As winter comes to an end a poll on The Shout has revealed that craft beer is tipped to be the big seller this spring. While a lot of industry talk at the moment is about the rise and rise of dry, pale rosé, that Provencal-style of wine has been edged out in the poll by the craft beer juggernaut. The State of the Industry Report released earlier this year by the Australian Liquor Stores Association and IRI highlighted that the craft beer market is “flourishing against the backdrop of declining beer consumption”.

Australia’s leading drinks retailer is returning to its roots with the opening of Dan Murphy’s Cellar right where it all began in the 1950s in the iconic Prahran Arcade at 282 Chapel Street. Originally built in 1890, it was here that Daniel Francis Murphy realised his dream of running his own wine and liquor store.

A private equity firm based in Britain is believed to be circling Accolade Wines, according to The Australian newspaper, with some pointing to Permira or the 3i Group. Permira is a European firm with €200 million of committed capital for investments in the consumer, financial services, healthcare, industrial, media and technology sectors, while 3i Group is London-listed and invests in the business services, consumer and industrial space.

THE Granite Belt’s growing international reputation as an elite wine destination has been further enhanced following a visit by a Japanese wine industry delegation. The nearly week-long tour encompassed visits to Sirromet’s Seven Scenes, St Judes and Night Sky Vineyards, along with Sirromet’s flagship winery at Mount Cotton.

China could overtake the US as Australia’s biggest wine export market thanks to the growing Chinese middle class’ thirst for Aussie wines. Growing demand from Asian markets, particularly China, has driven strong growth in Australian wine exports. IBISWorld analyst Andrew Ledovskikh expects China, which now accounts for about a quarter of Australian wine exports, to become an increasingly important market.

The upcoming Special General Meeting is the most important issue that Australian Grape growers have faced in the 10 years of WGGA’s existence. The purpose of this work, which will be the subject of the vote at the special general meeting, is to re-focus the national grower body to make it more sustainable and effective as a national voice for winegrowers.