A team of Dutch scientists has found that resveratrol, the polyphenolic compound that has attracted a great deal of interest in the scientific community in recent years, can improve the metabolism of overweight men, improving their health and possibly extending their lives. The latest study, published in Cell Metabolism, finds that the red-wine chemical does appear to help increase the lifespan of humans, specifically by counteracting some of the effects of a poor diet, reports Wine Spectator.

A floral bouquet of rose and jasmine with high notes of citrus and ginger, finishing with notes of musk and exotic spice” – this enticing description is of a perfume, but could equally be applied to a wine made from one of the so-called aromatic varieties, which have been taking off in our vineyards in recent years. As their name suggests, aromatic varieties make wines that are more fragrant than most, with their naturally potent aromas something they possess inherently, rather than being a product of any winemaking input, reports The New Zealand Herald.

Five privately owned Kiwi wineries hope to make $10 million in sales through a fast-growing export joint venture to the United States. Called Pacific Prime Wines, the group set up its own US importing business in Oregon in February and now distributes into 14 states, from New York to California. It has made exports of more than $500,000 so far and plans to grow those sales to $10m within five years, reports Business Day.

Devastated by bushfires last week, Margaret River was today named Australia’s Best Town’ by Australian Traveller magazine. The iconic South West wine and surf mecca won Best Town for its revered wineries, restaurants and farm gates, not to mention its rural charm and world famous surf breaks. The award for the fire-ravaged town is quite timely, as only yesterday tourism chiefs in the region were desperate to downplay the effects of the fire after a string of last-minute cancellations from tourists visiting the region, reports Perth Now.

Water Minister Tony Burke was yesterday confronted by an angry farmer over the controversial Murray Darling Basin plan. Just minutes into a press conference outside Griffith Council chambers, John Bisetto, a grape and citrus grower, shouted “shame on you” as he marched up to the minister, reports The Daily Telegraph. “You only came here for a photo opportunity,” Mr Bisetto said, adding farmers were killing themselves because of the water shortage.

Margaret River has suffered no vine damage due to the bushfires, the Margaret River Wine Industry Association has said in an open letter. Thanking emergency personnel, volunteer firefighters, community groups and government agencies who helped fight the fires and their aftermath, Margaret River Wine Industry Association vice president Stuart Watson said the region had been saved by their efforts, reports Decanter.

Local winemaker, Bruce Dukes was honoured with the prestigious Winemaker of the Year Award at the WA Wine Industry Awards on Friday. Bruce is director and senior winemaker at the Naturaliste Vintners custom-crush winemaking facility at Carbunup, a project he started in 2003. This year’s award follows on from the company taking the Best Winemaking Facility award last year, reports Busselton Mail.

The weather bureau says struggling winegrape growers in South Australia’s Riverland should prepare for more rain in coming weeks. Thousands of tonnes of grapes were affected by diseases such as downy mildew last summer. Growers had been hoping for a drier season but rain and warm weather during the weekend forced them to spray fungicides in their vineyards, reports ABC News.

Sounds like the bureaucrats have been at the bottle again. And this time they’re meddling with something we Aussies hold dear to our hearts – plonk. Due to a change to the Wine Australia Corporation Act of 1980, Sherry will henceforth be known as “Cream, crusted/crusting or solera fortified”, reports Weekly Times Now.