New Zealand wine industry optimistic for 2026 vintage

There is optimism across the New Zealand wine industry with the 2026 harvest is underway or about to begin, New Zealand Winegrowers reports.

"As always, this is an exciting and highly anticipated time of year, with indicators pointing to grapes that offer regional diversity, distinctive flavours and ripeness" the industry's umbrella organisation reported.

"Ongoing changes in weather patterns have seen harvest dates move forward by several weeks in recent years, and 2026 is shaping up to be the earliest yet.

"Northland kicked off on January 23, followed by Hawke’s Bay, and in more recent weeks, Marlborough and North Canterbury. Central Otago is looking slightly later this year."

Philip Gregan, CEO New Zealand Winegrowers, reported: “January to March are critical months for growing and ripening grapes.

"We are looking forward to a nice, warm March, with cooler autumn nights that are important for flavour development.

"Winemakers are feeling optimistic as they look forward to crafting wines for both domestic and international consumers, continuing New Zealand’s reputation for wines that are distinctive, refreshing, sustainable and premium.”

Image: Sauvignon blanc grapes, NZ Winegrowers   

Australians turning their backs on US travel

Australians are becoming less likely to visit the United States, a new report shows. 

New research from Southern Cross Travel Insurance (SCTI) reveals that more than half of Aussies (51%) are now less inclined to visit the US as they become increasingly selective about where they holiday overseas. 

Political stability, cost, and safety are playing important roles in destination decision-making, the Australian Traveller Trends And Insights 2026 report shows.

The data shows more than three in 10 Australians (35%) say there are destinations they are less likely to visit in the next few years. 

Leading the list is the US, followed by the Middle East (36%, although that might rise following weekend events) and China (28%). 

Even traditionally popular holiday destinations, like Indonesia are not immune, with two in 10 Australians saying they are less likely to visit, instead turning to other destinations.

When asked what the biggest deterrents were for avoiding certain destinations, nearly two thirds (63%) cited politics as their main reason. Crime (42%), high costs and health risks (both 32%) and negative word-of-mouth from other travellers (30%) were other common reasons.

When choosing where to travel next, cost (66%) remains the most prominent factor influencing their decision, followed by the political situation of a destination (48%) and reliable, stable weather (44%).

Despite the increase in concerns around overseas travel, culture continues to inspire Aussie wanderlust.

Music is the most common way Australians become interested in another country's culture (58%), followed by TV shows (51%), art (49%) and movies (43%). 

The cost-of-living crisis is another factor that continues to influence how Australians travel. 

Two in three Australians (62%) planning an overseas trip say rising living costs have impacted their plans. To save money, half are avoiding peak travel seasons, while others are opting for low-cost airlines or cheaper airfares (31%) and cutting back on dining and entertainment spend while on holiday (28%).

An amazing 14% of Aussies admitted to travelling overseas without travel insurance in 2025 - a trend more prevalent among younger travellers, with 19% of 18-29 year olds travelling internationally without any insurance cover.

“We're seeing Australians make smart trade-offs to manage rising living costs, while still making the most of their holidays," says Jess Strange, Chief Customer Officer at SCTI. 

"But skipping travel insurance shouldn't be one of them. Medical care, travel cancellations and disruptions can be incredibly costly, and travel insurance remains an useful safeguard for travellers no matter how big or small your trip is.

”Medical issues and simple trips or falls are some of the most common and costly claims we see overseas. 

"What might be a minor incident at home can quickly turn into thousands of dollars in medical bills abroad, particularly in countries like Japan."

Topping the list of destinations that Aussies most want to visit in the next 12 months is Japan (31%),

Europe (27%), New Zealand (22%) and the US (19%) (even though there is a drop off in enthusiasm). 

For more info www.scti.com.au or Download the full report.

Vilnius aiming to entice a new breed of tourist

With some of the world’s major tourism drawcards suffering from overcrowding and sky-high prices, many travellers are looking for small, chic destinations as an alternative to the likes of Venice, Barcelona, and London.

That means Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania, matches all the travel trends for 2026.

The European Travel Commission reported recently that tourists in Europe are prioritising lower stress travel to off-the-beaten-track locations.

At a time when surveys show 55% of travellers seeking niche destinations and 93% wanting to make more sustainable choices, Vilnius is aiming to lift its visitation numbers.

it is a less-crowded European city with strong sustainability credentials, and a compact walkable centre that offers easy access to nature.

