The Old Vine Conference showcases the beauty of age

From France to Australia, by way of many territories between, the shrinking global vinescape has become enough of a concern that its impact was reported in The Economist this November. With wine drinking in decline, cash-strapped consumers reining in spend and thus an industry feeling the pain of oversupply, vineyards are being ripped out, with other, more profitable crops often being planted. And a troubling fact – at least where future quality wine production is concerned – is that older vines, by dint of the fact that they are less productive and sometimes harder to work, are often first in the firing line.