the grapes are almost ripe, and s…