Glance at any supermarket wine section and it’s immediately clear that we like Sauvignon Blanc best. All the reds for sale would struggle to fill the area set aside for a single variety from a single area – Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc. For all the talk about the New Zealand wine industry being much more than a one-trick pony – that pony still rules. But while Sauvignon Blanc sells in stainless steel vat loads, it’s other wines such as Pinot Noir, that have set up their own navel-gazing conferences.

Felton Road winery is pushing for a proposed law change after its Riesling missed out on the European market by 0.01% alcohol volume. Felton Road’s 8.44% alcohol 2015 Riesling was prevented from being sold to Europe because of European Union (EU) trade regulations which state still wine must be at least 8.5% ABV (alcohol by volume). Felton Road winemaker Blair Walter said laws allowed rounding to the nearest 10th of a percent, meaning the Riesling missed out by 0.01%.

Despite a drier start to the 2015/16 grape vintage season in NSW, grape growers in Mudgee and the Riverina should expect excellent grape quality. NSW Department of Primary Industries’ viticulture development officer Adrian Englefield said seasonal weather conditions in both regions had resulted in minimal disease pressure, resulting in excellent grape quality.

Whitey contemplates some sobering export numbers from Wine Australia. Wine Australia CEO Andreas Clark triumphantly announced: “Pleasingly, our latest Export Reportshows that the value of Australian wine exports grew in each of the top 15 export markets in the year ended 31 December 2015. This export growth should be warmly welcomed by the Australian grapegrowing and winemaking community as it is largely a result of their hard work.” Wrong. The majority of the grapegrowing and winemaking community has not suddenly discovered how to do anything better.

The debate to stock alcohol in supermarkets has started to bubble again as Aldi joins the push to sell liquor in its soon-to-be-opened South Australian stores. Alcohol could soon be sold from South Australian supermarket shelves if a push by new retail entry Aldi is successful. The move from the German mega grocery chain comes as the State Government is one day away from closing submissions to the first review of SA liquor laws in 20 years.

Queues of wine professionals vied for a space inside the Australia Day tasting in London like it was the final farewell of some muscial great, fuelling speculation that Australian wine is coming back into vogue in the UK in 2016. Throngs of wine trade professionals and critics descended on the Australia Day tasting (ADT) in Central London this week, and many found more than a few surprises. Several merchants have suggested to Decanter’s editorial team that 2016 could be a big year for Australian wine.

Just two weeks into the new year, the wine industry witnessed what might be the most important business deal of 2016. On Jan. 11, Southern Wine & Spirits and Glazer’s Inc. sealed a merger agreement, increasing the size of the largest distributor in the United States. But what does that mean for you? For the average consumer, distributors are the invisible hand of the wine industry.

A selection of the crème de la crème of the international wine world will be presenting at the inaugural International Sauvignon Blanc Celebration, held in Marlborough from 1-3 February. 20 guests from as far afield as Canada, the US, France, UK, and China will be speaking at the event, sharing their knowledge and experience of Sauvignon Blanc with over 350 delegates, from 18 different countries.

Cowboys and fly-by-night contractors have dwindled in the Marlborough wine industry with the expansion of the recognised seasonal employer (RSE) scheme, a contractor says. Hortus managing director Aaron Jay said dodgy contractors had the potential to harm the reputation of the wine industry. Recognised seasonal employers were audited by the Government to make sure they complied with labour laws and had good health and safety practices, Jay said.

Australia’s presence in the UK on-trade tumbled last year, according to figures released by Accolade Wines at the Australia Day Tastings in London today. Last year, only 11% of Australia’s total volume sales took place in the on-trade, down from 12.5% in 2014 – a decline of almost 10%. The problem, according to Jane Robertson, category development director at Accolade Wines UK, is one of supply.