Constellation Brands New Zealand, the country’s leading wine exporter, is pleased to announce that Simon Towns will take the reins as President and Managing Director.
Mr Towns, an Auckland native, returns home to New Zealand after serving as Senior Vice President of Strategy and Development for Constellation in the US, and leading growth strategies for several food and beverage brands internationally.
AFTER Spain, it is now Australia’s turn to seek a bigger share of the Philippine wine market, as it introduced Penfolds, one of its oldest wineries, in the country.
Penfolds Winemaking Ambassador Patrick Dowling said during its upscale launch in Makati City that they have to bring their iconic brand to the Philippines, because of a growing middle class that is fast understanding the finer points wine.
Bendigo winemakers are crunching the numbers after the federal government announced changes to the Wine Equalisation Tax in this year’s budget. For some, the changes could spell financial disaster. For others, it could create a more even playing field.
IT’S a long way from the red earth and flowing Murray of the Riverland wine region to the capital of the United Kingdom, but that’s where six selected wines from the often underrated corner of SA are starring this week at the London Wine Trade Fair.
Just three Australian regions from Australia’s 70 designated wine growing districts have been chosen as a focus in masterclasses at the fair which attracts major importers, independent retailers, hotel groups and top restaurants.
Treasury Wine Estates will bypass big liquor store retailers Woolworths and Coles in the first phase of an Australian launch of powerhouse United Kingdom brand Blossom Hill to help reduce cannibalisation with its own bulging local portfolio of brands.
Treasury, the maker of Penfolds, Wolf Blass and Rosemount, is taking a punt that it can replicate the success of Blossom Hill, which is the No.1 selling white wine in the United Kingdom by both volume and value, and No.1 in the fast-growing rosé category. Blossom Hill is also the No.2 red wine brand in the UK market.
ENTRY IS NOW OPEN for the national ‘Wine Industry Impact Awards’. Hosted by Wine Industry Suppliers Australia (WISA), the awards are an evolution of the highly-successful ‘supplier of the year awards’ according to Matthew Moate, WISA executive officer.
“This new format will be far more industry inclusive, accessible and newsworthy allowing for greater participation and relevant outcomes,” Moate said.
ENTRY IS NOW OPEN for the national ‘Wine Industry Impact Awards’. Hosted by Wine Industry Suppliers Australia (WISA), the awards are an evolution of the highly-successful ‘supplier of the year awards’ according to Matthew Moate, WISA executive officer.
“This new format will be far more industry inclusive, accessible and newsworthy allowing for greater participation and relevant outcomes,” Moate said.
The serious frosts that hit Burgundy last week gravely damaged almost half of the viticultural area, according to reports. Although the full impact of the frost is still being calculated, 46% of the vineyards – 13,453 hectares – were damaged by over 30% it would appear, according to the Bourgogne Interprofession. Worryingly, it appears at the moment that 23% of the vineyards have been damaged by over 70%.
Wine writer and broadcaster Oz Clarke is to become the first person from the UK to be inducted into the New Zealand Wine Hall of Fame. Clarke, who is credited as one of the original wine commentators to have put New Zealand Wine on the map, will receive the Hall of Fame accolade on International Sauvignon Blanc Day on Friday May 6, New Zealand Winegrowers announced.
The wine variety that put the New Zealand industry on the map will light up social media on Friday as people around the globe come together to celebrate sauvignon blanc. The seventh annual International Sauvignon Blanc Day will start in New Zealand and follow the sun around the world as wine lovers leap to Twitter, Facebook and Instagram to show their appreciation of the variety.