Current Issue
May/June 2010 | Volume 25, Number 3
The Wine Industry Journal marks the mid-way point of its 25th birthday celebrations with a look at 14 top-quality Australian vintage sparkling wines. Constellation Wines Australia sparkling winemaker Ed Carr described the line-up as “faultless” during the post-tasting discussion in early June. Each wine scored a medal-worthy rating - with many ranking high silver or gold medal standard - proving Australian sparkling wines can indeed challenge their Champagne counterparts. The Journal’s interview with Carr about the recent launch of the House of Arras introduces the feature.
Former Winetitles publisher Paul Clancy has decided to step away from his involvement with the numerous industry organisations and committees with whom he has long been associated. Before his departure from that level of industry involvement, Clancy chose the Wine Industry Journal to present his thoughts on the state of the industry.
Wine processing, or crushing and pressing, is a key feature of this issue. Assistant editor Sonya Logan has compiled a series of responses from Italian and New Zealand winemakers, asking them to rate the overall performance of a continuous membrane press.
The Journal recently interviewed Simon Nordestgaard, of The University of Adelaide’s School of Chemical Engineering, about a project that is nearing completion, investigating draining and pressing in white wine production. The discussion revealed that batch membrane presses are being increasingly used in white wine production for pressing, and for draining.
Industry consultant and foundation professor of oenology at Charles Sturt University, Dr Geoff Scollary, is presenting a three-part review of the status of research on grape and wine tannins in the Wine Industry Journal, starting in this issue. Funded by the Grape and Wine Research and Development Corporation, the series will summarise the major findings of a survey about the status of research on grape and wine tannins, including areas such as tannin biosynthesis, analytical methods for assessing tanning content and composition in grapes and wine, the role of oxygen in tannin modification, and links between tannin content and composition and sensory perception of astringency and mouthfeel in wines.
Another interesting contribution from Charles Sturt University and the associated National Wine and Grape Industry Centre in this issue is the article by Carmen Moran, Anthony Saliba and John Blackman about the customer-focussed research they recently undertook to create a product marketing plan, centred on Semillon. This variety was chosen as a result of its good performance in wine shows without commensurate consumer sales, which the researchers thought was an interesting anomaly.
Following wine historian Valmai Hankel’s article in the July/August 2009 issue about Hans Irvine, she presents the first in a two-part series about James Irvine, a distant relative of Hans’, and famed maker of Barossa Merlot. The second part, to be presented in the next issue, will include James’ awarded winemaker daughter, Joanne Irvine.
AUSTRALIAN VINTAGE SPARKLING WINE
- Leading makers of vintage sparkling wine from South Australia, Victoria and Tasmania talk about their methods of producing the well-known and celebrated drops. The tasting that follows reveals 2005 vintage wines as standouts, given the perfect ripening season in Australia’s cool climates, as explained by Constellation Wines Australia master sparkling winemaker Ed Carr, who led the panel through 14 premier examples.
Business, Marketing & Export
- The Australian wine sector needs to lift the value of its UK exports to keep pace with the record volume.
HENRY TAXATION REVIEW
- Winemakers’ Federation of Australia chief executive Stephen Strachan says the Federal Government’s favourable response to the Henry Review in deciding to maintain the existing wine industry tax regime showed considerable support for Australia’s winemakers and grapegrowers.
- Winemakers’ Federation of Australia chief executive Stephen Strachan says the Federal Government’s favourable response to the Henry Review in deciding to maintain the existing wine industry tax regime showed considerable support for Australia’s winemakers and grapegrowers.
INTERVIEW WITH JAMES IRVINE: PART 1
- Following wine historian Valmai Hankel’s article in the July/August 2009 issue about Hans Irvine, she presents the first in a two-part series about James Irvine, a distant relative of Hans’, and renowned maker of Barossa Merlot.
OPINION
- Former publisher of Winetitles and outgoing chairman of the Wine Grape Council of South Australia, Paul Clancy, shares his thoughts on the state of the industry.
UV LIGHT: PIGMENT DEVELOPMENT IN WHITE WINE
- Researchers from The University of Melbourne present preliminary results of a study investigating the impact of ultraviolet light in combination with the effect of temperature on the development of pigmentation in white wine, including the effect of different coloured wine bottles, acting as light filters.
WINE PROCESSING
- A project investigating draining and pressing in white wine production is nearing completion, involving the University of Adelaide’s School of Chemical Engineering and The Australian Wine Research Institute, and supported by the Grape and Wine Research and Development Corporation and Pernod Ricard Pacific.
- Wineries from Italy and New Zealand give their feedback about the use of a continuous membrane press, including comments about its overall performance.
WINEMAKER IN PROFILE
- Chief executive of the Goulburn Valley’s Tahbilk and McPherson Wineries, Alister Purbrick, is the third in the series of winemakers to be profiled in the Wine Industry Journal’s six-part series, published to celebrate its 25th anniversary.
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