The South Australian Wine Industry Association (SAWIA) in collaboration with the Winemakers’ Federation of Australia (WFA) will provide the Productivity Commission with feedback from the wine industry after a draft report was released flagging some proposed changes to the IR system. Productivity Commission hearings into workplace relations reform and a second round of submissions will give the Australian wine industry more opportunities to highlight IR issues.

The largest research and development program undertaken by the New Zealand wine industry is under way, in the hopes of putting New Zealand at the forefront for high quality, naturally produced ”lifestyle” low-alcohol and low-calorie wines. But what role does Central Otago have to play? Liam Cavanagh reports. Before winning the Central Otago Young Viticulturist of the Year competition last month, Mike Winter gave a speech at the annual black-tie winemakers Feraud dinner in Cromwell.

Working in the family business was a lonely experience for Gordon Vogtherr. “I couldn’t get away from my father because I lived and worked with him 24 hours a day,” he said. “I didn’t really have any friends but I have a lot to be thankful for. All I have, I have to thank my father for.” The Holly Bacon Company was founded in Hastings in 1914 and the transition from the second to third generation was smooth because Gordon’s father took ill in 1961.

A Hunter Valley vigneron is excited about this year’s wine vintage, but warns that forecast dry conditions could pose issues for winemakers. It may have been a long, cold winter in the NSW Hunter Valley, but that hasn’t stopped the region’s vignerons from working tirelessly to ensure the next year’s wine vintage is a ‘corker’. Winemakers are currently pruning their dormant vines to ensure growth is ideal when the warm weather arrives.

Swinney Vineyards and former head winemaker with Hardy’s and Constellation, Peter Dawson, have established a partnership to buy the Powderbark Ridge vineyard. Powderbark, in Frankland River, is one of the Great Southern’s most reputable vineyards. Matt Swinney, the executive director of Swinney Vineyards, told TheShout: “Powderbark has a reputation for producing very high quality fruit so we are obviously keen to maintain that and to enhance quality where we can.”

Australian wine legend, Chris Hancock, has released the first wines under his own label, Hancock & Hancock, along with his brother John, based at their McLaren Vale South Australia vineyard, La Colline. The two red wines released this month comprise a Shiraz Grenache and a Cabernet Touriga from the 2014 McLaren Vale vintage. Winemaker Hancock told TheShout, they plan to take on the crowded wine market by producing interesting blends that are immediately drinkable.

ABOUT 14 years after suffering a demoralising takeover, the tenacious Croser family has its Adelaide Hills winery back — and has opened a new Piccadilly Valley cellar door. According to Lucy, one of three Croser daughters, this time it’s back for good. “We will be keeping it in the family from now on,’’ she said. Lucy was in her early 20s when she had to watch her parents crumple in sadness during the takeover. “My dad was devastated, the label was lost, but we always hoped to get the land back.

Mike Clarke is holding back luxury wines to smooth out profits, while retailers eye more of the pie too. But is this the one that got away from private equity bidders? It’s the corporate equivalent of having the best-stocked cellar in the street, where invitations to dinner are sought after by those in the neighbourhood. Treasury Wine Estates chief executive Mike Clarke has been sitting on $400 million worth of high-end luxury wines that he’s been squirrelling away to ensure he’s better able to deliver more consistent profits year after year, in a company with a history of extreme fluctuations.

Assistant Treasurer Josh Frydenberg is set to throw an accelerant on a debate in the wine industry with the release of a discussion paper into the wine equalisation tax (WET) rebate. It is understood that the discussion paper, to be released within the next two weeks, will not make any recommendations but will include case studies that show how the WET rebate is being manipulated and rorted.

Meeting Asia’s increased interest in Chilean wine, Wines of Chile has established the first WoC Academy in China and Hong Kong. The Academy will offer structured courses for wine professionals and enthusiasts to discover the history of Chilean wine, regions, grape varieties and styles and WoC hopes to tap into the market potential of Asia – especially China.