Penola’s POPO & Cuvée-Co has claimed the coveted 2025 National Best Place Bubbly Award at the annual Bubbles Review, taking out the top national honour among venues nominated by sparkling wine enthusiasts across the country.
The venue, housed in Penola’s historic Old Post Office and opened just over a year ago, was established as a tasting room for Cuvée-Co Wines. Owner Peta Baverstock expressed surprise and gratitude at the recognition, saying the nomination alone was a significant milestone.
“The venue may not be as opulent as some of the other amazing nominees, but the circa 150-year-old building has a lot of charm and is flooded with natural light,” she said.
Vinarchy Outlines $30 Million Restructure Plan
New wine industry player Vinarchy has unveiled a major operational shift backed by a $30 million investment, aimed at consolidating its resources amid global market pressures.
The company will establish a “centre of excellence for premium and sparkling winemaking” at its Rowland Flat facility in the Barossa Valley, while relocating its commercial winemaking, packaging, and warehousing to Berri Estates in the Riverland.
Winemaking at St Hallett in the Barossa and Hardy’s Tintara in McLaren Vale will transition to Rowland Flat for the 2026 and 2027 vintages, respectively. The company’s corporate headquarters will remain in Adelaide.
Vinarchy chief supply officer Joe Russo confirmed that while production locations would change, the commitment to quality and regional sourcing would remain intact. “These wines will be made with the same grapes from the same regions, by the same winemakers, just at another winery,” Russo said.
However, as part of the restructure, the Rolf Binder and Banrock Station cellar doors and restaurants will close, though vineyard operations will continue unaffected.
Kiera Grant Appointed Chair of Hill-Smith Family Estates
Kiera Grant has been appointed chair of the Hill-Smith Family Estates board, succeeding fifth-generation proprietor Robert Hill-Smith.
A non-executive director since 2014, Grant brings two decades of executive experience in investment banking, along with current board roles at ASX-listed companies Adairs Limited and Future Generation Global Investment Company. She also serves as a trustee of the Art Gallery of New South Wales and is the sole independent director of Perennial Partners.
Hill-Smith will remain on the board as deputy chair and lead the newly established Family Council. He praised Grant’s dedication and professionalism, stating, “We look forward to the future under Kiera’s guidance as a wine enthusiast and eminently qualified professional who is committed to our family business.”
Barossa Wine Pioneer Jim Irvine Dies at 92
The Australian wine community is mourning the loss of Jim Irvine, founder of Irvine Wines and widely regarded as the country’s foremost champion of Merlot. He passed away at the age of 92.
Known as the “King of Merlot,” Irvine was inducted as a Baron of the Barossa in 1998. He was remembered as an innovator, mentor, and generous storyteller with a passion for winemaking.
Grand Master Baron Louisa Rose described Irvine as “a friend, mentor, and inspiration to many Barossans – an innovator unafraid to try something new, and a true legend of the Barossa.”
Langmeil Winery managing director Matthew McCulloch recalled Irvine’s influence and charisma, sharing his motivation for championing Merlot: “When I tasted Pétrus, I couldn’t believe its power, richness, silkiness and softness… so I decided to make Merlot because nobody else was doing it.”
Adelaide Central Markets to Host Wine Festival
The Adelaide Wine Festival will take over the Central Markets this Sunday, 8 June, with more than 50 South Australian wineries participating. Running from 11:00 am to 5:00 pm, the event will pair local wines with food from popular vendors including Lucias, Cumbia, and SiSea.
Treasury Wine Revises Earnings Forecast Amid U.S. Distributor Exit
Treasury Wine Estates has adjusted its financial outlook following the planned closure of one of its U.S. distributors, Republic National Distributing Company, in California.
While the company stated that the distributor’s exit would not impact its FY25 results, it revised its earnings forecast to $770 million — $10 million below expectations — due to economic uncertainty and declining demand for sub-US$15 wines in the American market.
McLaren Vale Launches AgTech Demonstration Vineyard
A new demonstration vineyard has been launched in McLaren Vale as part of an initiative to advance irrigation technology in viticulture.
Backed by state government funding, the McLaren Vale Grape Wine and Tourism Association (MVGWTA) is conducting trials on five AgTech systems: Sentek, Athena IR-Tech, AirborneLogic, Green Brain, and SWAN Systems.
MVGWTA CEO Erin Leggat described the project as a major step toward sustainability and resilience in the region. “This investment empowers MVGWTA and our members to explore and test a range of viticultural innovations in a real-world environment,” she said.
State Government to Develop Food and Wine Workforce Strategy
The South Australian government has announced plans to develop a comprehensive workforce strategy aimed at attracting and retaining talent in the food, wine, and agribusiness sectors.
Set to be developed throughout the 2025/26 financial year, the Food, Wine and Agribusiness Workforce Strategy will focus on long-term support for workforce growth, with extensive stakeholder engagement expected as part of its formulation.
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