The Hunter Valley Wine Festival has been moved from its usual October date to Saturday, 20 June, to become an integral part of the Hunter Valley Wine & Food Month. Staged at the Crowne Plaza Hunter Valley, the festival will this year feature more exhibitors, food and entertainment. For $20 entry, guests can enjoy five tasting vouchers to taste wines from over 40 vineyards. There will also be beer and ...

Recent times have seen the rise of influential food and drinks bloggers - industry insiders with substantial knowledge and a passion for their subjects have set up blogs to educate consumers and retailers alike. But why have food and drinks bloggers gained so much in popularity? People no longer just want a nice bottle of wine, they want to know where it’s come from, how it was made and to be able to talk...

The Sydney office of fine wine distributors Samuel Smith & Son and Negociants Australia will be temporarily closed following extensive damage to its Alexandria premises during Saturday’s hail storm. Samuel Smith & Son NSW General Manager Greg Pullen said the national distributor will do everything it can to continue to service its NSW accounts, although delays are expected.   “We appreciate the p...

Today wine drinkers around the world will raise a glass to sauvignon blanc in celebration of the popular varietal. In recognition of its unprecedented growth over recent years and to honour the grape, Sauv Blanc Day encourages everyone to celebrate their love of SB and encourage others to crack open a bottle and try a drop. In Australia, SB is the most popular varietal, accounting for 41 per cent of all w...

Bar Lafayette from Perth is one of just 12 select bars in Australia to have partnered with tequila brand Herradura this month in a unique and first of its kind collaboration. Joining forces earlier in April, Bar Lafayette and 11 of Australia’s top bars met with Herradura Master Taster and Global Brand Ambassador, Ruben Aceves in an opportunity to select and purchase their own exclusive barrel of Herradura...

[divider] One hundred years ago, with nearly a tenth of Australia’s population at war, two drinks enlivened our servicemen more than any other: beer and rum. One other drink rectified them when conditions were often far worse – and life-threatening: brandy. This was a time when brewing was run on a widespread and very parochial basis, not just state-by-state, but even at a regional level.   It was al...

According to Master Grocers Australia/Liquor Retailers Australia (MGA/LRA), increasing the number of public holidays in Victoria is proving to be financially catastrophic for independent retailers in the state.   Recently, the Victorian Government gazetted Easter Sunday as a new public holiday, making four public holidays in a row over the Easter break. The Government is also considering creating an addit...

Craig Knutson has announced that he will be leaving Novocastrian Wholesale Liquor. Craig leaves after two and a half years with the company to pursue new directions closer to home.   In his time at Novocastrian, Craig has contributed to huge growth and development within the company, seeing a 60 per cent growth rate over the past 12 months.   Jeff and Leigh Crawley said that they wish Craig well in future...

Early results released from a University of Adelaide-led research project have revealed overseas wine trade and consumers hold very positive feelings about Australians and Australian wine. When trade and consumer focus groups in the United States, United Kingdom, China, Korea, Indonesia, Vietnam and India were asked what they think about Australians and Australian wine they responded with descriptions of ...

The Liquor Stores Association (LSA) of NSW has begun a review into a recent report released by the Government body - NSW Bureau of Crime, Statistics & Research (BOCSAR). LSA NSW says the report’s findings on the impact of the 2014 lockouts and last drinks laws in the state are contradictory. The report – ‘Lockouts and last drinks: The impact of the January 2014 liquor licence reforms on assaults in NS...