"Overcrowding, noise, pollution, and heat are making many destinations in Europe less enjoyable for tourists,” Eglė Girdzijauskaitė, head of communication at Go Vilnius.

“Vilnius offers an off-the-beaten-track alternative with fewer crowds but plenty of authenticity.

“It also represents a genuinely sustainable travel option for tourists, whether that means reaching the city by the rapidly expanding network of sustainable rail connections, making the most of its walkability and cyclability, or getting out to the forests and lakes that surround the city.”

For lovers of rail travel, Vilnius boasts improving train connections to Poland, with an affordable daily service from Warsaw. Once in the city, travelling sustainably is easy. Vilnius has over 140km of cycle paths, and public transport use in the first half of 2025 was up by 10%.

Vilnius' compact UNESCO-listed Old Town is also ideal for exploring on foot and the city boasts four Michelin-starred restaurants.

* Vilnius has around 1.2 million annual visitors as compared to the over 20 million for major European cities like Paris and London. It is accessible by direct flight from Frankfurt, Copenhagen, Helsinki, and other major cities across Europe, and serves as a perfect base for exploring the region. It has convenient transport links to Riga, Tallinn, and to Poland.

See Go Vilnius, the website of the official tourism and business development agency.

Australia going nuts for almonds

Australia's almond industry is going nuts. 

The almond sector is entering a new era as it begins large-scale orchard replanting to enable future growth and satisfy increasing local and global appetite, Rabobank says in a newly-released report.

In its Australian Almond Outlook: Replanting for Growth Beyond 2030, the specialist agribusiness bank’s RaboResearch division says the Australian almond industry is “entering a pivotal transition phase” with renewal of ageing orchards and expansion into new areas.

“The next five years will begin the first large-scale replanting cycle that (along with expansion into new regions) sets the foundation for long-term growth in the Australian almond industry,” the report says.

This could see total planted area of almonds in Australia lift by between 5000 and 10,000 hectares [the equivalent of seven to 15% growth in total area] by 2030, it says.

Meanwhile, positive global demand for almonds - coupled with limited production growth in California, the world’s largest almond producer and Australia’s main export competitor - should contribute to an improving market outlook, RaboResearch says, “offering opportunities for the Australian industry to grow its share of the global market”.

The report's author, RaboResearch analyst Pia Piggott (top image), says the next five years will see the first large-scale replanting occur in Australia’s burgeoning almond industry, with many of the sector’s first-established 10,000 hectares of almond trees planted between 2001 to 2005 reaching the end of their productive life between now and 2030.

“This represents approximately 16% of the total area of Australian almonds in 2024, which will require replanting over the next five years,” she said.

On top of this, some of an additional 13,000 hectares of almond trees planted between 2006 and 2010 are also expected to need replanting in the coming five years as the productivity of older plants declines.

While the replanting effort may flatten production levels from now to 2030, longer term it should support further production growth for the industry, Piggott says.

“And we expect to see further orchard developments as almonds will likely continue to be one of the highest-value use cases for water in the southern Murray Darling Basin,” she said.

The report noted Australian almond production in 2025 was down 4.6% on the previous year to 155,697 tonnes KWE. This, however, was still up 19% on the five-year average, Piggott said.

Tasmania's charms grabbing global attention

Tasmanian tourism is having a moment in the sun, with increased visitation and global recognition.

Tourism Tasmania's latest Visitor Data Snapshot shows Australia's smallest state welcomed 1.35 million visitors for the year ending June 2025, with those travellers spending more than $3.6 billion during their stay.

This was a 3.5% increase in visitor numbers and a 3.6% growth in spending compared with the year ending June 2024. 

Visitors stayed 12.79 million nights and spent on average $2,671 each, both equal with the previous year.

International visitors spent a record $648.6 million, representing a 23% increase from last year despite a slight reduction in visitor numbers. 

This was above the national spend increase of 18%. The USA and UK led international visitor numbers and spend, surpassing pre-Covid levels.

Interstate visitor numbers, spend and nights were all up on June 2024, with visitors from Victoria, NSW and Queensland leading all three categories.

Tasmania was also recently named the world's second-best island in Condé Nast's 2025 Traveller Readers’ Choice Awards. 

It comes as renowned chef Gordon Ramsay also praised the state's produce in an interview with Condé Nast.

