When Dr Simon Hooker arrived at New Zealand Winegrowers back in 2007, he had two clear goals: to increase the amount of wine-related research undertaken and to ensure that the information from that research was passed on to industry members.
Back in 2014, Tracy Benge could not have imagined that she would be taking on the development management role for one of the biggest New Zealand Winegrower initiatives ever.
Once upon a time, winemakers prepared their daughters for sales and hospitality roles while they groomed their sons to take over from them in the vineyard. Now, women are more prominent than ever in winemaking.
Northland to Central Otago and all wine regions in between are well on the way to establishing regional Women in Wine committees. And the first National Committee meeting has taken place, held in Auckland in February.
A recent New Zealand trade mark case highlights to winemakers the importance of making sufficient ongoing use of a registered trade mark, even when it is for one of your secondary wine labels.
New Zealand’s biggest wine tasting event Winetopia presented by Singapore Airlines, is shaping up for another two sell-out events in Auckland and Wellington this June.
The 2017/18 season is drawing to a close, with the final plots of grapes ripening up and ready to head to the winery for fermentation. For most, this summer will be one that won’t be forgotten in a hurry.