Workers urged to speak up (NZ)

Workers urged to speak up (NZ)

Wine Marlborough seasonal co-ordinator Claire Wilson believes overseas vineyard workers have adequate information and support available to avoid employment disputes. Her comments come after an Employment Relations Authority (ERA) ruling in favour of a former employee at Blenheim firm Savvy Contractors who had to pay much of her salary back to her boss under threat of losing her work permit, reports The Marlborough Express.

Workers urged to speak up (NZ)

Wine Marlborough seasonal co-ordinator Claire Wilson believes overseas vineyard workers have adequate information and support available to avoid employment disputes. Her comments come after an Employment Relations Authority (ERA) ruling in favour of a former employee at Blenheim firm Savvy Contractors who had to pay much of her salary back to her boss under threat of losing her work permit, reports The Marlborough Express.

Actor has Pinot cameo role (NZ)

Actor Sam Neill will open the Pinot Noir NZ 2013 event in Wellington next year. The star of movies such as Jurassic Park, Dean Spanley and TV series Reilly Ace of Spies, New Zealand-born Neill produces his own premium Pinot Noir at his family’s Two Paddocks vineyard in Central Otago. Pinot Noir NZ 2013 is the fifth such event showcasing the grape and the industry. It is held every three years, reports Business Day.

Actor has Pinot cameo role (NZ)

Actor Sam Neill will open the Pinot Noir NZ 2013 event in Wellington next year. The star of movies such as Jurassic Park, Dean Spanley and TV series Reilly Ace of Spies, New Zealand-born Neill produces his own premium Pinot Noir at his family’s Two Paddocks vineyard in Central Otago. Pinot Noir NZ 2013 is the fifth such event showcasing the grape and the industry. It is held every three years, reports Business Day.

Ageing gracefully

On a hot dusty Friday two weeks ago in Keyneton’s Eden Valley, a few days shy of vintage, Stephen and Prue Henschke celebrated 50 years of Hill of Grace and marked the new release, the 2007. It was quite an occasion; this red is widely regarded as Australia’s most renowned single-vineyard wine. Some of those majestic vines are 150 years old – and possibly the oldest Shiraz in the world, writes Jane Faulkner in The Age.

Strategic regional land use policy set for release

The state government is expected to release a draft of its long-awaited strategic regional land use policy today. It is understood the document will not include ‘‘ring-fencing’’ of sensitive land, leaving no area off limits from coal seam gas activities despite the hopes of groups such as the Hunter Valley Protection Alliance that the region’s vineyards would be explicitly protected. The NSW Farmers Association was briefed on the draft yesterday, and it will be outlined to the Coalition party room in Sydney today, reports the Newcastle Herald.

Jacob’s Creek Visitor Centre a winner at Australian tourism awards

Jacob’s Creek Visitor Centre is recognised as one of Australia’s best tourism attractions, winning the national awards for 2011 Best Tourism Restaurant and 2011 Best Tourism Winery at the 2012 Qantas Australian Tourism Awards on Friday 2 March. Situated in the heart of the Barossa Valley, the award-winning centre offers visitors a unique and memorable experience with a combination of wine and food, reports Voxy News.

Top Pinots for less than $20

Pinot Noir is arguably the variety that sends more shivers down spines than any other, for good reasons and bad. Considered by many to be the most esoteric, ethereal, and cerebral of red wines, Pinot Noir has also been barely attainable for most of us. Top-class grand cru Burgundy has long ruled the high ground of wine intellectualism – but think big bucks if you want to join the conversation, writes News Limited national wine writer Tony Love in Adelaide Now.

Rush to pick grapes before floods

Winemakers and grapegrowers across northern Victoria and southern NSW are pumping water off blocks to save their crops. After madly picking grapes late into Friday night and early Saturday, before predicted massive rainfalls that soaked the region over the weekend, many yesterday were counting their probable losses. There are already concerns this year’s red-wine vintage, which had winemakers salivating over its anticipated quality, may have suffered terminal damage in the dumping rains in some regions, reports Weekly Times Now.

Grapegrowers back levy

Two-thirds of South Australian grapegrowers who voted in a recent ballot have supported the continuation of the winegrape levy for another five years. They also elected to keep the levy at the current rate of $1 a tonne, which was set in 2008. Wine Grape Council of South Australia chief executive, Peter Hackworth, says despite tough conditions in the industry, growers recognise they need strong representation, reports ABC News.

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