The Readers’ Choice Awards, voted on by over 500,000 global travellers, celebrate the best destinations, hotels, and experiences across the globe.

Tasmania came second in the World's Best Islands - Australasia and South Pacific just behind Bora Bora. 

Saffire Freycinet and Kittawa Lodge on King Island were also named in the World’s Best Resorts for the same region, coming in at fifth and 16th, respectively.

Adding to the recognition, chef Ramsay told Condé Nast he was impressed by the standard of Tasmania's produce during his visit to film the National Geographic TV series Uncharted. 

The praise was part of a video interview where he recounted his favourite food destinations around the world.

Image: Hobart waterfront 

Thinking of flying Air India? There is something you should know

Air India has been flagged for over 50 different safety violations by the national air regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).

The violations were uncovered during an audit this month and cover a wide range of lapses, travel news hub Travel Mole reported.

These included insufficient pilot training, rostering issues, and the use of non-approved flight simulators.

The airline is also in trouble for other recent maintenance record lapses and crew duty mistakes.

The audit report highlighted seven Level 1 serious breaches which have to be rectified this month.

There were 44 other less serious issues which must be fixed by August 23.

Investigators found some Boeing 787 and 777 pilots had not completed all their necessary "training and monitoring duties" ahead of evaluations.

The airline said it will "submit our response to the regulator within the stipulated time frame, along with the details of the corrective actions." 

The crash of Air India Flight 171 in June claimed the lives of 260 people, putting the airline under increased scrutiny.

Wealthy travellers have increased focus on wellness

Wellness options play a key role when well-heeled travellers across the Asia Pacific region choose accommodation options, new research shows. 

The Luxury Group by Marriott International has launched its The Intentional Traveler (their US spelling, not mine) revealing behaviours among high-net-worth travellers across key markets. 

Wellness plays key role in destination choice, with 90% of travellers considering it a top booking priority. 

The report also showed 72% of those surveyed plan to increase their luxury travel spending and destinations including Bangladesh, New Zealand, and Cambodia are gaining in popularity. 

"Luxury travellers are now more intentional than ever before," says Oriol Montal, regional vice president, Luxury, Asia Pacific excluding China, Marriott International. Two counts against him: use of industry jargon and absurd job title. 

"They are seeking journeys that align with their values, enhance wellbeing, and deliver deep personal meaning. For Marriott International, this represents an opportunity to evolve luxury hospitality into something more transformational, curated, and emotionally resonant."

Wellbeing has become a cornerstone of luxury travel. In 2025. Those 90% of travellers who cite wellness experiences as a key factor in their booking decisions are up from 80% the year prior. 

Beyond traditional spa retreats, luxury travellers are embracing holistic wellness experiences - from forest immersions and nutrition programs to sound healing and sleep therapies. 

Asia is the top destination for wellness journeys (67%), where 26% of travellers are planning a dedicated wellness or spa retreat.

A remarkable 93% of high-net-worth travellers in the region prefer to return to destinations they already love, with 89% saying they're more likely to revisit places where they feel a meaningful connection.

The full report is available to download. 

# The report surveyed 1,750 of Asia Pacific's most affluent travellers across Australia, Singapore, India, Indonesia, South Korea, Japan, and Thailand. 

Corona remains the world’s most-valuable beer brand

Corona has been named as the world’s most valuable beer brand for the second consecutive year, Kantar’s 2025 BrandZ Global report says. 

The accolade comes as the brand celebrates its centenary, bolstered by notable global growth and the growing success of its alcohol-free offshoot, Corona Cero.



The report shows that eight of the world’s top 10 beer brands are now owned by global giant AB InBev, with Budweiser ranked second, Modelo fourth and Michelob ULTRA fifth. 

AB InBev, listed on stock exchanges in Brussels, Mexico City, Johannesburg and New York, achieved all-time high revenues in 2024, along with 15% growth on earnings.

Corona’s international success in 2024 included double-digit growth outside of its native Mexico, and significantly, triple-digit gains for alcohol-free Corona Cero. 

The non-alcoholic variant is the first beer brand to sponsor the Olympic Games, debuting in Paris last year. 

Corona’s “Corona 100” platform will feature anniversary events across global markets throughout 2025, positioning the brand at the centre of both celebration and innovation. 

