The Air New Zealand Wine Awards are now over, the best wines acknowledged and the medals and trophies handed out. As Chair of Judges, Michael Brajkovich MW, acknowledges in his report, the quality across a wide range of varietals was a highlight.

Back in 1985, a young Kevin Judd issued winemaking instructions for the first Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc over the phone. The wine, made from Marlborough fruit was produced in Gisborne, Kevin was based in Auckland. How things have changed.

Sitting down to talk with Nick Mills, you could empathise with him if his eyes glazed over at the thought of sharing his family history for the umpteenth time...but that couldn’t be further from the truth.

This competition began 12 years ago, although it was then called the “Tri-Nations Wine Competition” with wines from Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. Chile and Argentina were added to the list a few years ago with the US joining last year.

The Chinese wine industry has been in the spotlight over the last 12 months with talk of plummeting sales amid President Xi Jinping’s anti-graft crackdown. But China still remains an important market for New Zealand wine producers.

The ability for private growers to import new grape varieties into New Zealand has opened up in recent years, with the expansion of quarantine facilities operated by the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI). 

Prosecco is one of the fastest growing wine styles in the world and in many markets this sparkling variety is challenging Champagne. In the next few years, thanks to one woman, New Zealand could be producing its own unique Prosecco.

Agrecovery is reminding farmers of its free waste collection sites where plastics and other farm waste can be disposed as an alternative to burning or dumping.

WINNING THE national winner title in the 2013 Ballance Farm Environment Awards has opened up a whole world of opportunity for Canterbury farmers Craige and Roz Mackenzie.

The wet season currently affecting the southern part of the country is leaving many rural contractors and farmers under financial pressure, claims Rural Contractors NZ.