Foster’s has a sales strategy in a fruity wine
Posted by Daily Wine News | Filed under Wine Reviews
As the Australian wine industry struggles under the weight of more than a billion litres of surplus plonk, Foster’s has a plan.
It has unveiled a strategy to recruit more drinkers by selling white wines infused with fruit and herbs.
Wine company in receivership
Posted by Daily Wine News | Filed under Wine Reviews
Another Marlborough wine company is in receivership and one unsecured creditor has predicted it will be only a month before his company suffers the same fate.
Otuwhero Estate Wines, based in the Awatere Valley, was put into the management of Deloitte partner Grant Jarrold, of Christchurch, on Monday.
Drinkers gain from wineries’ pain
Posted by Daily Wine News | Filed under Wine Reviews
Wine drinkers can expect to enjoy bargain prices for a while yet, New Zealand Winegrowers chief executive Philip Gregan says.
The industry is still struggling to shift the glut of wine from the 2008 and 2009 vintages, while at the same time finding that consumers in a recession are unwilling to splash out on wine.
Australia in difficulty but top performers increase: Langton’s
Posted by Daily Wine News | Filed under Wine Reviews
The number of fine wine producers is on the rise in Australia despite the industry facing ‘difficult times’, Langton’s has said as it releases its new Classification.
The fifth Langton’s Classification of Australian Wines has seen the number of top performing wines rise 20%, from 101 to 123 entries.
Langton’s, Australia’s leading wine auctioneer, released its first Classification – ‘a ranking of Australia’s best-performing wines based on market demand and vintages made’ – in 1991. It then recognised just 34 wines in the top category.
While the standard of Australian wines has certainly improved since 1991, Langton’s founder and general manager Stewart Langton admitted they were increasingly tough to sell.
French wine thieves steal grape crop (France)
Posted by Daily Wine News | Filed under Wine Reviews
French police said Wednesday they were hunting thieves who sneaked on to a farmer’s land under cover of darkness and harvested his entire crop of Cabernet Sauvignon grapes.
SA winemakers must go direct to China
Posted by Daily Wine News | Filed under Wine Reviews
Leading wine expert and first Asian Master of Wine Jeannie Cho Lee says mid to lower tier South Australian winemakers should take a more direct approach into the lucrative Chinese market instead of through Hong Kong.
Ms Cho Lee, who is in Adelaide as the judge of the Royal Wine Show, said there was plenty of room for growth in the Asian markets, but knowing where to position your products was key.
“You have to look at China as ten different markets at least. The Hong Kong strategy makes sense only if you have premium brands.
“If you are a mid to lower tier supplier, Hong Kong is not your market, go straight to China,” she said.
Also, putting in plenty of effort in marketing and partnering with the right agent was key.
The Hong Kong-based South Korean wine educator and consultant is one of Asia’s pre-eminent authorities on wine and regards SA-made shiraz as “world-class”.
Two views of the wine industry’s progress
Posted by Daily Wine News | Filed under Wine Reviews
There are two different ways to view the wine industry’s progress over the past two years, according to leading business analyst and commentator Michael Pascoe.
“One is a story of amazing resilience and determination in the face of adversity,” he said. “The other is more like a group of school kids standing round a swimming pool on a brisk spring morning – everyone waiting for someone else to jump in while they put their toes in the water, talk about it and generally try to delay the inevitable.”
Pascoe will return as moderator for the Winemakers’ Federation of Australia’s 2010 Wine Industry Outlook Conference in Melbourne on 19-20 October. He provided many astute observations when he filled the role at the 2008 conference.
Grapegrowers are making up for lost time (US)
Posted by Daily Wine News | Filed under Wine Reviews
This time last week, Sonoma County grower Glenn Alexander was waiting for grapes to ripen and struggling to keep his workers busy. But since Sunday, the president of Bacchus Vineyard Management has been in overdrive.
Orlando Wines closes its doors in Griffith
Posted by Daily Wine News | Filed under Wine Reviews
Orlando Wines in Griffith is closing its Wickham Hill winery at the end of October, leaving 12 people without jobs.
Known for its Jacob’s Creek brand, the company says the winery had become financially unviable.
Growers who have contracts with the winery have been told they will be honoured.
But Kristy Bartrop from the Wine Grapes Marketing Board says their long-term future remains uncertain.
Public meetings following release of Guide to proposed Basin Plan announced
Posted by Daily Wine News | Filed under Wine Reviews
The Murray-Darling Basin Authority will release a Guide to the proposed Basin Plan (the Guide) on 8 October 2010.
The Guide is the first part of a three-stage process consisting of the Guide, the proposed Basin Plan and the Basin Plan. The Guide will give stakeholders an overview of the proposed Basin Plan ahead of its release and an additional opportunity for feedback before the formal consultation and submission process begins.
Following the release of the Guide to the proposed Basin Plan, the MDBA is planning an intensive engagement period to meet as many people across the Basin as possible. It will be holding information sessions across the Basin and in Adelaide, Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne.