David Ellement has been appointed to the position of Chief Executive Officer for the Wine Industry Association of Western Australia, the state’s peak representative body for wine grape growers, wine producers and wine distributors. David has worked in the horticulture industry for over ten years with vegetablesWA (WA Vegetable Growers’ Association Inc) in the position of Industry Development. He has been responsible for strategic planning; R&D program management; communication and... ...Read more »

The future of cask wine is bleak, according to a new report, which discovers that its share of the wine market has fallen by a third in the past decade. The product, often referred to as the “goon bag”, was invented in 1965 by winemaker Tom Angove and begun to make its mark in the 70s as a cheap option. With new screw-top bottles, cheaper bottle prices and the threat of volumetric taxes, however, cask wine is set to continue relinquishing market share. A Citi Investment Research report... ...Read more »

Victoria’s Tourism and Major Events Minister Tim Holding has launched the 2008-2009 Wine Regions of Victoria Touring Guide, an initiative hoped to attract more visitors to regional Victoria. “The Brumby Government is continuing to promote the wonderful food and wine regional Victoria has to offer and boost local, interstate and overseas visitors,” Mr Holding suggested. “With 2900 vineyards and 850 wineries across 21 wine regions, Victoria has the most diverse wine industry... ...Read more »

Liam O’Brien, from the highly regarded Melbourne restaurant Circa the Prince, has been awarded The Yabby Lake Dux Award for topping the class in the inaugural  Sommeliers Australia Education Program. The intensive six-week course gave a select group of 12 up-and-coming sommeliers from some of Melbourne’s top venues an incredible opportunity to further develop their skills, with a view to ‘raising the bar’ and streamlining the accreditation of Australian sommeliers. Sommeliers... ...Read more »

Foster’s Group, Australia’s largest brewer, has announced that first-quarter results were in-line with expectations and advised that their wine review - originally slated for completion before the end of the year - is unlikely to be released until February. “As previously advised, we expected to complete the wine review by the end of this calendar year,” Foster’s Chairman David Crawford told shareholders at the company’s AGM. “However, we have taken the decision... ...Read more »

The Houghton Wine Company has been recognised as the Best Wine of the Show at the prestigious QANTAS Wine Show of Western Australia. The awards, now in their 31st year, judges the best of the WA wine industry. The judging panel is led by respected wine critic and wine writer James Halliday and senior judge Vanya Cullen. Houghton’s took the honour for the second year running with their 2007 Wisdom Chardonnay. The Wisdom Chardonnay also claimed the Portavin Trophy for Best White Wine. “The... ...Read more »

Shaw Vineyard Estate continued their startling month on Thursday night by receiving their third trophy in as many weeks. This time it was awarded the ACT Chief Ministers Trophy for its Shaw Vineyard Estate Semi Sweet Riesling 2008 at the Canberra International Riesling Challenge, held at the Hyatt Hotel Canberra. A truly international success story, with Chairman and recently named Gourmet Traveller Winemaker of the Year, Louisa Rose, and Director of German Wine School, Alexander Kohnen, naming this... ...Read more »

The chief winemaker with Yalumba has taken out the prestigious top honour in Gourmet Traveller Wine’s 2008 Winemaker of the Year Awards. Louisa Rose beat seven other finalists to the coveted prize, with specific praise reserved for her flagship viognier, Yalumba The Virgilius as well as the Pewsey Vale The Contours Riesling. Helen McCarthy, a Clare Valley Winemaker, was awarded the Kemenys Medal, which recognises up-and-coming winemakers in the industry. Helen began her burgeoning career... ...Read more »

Ian Johnston has been appointed by the Board of Foster’s Group Limited (Foster’s) to the role of Chief Executive Officer. Mr Johnston stepped into the CEO role in an acting capacity in July this year, following the departure of Trevor O’Hoy, having previously served as a non-executive Director of the Company since September 2007. Foster’s Chairman, David Crawford, believes Mr Johnston is the right person to lead the company, following an extensive international search for... ...Read more »

Leading Australian winery Wolf Blass has been honoured with the International Red Winemaker of the Year award at the 2008 International Wine Challenge (IWC) in London. Wolf Blass was selected as International Red Winemaker of the Year by a highly credentialed judging panel of more than 370 winemakers, merchants and writers from around the world. Over a two week period, the panel blind tasted more than 9000 wines from 40 different countries, further evidence of the calibre of the IWC competition. Chris... ...Read more »