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January/February 2012 (No. Volume 27 Number 1)

Alternative Varieties

Olssens continue on learning curve with Carmenère

Kevin Olssen, of Olssens of Watervale in South Australia’s Clare Valley, recalls how his desire to grow all six traditional Bordeaux red grape varieties led him to plant Carmenère and produce Australia’a first single varietal Carmenère.

Business & Marketing

Alcohol and human health – sorting out the facts

In light of Stephen Stern’s article above in which he asserts that the wine industry is likely to be the new target of health advocates who see alcohol as “the next great evil after tobacco”, we asked Creina Stockley, healthy and regulatory information manager, The Australian Wine Research Institute to summarise the latest research into the effects of alcohol on health.

How do you judge a book, then?

Wine Intelligence recently conducted a study of UK and US consumers to assess the general meaning and value placed on certain styles of wine labels. This article is a brief overview of the key research findings.

Is the wine industry next in line after tobacco to fight health warnings legislation?

With extensive experience in patent, copyright, trademark and wine law litigation, Stephen Stern is currently acting for British American Tobacco Australia in its challenges to the Tobacco Plain Packaging Act 2011. We asked Stephen to comment on whether the alcohol industry and, therefore, wine companies may be the target of similar legislation in the future, given the ongoing calls for all alcohol products to bear health warnings – the short answer is ‘yes’.

The nation’s vineyard – 40 years of evolution

Underpinned by Wine Australia statistics, Mark Rowley, industry analyst with Wine Australia, gives a historical overview of the changes Australia’s national vineyard has undertaken since the 1970s.

Wine shows can give exhibitors more than medals

National Wine & Grape Industry Centre researchers report on a study to determine if consumers who attend public tastings are representative of the Australian wine-drinking population or a particular group within it and can, therefore, provide valid consumer feedback on exhibitors’ wines.

Exhibitions

The latest innovations from SIMEI

Regular Wine & Viticulture Journal contributor Tony Hoare travelled to Milan, Italy, to attend SIMEI, the International Enological and Bottling Equipment Exhibition, and ENOVITIS, the International Vine and Olive Growing Techniques Exhibition. We asked Tony to highlight the innovations that caught his attention at both exhibitions across the various aspects of wine production.

Profile

Dorham Mann

Opening the batting for this issue’s regional report on Western Australia’s Swan Valley is our profile on the region’s industry veteran and cricket tragic Dorham Mann – son of legendary Swan Valley vigneron Jack Mann, who worked 51 consecutive vintages at Houghton Winery and created Houghton White Burgundy. Raised at Houghton, Dorham was a winemaker for the WA Government and played an important role in the development of Margaret River before becoming winemaker at Sandalford from the mid ‘60s to the late ‘70s, and then started up his own label consisting of just two wines.

Regional Report

Swan Valley

Journalist Matt Byrne travelled to the Swan Valley in late November where he caught up with a number of the region’s vignerons to hear about its threats from urban encroachment, its Croatian heritage and the influence of Houghton Winery, which recently celebrated its 175th anniversary.

Super Wines

Kingston Estate Wines Echelon Petit Verdot

Tasting Notes

Petit Verdot is the poor cousin of the five classic red varities permitted to be planted in Bordeaux but, in recent years, has found favour with a number of wineries in Australia. The Wine & Viticulture Journal recently conducted its first tasting of Petit Verdot and asked the producers behind three of the wines deemed by the tasting panel to be among the best in the line-up for some background on their production.

Tony Keys

Did things go wrong or are they just evolving? Applying 2020 hindsight to Strategy 2025

Tony Keys questions whether the Australian wine industry is at a turning point in its evolution or if the cogs are about to engage a different gearing, sending it off in a new direction.

Viticulture

A measured approach to sustainable farming

Many growers recognise the potential benefits of so-called sustainable farming systems. However, they are often discouraged by a perceived fundamentalist view of organics that promotes an ‘all or nothing’ approach. Occasional Journal contributor Toby Bekkers says it is possible to take a measured, staged approach to adopting some of these practices, adding that those who take this approach are often the growers who prevail in the long term, whether or not they choose to adopt organic certification.

Organic viticulture research at The University of Adelaide

An overview of some of the various comparative organic, biodynamic and conventional viticulture project currently under way by researchers at The University of Adelaide and some preliminary results.

Sustainability in viticulture: assessment and adoption

As part of a three-year project, PhD candidate Irina Santiago is investigating the assessment and adoption of sustainability in vineyards to ensure growers’ longevity in the wine business.

Vineyard sustainability – a case study from Queensland

Granite Belt producer Symphony Hill Wines has its sights set firmly on producing award-winning wines well into the future by employing environmentally sustainable vineyard practices today.

Winemaking

Closing the loop on winery wastewater – a regional reality?

Editor Sonya Logan looks at the potential for all the winery wastewater produced in any given wine region to be collected and treated at community facilities then piped to the surrounding vineyards to use for irrigation.

Innovations in bottling

We profile three innovations in wine bottling launched over the last couple of months, of which two are aimed squarely at reducing the wine industry’s carbon footprint.

Opportunities to improve winemaking profitability

A team of process experts at the Australian Wine Research Institute is offering a paradigm shift for grape and wine producers competing in a crowded global market. The approach is highly practical and focused on efficiency, drawing on the team’s collective years of experience in technical winemaking and advanced manufacturing methods.

Prevention of tooth erosion

University of Adelaide researchers outline the extent of tooth erosion problems in wine tasters, what the erosion looks like, and how to prevent it.

What’s old is new again in refrigeration efficiency

With rising energy costs, there would be few winery operators in Australia who wouldn’t be looking at ways to reduce their consumption. But, where do you start, and is there any new technology that can assist? Mark Holden, director of business development and engineering at Oomiak, provides some answers.