Abloke not given to self-promotion, Phil Holden says he is called Mr Gimblett Gravels – a well-deserved moniker given the many trophy-winning wines this Villa Maria vineyard manager has grown on the group's sites just west of Hastings.

The silence from the New Zealand wine industry was deafening when Neil McCallum (of Dry River Wines) planted the first grapes in Martinborough, in 1980.

While Hawkes Bay has a long winemaking tradition, it has only been over the last few decades that its ability to grow a wide range of wine styles from an array of microclimates and soil types has been better understood.

With a scheme dating from mid-nineties and now covering over 95% of our vineyard area, New Zealand has largely been ahead of the pack when it comes to sustainable winegrowing. However, as New World competitors such as Chile and South Africa instate their own environmental programmes, the gap is starting to narrow.

Traceability of New Zealand wine is an important marketing tool, which should cover every aspect from the vines, through to the bottled product. It is a process that New Zealand Winegrowers has worked hard to develop, through programmes such as Sustainable Winegrowing New Zealand.

THE NEW Zealand dollar's strength is throwing a dampener on heady days for beef.

THE BEEF industry is hoping to make new inroads into the tricky but potentially huge halal market this year including regaining some of its former $31 million trade to Malaysia.

US CATTLE producers are risking a lucrative export industry by dragging their heels on cattle identification (ID) and traceability systems compared with other beef exporting countries and beef importers.

HISTORICALLY, THE commodities New Zealand exports tend to come under pressure during periods of global duress and uncertainty. Based on this, you'd currently expect New Zealand's key commodity exports to be falling in price. Certainly, the past few months have seen commodity prices ease, but from extraordinary highs, and not as much as other markets.

In the rural sector, many advisors and representatives are rewarded for the custom they bring in and the services/product they sell. Who then is the impartial advisor?