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From the Editor
After three years of planning and four days of learning, Pinot Noir 2013 is all over. This years was the fifth such event, attracting over 500 delegates, with close to 200 of those, international...
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The Impact of Vintage 2012
Vintage 2013 is now over and according to all reports it seems to have been a very good one for the sector. The first wines from the vintage have already appeared in the Wine Export Certification...
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Déjà Vu Or Not?
However, the vintage total of 345,000 tonnes seems to have come as a surprise to many as there seemed to be an expectation amongst growers and wineries for a crop of between 320,000 and 330,000 tonnes....
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No Time For Complacency
It was the second largest Bragato conference held in the history of the event. Close to 600 people, including delegates and trade, converged on Marlborough for a conference that looked back at the...
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Chairman of the Board of NZWinegrowers address to the Bragato Conference
The last 12 months have been a real turning point for the industry. The end result is a greater level of optimism than at Bragato a year ago. In the past year a strong sales performance combined...
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The Export Future
I am writing this as I set out to attend New Zealand Winegrowers’ 2014 Annual Trade Tasting in London. This event has been a key feature of the New Zealand effort in the UK for over 30 years, and once...
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Welcome 2014
If the ferocity of the wind on January 1st, (where I was) was anything to go by, 2014 blew its way into existence in style. Goodbye to the past 12 months, and welcome to the next. Truth be told, 2013...
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picking pockets
While vintage is close to over in some of the northern regions, it is just hitting its straps further south. And so far, so good. Fears that Cyclone Lusi would devastate all the hard work undertaken...
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Supporting Major Events for the Next 10 Years
The Board of NZWinegrowers has recently agreed a 10 year strategy around major events and inbound visitors to New Zealand. The strategy is a direct follow up to a review of the very successful Pinot...
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Martinborough
There are tractors balancing bins of grapes trundling down roads criss-crossing the Martinborough Wine Village. Casual street conversations start with “how are your grapes?” and the lights are on late...
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Proud and WiSE!
In the last week or so there have been two developments which every grower and winery should note with some pride. First, came the news that New Zealand wine exports have exceeded $1.3 billion, up $1...
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Obsessive Compulsive
Selling multiple pallets of a particular wine is great for any business, in reputation and cash-flow, but it does not automatically catapult a wine into cult status; there’s much more than a good sales...
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From the Editor - Tessa Nicholson
Romeo Bragato – it’s a name that slides off the tongue easily and is as well known in New Zealand as say - Sauvignon Blanc. Why he is so linked to our wine industry though is something that at...
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The Value of Wine Competitions
With the number of wine shows seeking entries, both in New Zealand and internationally, the choice and what they offer, has become bewildering. Now don’t get me wrong, I believe in the show system and...
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Advanced CO2
One of the trickier sections of a wine list to rationalise and generate a steady profit from is sparkling wine - especially Champagne. Champagne listed at around $25 to $35 a glass is only really...
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Editorial - We Are Doing Alright
There was an increasing sense of optimism at this year’s Romeo Bragato Conference. From the 500 delegates, through to the speakers, the Prime Minister to the board of New Zealand Winegrowers, there was...
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From the CEO - Remembering…
Originally, this article was going to be all about the future. All about the Structure and Governance workshops currently under way. And how important the issues being discussed at those workshops are...
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Future Leaders
One of the highlights of this year’s Bragato conference, was the Future Leader’s presentation. Four young members of the wine industry were asked to give their views on the future for New Zealand wine....
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Time to celebrate - Editorial
The International Sauvignon Blanc Celebration is only 14 months away, with the date set for early February 2016. For the first time New Zealand will take centre stage alongside its flagship variety,...
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What you can do for New Zealand wine?
Hard to believe it isn’t it, but Vintage 2015 is only a matter of four or so months away. We are all only just starting to sell the very early wines from the current vintage and the next one is just...
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Editorial Feb-Mar 2015
Welcome to 2015. A new year, new opportunities and a new vintage. As I write this in Marlborough, the region is experiencing another cloudless, sunny and extremely hot day. It has been a similar...
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The Importance Of 2015
While 2015 is barely underway it seems already that the New Year promises to be another important one for the industry. In export markets, 2014 ended with positive signs in many markets. Looking ahead...
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Giving Back - Editorial
The impact of Cyclone Pam may not have been as devastating to New Zealand as was first predicted, which is something we can all be thankful for. But for those living in Vanuatu, the same cannot be...
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Food Needs To Catch Up With Wine
One of New Zealand’s well-known chefs, believes the food industry has some catching up to do, when it comes to matching menus with our wines. Jonny Schwass, owner of Harlequin Public House, Mrs Hucks...
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Who’s Serving Your Wine?
By the time these words are in print no doubt most of you will have faced the many challenges of the 2015 harvest head-on – there are also sure to be some interesting ferments still bubbling away....
