WINE
Wine restructuring agenda released
November 11, 2009
A push for uncontracted South East grape growers to leave the industry will step up following the release of the Wine Restructuring Action Agenda this week.
The report, backed by the four key industry organisations, outlines a national wine industry surplus of 100 million cases a year, which is expected to double within two years. Read more
Prestige wine award for Wynns
October 19, 2009
Wynns Coonawarra Estate senior winemaker Sue Hodder and winemaker Sarah Pidgeon with the Outstanding Wines of Provenance award from the Royal Adelaide Wine Show.
Wynns Coonawarra Estate’s John Riddoch Cabernet Sauvignon is the inaugural winner of a prestigious award for outstanding wine of provenance. Read more
Grape glut threatens vineyards
October 14, 2009
Vineywards in Coonawarra could be replaced with grazing land as the national grape glut continues to bite.
Constellation Wines has announced it will close Padthaway’s $20m Stonehaven winery, cellar door and function centre next month after a buyer could not be found for the site amid the gloomy outlook for the sector. Read more
Grape prices plummet
August 28, 2009
Removing vines is a real possibility for some grape growers in Coonawarra as production continues to outweigh consumption. Read more
Foster’s puts 10 vineyards on the market
June 10, 2009
Ten vineyards from the Foster’s Group are on the market in the South East.
This follows an earlier announcement that Foster’s would sell 35pc of its vineyard assets in the region.
The vineyards are part of the vineyard divestment program announced in February as key outcomes of the company’s strategic and operational review.
Offered through Landmark are three holdings at Padthaway, three at Wrattonbully and four around Coonawarra. Read more
Challenging time for wine industry
March 3, 2009
The Australian wine industry is facing a difficult period in the coming years as competition in export markets increases and global demand for wine slows, pushing prices down, ABARE’s Outlook conference heard on Tuesday.
ABARE senior economist Dr Brenda Dyack said conditions would be particularly tough in 2008-09 and 2009-10, with declining wine sales forecast to continue. Read more
Winemakers welcome Premier’s support
January 17, 2009
A South East industry leader has welcomed Premier Mike Rann’s pledge to lobby on behalf of the state’s winemakers for maintenance of the Wine Equalisation Tax (WET).
Coonawarra Vignerons Association president Michelle Stehbens said it was pleasing Mr Rann recognised the importance of the wine industry’s economic contribution to the state through his support for the current rebate. Read more
Wine production climbs 27pc
November 28, 2008
Wine production has gone up, but lower domestic sales and a drop in exports has led to increased wine stocks according to figures released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).
The total grape crush for 2007-08 came in at 1.8 million tonnes, up by nearly a third (31pc) on last year; this produced 1.2 billion litres of wine, up just over a quarter (27pc). Read more
Reckless chemical use challenged
November 4, 2008
Frost and chemicals can both have dire consequences for grapevines, but the big difference is that one of these deadly threats can be avoided…and the other one can’t.
Over the past year, several incidents of spray drift in the Limestone Coast have caused significant crop losses — in one case, an estimated four hectares grapes were affected with a reduction of yield of 3.5 tonnes of grapes per hectare due to irresponsible chemical use, resulting in significant financial losses. Read more
Majella Cabernet wins major prize
October 31, 2008
Majella’s 2006 Cabernet scooped the major prize pool at last night’s 2008 Limestone Coast Wine Show presentation feast at the Naracoorte Town Hall.
After being named ‘Best Red’ and ‘Best Cabernet Sauvignon’, the Coonawarra drop went on to claim the Bill Redman Trophy for ‘Best Wine of Show’, with Majella viticulturalist, Anthony Lynn, receiving the major award for the night — the highly coveted Arthur Hoffman Trophy for Viticulturalist of Best Wine of Show. Read more
News tip, submit article or photo
Do you have pictures or information about a breaking news event?Submit these to:
scoop@borderwatch.com.au
SMS: 0427 135 114