HUNTER VALLEY WINE INDUSTRY & LEGEND AWARDS
Nominations are currently being invited for the 2010 Hunter Valley Legends and Wine Industry Awards. Members of the Hunter Valley Wine Industry Association (HVWIA) are invited to nominate in 5 categories. The winners will be announced at the Hunter Valley Legends and Wine Industry Awards Dinner to be held on Thursday, 27 May 2010.
- Rising Star of the Year 4. Cellar Door of the Year
- Winemaker of the Year 5. Living Legend
- Viticulturist of the Year
A Hunter Valley Heritage Award will also be bestowed, and this will be selected by our Hunter Valley Living Legends.
Nomination forms can be obtained from the Association’s office, and I strongly encourage all members to nominate those they feel worthy of the awards. This is a great way to acknowledge those that have made a contribution, and promotes excellence in the Hunter Valley Wine Industry. Nominations are due no later than Friday, 26 February 2010.
PLEASE NOTE – For all categories, previous winners are not eligible for renomination for a minimum of two years after the first expires eg. those awarded in 2008 cannot be renominated until 2010. Those awarded in 2007 are now open for renomination.
COMMUNITY DEBATE & WORKSHOPS IN REGARD TO THE “FUTURE OF CESSNOCK”
Tomorrow evening Cessnock City Council will be hosting a debate as a precursor to the commencement of the Cessnock 2020 Community Plan - Community Consultation and Engagement Program. The Debate is being held at the Performing Arts Centre commencing at 7.00pm, and all members of the Cessnock Local Government Area are invited to attend.
Following on from the Community Debate, Cessnock City Council is undertaking a comprehensive program of community consultation workshops in March. The Pokolbin Community Consultation Workshop is being held on Tuesday, 9 March 2010 at the Pokolbin Community Hall, McDonalds Road, Pokolbin commencing at 6.00pm. This workshop will allow the opportunity for members of the community to provide your views on the following themes; our community, our economy, our environment, our services and our leadership.
More information about the Cessnock 2020 Community Plan can be obtained by clicking on the following link.
http://www.cessnock.nsw.gov.au/council/cessnock2020 .
WINE RESTRUCTURING ACTION AGENDA REGIONAL WORKSHOP – POKOLBIN
The Winemakers’ Federation of Australia, in conjunction with the Wine Grape Growers’ Australia, Australian Wine & Brandy Corporation and the Grape & Wine Research & Development Corporation will be conducting a Wine Restructuring Action Agenda Regional Workshop at the Pokolbin Community Hall, McDonalds Road, Pokolbin on Wednesday, 10 March 2010 commencing at 10.30am to 4.00pm.
A free briefing and discussion session is being held for all Hunter Valley winemakers and grape growers, and the workshop will focus on; the national analysis that underpins the WRAA initiative, the implications for the Hunter region, options for individual winemakers and grape growers, and support tools available to you.
Lunch will be provided. To assist with catering arrangements, please ensure you reserve a place at the workshop by contacting the WFA by email at craig@wfa.org.au, and include the word “Pokolbin” in the subject box along with your name(s) in the body text no later than Friday, 5 March 2010.
CELLAR DOOR SOCIAL GET-TOGETHER
The HVWIA’S Cellar Door Sub-Committee is putting in place a program of seminars and workshops for the year. Following on from last year’s successful sales skills workshop and sensory evaluation days, we are seeking input from members for any other cellar door related training requirements that you may wish to participate in. It would be appreciated if you would forward your suggestions to Greg West, Chairman of the Association’s Cellar Door Sub-Committee, by email at info@winehuntervalley.org.au by Monday, 8 March 2010.
The first Cellar Door Get Together for 2010 will be held at First Creek Winery, McDonalds Road, Pokolbin on Thursday, 25 March 2010 commencing at 5.30pm to 7.30pm. Would you please ensure that appropriate staff are advised.
We are also continuing to work with the Winemakers’ Federation of Australia to produce a cellar door manual, which will cover all areas of knowledge required by cellar door staff, as well as be adapted to specific Hunter Valley cellar door usage. Information will be forthcoming.
HVWIA’S VINEYARD MINI WORKSHOPS
The Association will be holding its first Vineyard Mini Workshop for the year next month. These workshops are most informative in regard to matters relevant to viticultural practices, and provides members with the opportunity to receive comment/feedback in regard to grape leaf samples, pests and diseases or any other concerns you may have. Correspondence will be forwarded to all members in due course.
WINE FAIR
The London International Wine Fair (LIWF) is being held from Tuesday, 18 May to Thursday, 20 May 2010. This wine trade event is for importers, merchants, producers, agents, restaurateurs, wholesalers, sommeliers, and whether you produce wine, import wine, retail wine or serve wine, offers the ability to discover, create opportunities and better your business. For further information, please click the following link http://2010.londonwinefair.com.
The Shanghai International Wine & Spirits Fair is being held from Wednesday, 9 June to Friday, 11 June 2010 in China. The SIWSF is an exclusive event that specially caters for industry professionals who are involved in trading with wines, spirits and other alcoholic beverages both domestically and internationally. For further information, please visit www.wineshanghai.com/en/fairoverview.shtml.
TECHNICAL CONFERENCE
The 14 th Australian Wine Industry Technical Conference is being held in Adelaide from Sunday, 3 July to Thursday, 8 July 2010. The Australian grape and wine sector’s premier technical conference for winemakers, grape growers and other wine industry professionals features formal sessions and colloquia covering all aspects of grape and wine production from the vineyard to the consumer. For further details in regard to the program and workshop session times, please visit www.awitc.com.au. Early registration closes on Friday, 26 March 2010.
GENERAL INFORMATION
Cessnock City Council is currently accepting applications for their Mayoral Academic Scholarships, which are available to residents of the Cessnock Local Government Area only. The scholarships are for one year, and are valued at $2,500. For more details, please visit Council’s website at www.cessnock.nsw.gov.au.
Please click on the following link to view the latest edition of the Wine Grape Growers’ Australia, which provides a regional briefing on industry over-supply.
http://www.wgga.com.au/news/united_grower/WGGAUnitedGrower_AV_14_1_Feb_2010.pdf
The NSW Wine Industry Association has recently circulated the attached media release in regard to the growth of the wine industry, and the upcoming Sydney Morning Herald NSW Wine Week. For more information regarding NSW Wine Week, please visit www.nswwineweek.com.au.
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Pankhurst Wines, Canberra Region, has approximately 10 tonnes of Pinot Noir and 10 tonnes of Chardonnay grapes available for purchase. Please contact Allan Pankhurst on 0418 605 304.
Beaurepaire Ridge Vineyard, Rylstone has approximately 20 tonnes of Viognier, 20 tonnes of Petit Verdot, 20 tonnes of Merlot, 60 tonnes of Shiraz, 10 tonnes of Chardonnay, 10 tonnes of Cabernet and 10 tonnes of Semillon grapes available for purchase. Please contact Richard Beaurepaire on 0427 791 473.
Quarry Hill Wines, Murrumbateman NSW has approximately 10 tonnes of Shiraz (mostly PT23), 6 tonnes of Sauvignon Blanc (clone F4V6), 5 tonnes of Pinot Noir and 2 tonnes of Albarino grapes available for purchase. Please contact Rory McCuaig on 0421 998 304
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Regards
Greg West
Secretary