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Confidently achieving
"When you have confidence you can have a lot of fun. And when you have fun you can do amazing things." So said an American footballer by the name of Joe Namath. It's a quote that I think sums up where...
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New Zealand Versus Australia
I worked as a government viticultural scientist in New Zealand in the 1980s in the early stages of growth of the present sector. I have been a frequent visitor since, speaking and consulting, and have...
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Decanted
Wine competitions - their advantages and disadvantages, and even the relevance of entering, will usually ignite a good discussion amongst wine folk. These - at times heated – conversations will include...
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An organic experience
In early July close to 300 people gathered in Marlborough for the first ever Organic and Biodynamic Winegrowing Conference. It was an amazing success, drawing like minded people from throughout the...
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Next Steps in Governance Renewal
First, thanks to all those members who participated in the Governance referendum which was held online between 18 and 29 May. Just over one-third of members voted and those members represented just...
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Supercilious Sommeliers - Bob Campbell
For a number of years I have judged the finalists in Australia’s Wine List of the Year competition. It’s a pleasure to peruse the indulgent lists of the top six restaurants although it inevitably...
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Icons and Cults - Bob Campbell
I’ve been invited to deliver a presentation on Iconic wines at the Bragatto conference and am enjoying researching the topic. The first step was to define an “iconic wine”. My definition is: High...
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Port Day - Bob Campbell
They are celebrating Port Day in Porto on 10th September. I received an invitation to attend the one-day event – travel and accommodation courtesy of the Instituto dos Vinhos do Douro e Porto but...
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A family affair
Recently I received a book written by Michael and Judith Bassett, that outlines the history of the Babich family's 100 years within the New Zealand wine industry. It is a fascinating read, not only...
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Vote 'yes'!
In May this year, growers and wineries expressed their strong support for NZ Winegrowers Board proposal to reform the structure and governance of your industry bodies. The referendum followed several...
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Marlborough
Spring has sprung according to the new season's asparagus shoots growing in my garden, although the first few days of spring have been wet and miserable. At least the pruning is complete. The outlook...
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Six Nations Wine Challenge - Bob Campbell
The judging is over although the detailed results have been embargoed until 9 October. You will find them on boutiquewines.com.au/6-nations-wine-challenge after that date. Meanwhile I can report that...
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Cult-status Kiwi wine
I delivered a lecture on iconic wines at the Bragato conference, having identified the following list of wines which qualify for iconic or cult status. The first 13 "brands" were prepared by Regional...
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A year of highs - Editorial
Another year is about to end, with the next one waiting just around the corner. And 2015 has been a year of highlights for the New Zealand wine industry. Aside from the gains made in the ethereal world...
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2015 what a year!
The end of the year is fast approaching so some end of year thoughts on a few of the significant developments of the year to wrap things up! Vintage 2015 While vintage 2015 may have been a smaller than...
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Mirror mirror on the wall, who’s the booziest of all? - Bob Campbell
The answer if you accept the OIV figures published in the latest edition of The Oxford Companion to Wine (OCW) is Luxembourg, with a cheerful wine consumption of 60.7 litres per capita in 2012....
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NZ vs Australia - Bob Campbell
We know how our two countries compare on the rugby field but how do they compare in the competitive business of international wine marketing? That question occurred to me after I received an...
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It’s Tuesday, this must be Seoul - Bob Campbell
I've just visited seven Asian countries in 14 days for a variety of reasons, all business-related. I hosted a dinner for Air New Zealand's Gold Elite customers in Singapore, attended a dinner featuring...
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Welcome to 2016 - Editorial
With the festive season now a distant memory, the New Zealand wine industry is gearing itself up for the 2016 vintage. From the frost prone spring that impacted on wine regions, through to the up and...
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$1.5 billion of exports!
1999 ... $0.1 billion of wine exports, 2006 ... $0.5 billion of wine exports, 2010 ... $1.0 billion of wine exports, 2015 ... $1.5 billion of wine exports! What a remarkable achievement ... $1.5...
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Bob's blog
Bob Campbell MW examines whats happening in the New Zealand wine industry. The stakes rise In my last column I credited Babich with a new record RRP for their 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon. That claim...
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Where are the workers going to come from? — Editorial
Humans cannot dictate the terroir for wines, no matter how much we would like to. Instead it is a case of discovering the best soils, climate, and geography and developing from there. Hence wine...
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Philanthropy in the global wine industry — Editorial
Just how much does the wine industry give back to the community? Heaps according to a global research project that is being undertaken here in New Zealand. If you are the owner of a winery you will...
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Whanau for the curators
Professional wine and beverage service is one of the key factors for the success of the New Zealand Hospitality sector. The homes for the professionals delivering the best service are traditionally the...
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