The Independent

ANTHONY ROSE is happy to dispel the old line about Australian wines 'all tasting the same'. At an Australian Wine Club tasting, he was hugely impressed with the line-up. Highlights included 2002 Basket Press Shiraz (23.99), which ages 'into a majestic Hermitage-like red'; 2004 Poverty Hill Riesling (9.99), which is 'in the keroseney mould'; and Peter Lehmann's 1998 Stonewell Shiraz (30), which displays 'immensely rich liquorice spice and bittersweet chocolate characters'.

Lehmann predicts a good year

Australian wine is set to get back on track with its 2008 vintage, according to Adelaide-based producer Doug Lehmann, managing director of Peter Lehmann Wines.

Enotria takes on Marques de Riscal

London-based Enotria has been appointed the UK agent for major Rioja brand Marques de Riscal.

Leading brands scoop Australian wine awards

Peter Lehmann Wines from the Barossa Valley took home four trophies and 37 medals at the Royal Melbourne Wine Show.

Split decision

It is inconceivable that the Cte d'Or would ever be regarded as a single entity, with no recognition of the differences between a Puligny-Montrachet and a Meursault. Yet, for the Clare Valley in South Australia, this is how it is. Though similar in length to the Cte d'Or, the Clare Valley is lumped into one catch-all appellation. But if you have ever tasted a selection of Rieslings from Polish Hill River, Watervale and Sevenhill this is clearly not one homogeneous zone.

Kiwi wines bask in critical approval

New Zealand's wines are now up there with the best, according to influential international wine commentators attending a recent run of wine conferences in New Zealand. And there wasn't a Sauvignon Blanc in sight. This wave of what is some of the greatest praise received by the industry was prompted by the Pinot Noir 2007 conference held in Wellington, and the associated symposia on Aromatics in Nelson and Syrah in Hawkes Bay.

Innovative Oz

WHERE: Lawrence Hall, Royal Horticultural Halls, London SW1
WHEN: Wednesday, 31 January 2007 from 10am-4.30pm and Thursday, 1 February 2007 from 9.30am-5pm
CONTACT: Melissa Worthington at Wine Australia on 020 7887 5259

Renewed zeal

WHERE: Lord's Cricket Ground, St John's Wood, London NW1
WHEN: Monday, 15 January 2007 from 11am-5pm and Tuesday, 16 January 2007 from 10am-5pm
CONTACT: Alison Power at New Zealand Winegrowers on 020 7973 8079

New year, new show

Clare Valley climate uncovered

A number of Clare Valley producers have explained how their region's climate is varied enough to grow both Riesling and Shiraz.
At a tutored tasting held at London's Australia House last week, Jeffrey Grosset of Grosset Wines explained that decades of weather data on the region were next to useless and claimed that ex-Petaluma boss Brian Croser once said that this was because the weather station in Clare was on a concrete slab behind the post office'. More recent data, Grosset added, showed the weather to be cooler than previously recorded, but the new weather data say that it's not hot enough to ripen Cabernet, but it's too hot for Riesling, so both reports are flawed'.

Australians get a taste of The Oval

Liberty Wines used its latest portfolio tasting at The Brit Oval - the first wine company to use Surrey County Cricket Club's facilities - to launch a number of new projects and agencies from Australia (despite the Oval being the venue for England's dramatic Ashes victory).

The Aus-thentic experience

Paul Henry, general manager of Wine Australia, introduces the 2006 Australia Day Tastings, Authentic Australia': It is every country's desire to populate the wine market with democratising brands, as well as compelling reasons to trial and trade up. The search for a profitable mix that uniquely balances accessibility with interest is a challenge, and one that Australia seeks to deliver above all other categories. It
can do so by representing itself as a broad and inclusive producer that seeks to champion quality and excitement, whatever the price point. That is what is meant by Authentic Australia.

Happy anniversary

Time and place
New Zealand Annual Trade Tasting 2006
Lord's Cricket Ground, London NW1
Tuesday 17 and Wednesday 18 January
10am-5pm
Contact Alison Power at New Zealand Winegrowers
020 7973 8079

Event info
This year's tasting will feature a selection of gold medal-winning wines from the Air New Zealand Wine awards, while central varietal tables will focus on aromatics, red blends and Syrahs. On Tuesday 17 at 3.30pm, a seminar titled New Zealand Syrah - New World Fruit and Old World Structure', looking at viticultural and vinicultural influences and Hawkes Bay's dominance with Syrah, will be held in the Lord's Media Centre. Speakers include Steve Smith of Craggy Range, Kate Ormond of Te Mata, Anna-Barbara Helliwell of Unison, and Ronan Sayburn, executive head sommelier at Gordon Ramsay restaurants in London. Call Alison Power on the above number to reserve your seat.

Liberty Wines takes Grosset

Liberty Wines has taken over the distribution of famed Clare Valley producer Jeffrey Grosset.

Showcase Showdown

2005 is already a landmark year for the International Wine and Spirit Competition (IWSC). In March, the company opened its new, customised premises in Dunsfold Park, Surrey, with a 25,000-bottle capacity and room for expansion.

IWSC trophy winners announced at Vinexpo

The International Wine and Spirit Competition used the opening day of Vinexpo earlier this week to announce the first round of Trophy Winners in this year's competition.

Taming the screw

Taming the screw: A manual for winemaking with screw caps, by Australian wine writer Tyson Stelzer, was due to be launched at the LIWSF this week.

Close combat

Let's begin with a rather stretched analogy. World War I was a terrible conflict that exacted a terrible human toll. Yet this otherwise disastrous war yielded a significant positive benefit for the aviation industry as both sides sought more effective warplanes to master the new arena of aerial combat.

SOUTHCORP REJECTS A$3bn FOSTER'S BID AS 'OPPORTUNISTIC'

ODDBINS WARMS TO COOL-CLIMATE OZ

By Josie Butchart