Marcel Marcondes, AB InBev’s global chief marketing officer, says the brand’s success demonstrates the value of long-term brand building and consistency. 

“Having eight out of the top 10 beer brands in Kantar’s BrandZ rankings reflects our focus on growing our megabrands through consumer-centricity, consistency and effectiveness.”
 he said. 

Michelob ULTRA, the fastest-growing beer brand in the US, moved up one position in Kantar’s beer rankings, now fifth globally. 

The AB InBev-owned light beer brand continues to tap into health-focused consumer trends in North America and beyond.

The top 10: 1. Corona, 2. Budweiser, 3. Heineken, 4. Modelo, 5. Michelob ULTRA, 6. Brahma, 7. Bud Light, 8. Skol, 9. Stella Artois, 10. Guinness. 

New Zealand wine businesses promote sustainability message

New Zealand has been promoting its clean and green wine image for 30 years now and despite turbulent global trade winds, the New Zealand wine industry's reputation for high-quality, sustainable wines remains a constant.

Released mid-April, the 2025 New Zealand Winegrowers Sustainability Report takes the pulse of the industry’s progress with sustainability.

The report highlights empirical data collected from its members that are certified by Sustainable Winegrowing New Zealand (SWNZ) - comprising 98% of vineyard area, and around 90% of wine produced.

The industry’s sustainability goals remain : Climate Change, Water, People, Soil, Waste, and Plant Protection.

“While we may be here for a short time, our impact can last longer than a lifetime. To our industry, sustainability means growing grapes and producing our world-famous wines in such a way that we can do so for generations to come”, the report says.

The report notes that climate change is the biggest long-term challenge facing the industry. The New Zealand Wine Roadmap to Net Zero 2050 released in 2024, highlights the need for change across key areas of the value chain to set the path to a net zero future.

“We can see from the data, that more of our members are implementing specific initiatives to minimise their carbon footprint,” says . Dr Edwin Massey, general manager for sustainability.

“Once you start measuring your emissions, you can then make informed business decisions around future changes and investment.

"SWNZ members submit data on their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. An individualised report is provided to each member, giving comparative data over time. In addition, there are also regional and national reports providing a macro benchmark for progress."

With the goal to be world leaders in water use and the protection of water quality, Dr Massey says the report shows that “100% of wineries and 92% vineyards are optimising their water use through conservation and reduction.”.

With 90% of New Zealand wine currently exported, advancing sustainability through research is paramount to the future success of the industry.

Bragato Research Institute (BRI), is a wholly owned subsidiary of New Zealand Winegrowers and bridges the gap between science and industry, focusing on and delivering research that fills knowledge gaps specific to New Zealand’s current and future grape growing and winemaking needs.

The commitment to sustainability remains a key differentiator for New Zealand wine and is central to its premium brand proposition, NZ Wine says. The report highlights the ongoing efforts by grape growers and winemakers in putting sustainability first.

To read the 2025 Sustainability Report visit: nzwine.com

Image: Marlborough vineyards

Women making strides in the Australian wine industry

 

Women are making strides in the wine industry in Australia - but much work remains to be done until full equality is reached.

Ten years on from one of the world’s first published studies of its kind, there is some good news for women’s advancement in key roles in the Australian grape and wine sector.

A new report Women in the Australian wine sector: How have the numbers changed in CEO, winemaking, viticulture, and marketing roles since 2013? conducted by Dr Jeremy Galbreath of Strateos Group, funded by Wine Australia, has revealed an increase in the representation of the studied roles in the Australian grape and wine community.

Dr Galbreath’s original study assessed gender composition of the wine sector over the period 2007–2013. The new study covering 2021-2023 has shown that nationally, the number of women in a CEO role is now 33.7%, an increase of 21% over the previous findings of 12.7 %. 

Women in winemaking roles is now 16.7%, an increase of 7.9% over the previous findings, while women in a viticulture role is now 21.5%, an increase of 11.5%. 

The percentage of women in wine marketing is now 58.4 %, an increase of 4.9%. 

Dr Galbreath said that the report highlights particularly strong evidence of progression of women in CEO roles compared to the 2007–2013 averages.

“A decade ago, only around 13% of women held CEO roles in the Australian grape and wine sector, which was on par with the average for women CEOs in Australia at that time of around 10–12%. 

"The latest data indicates that the Australian grape and wine community has increased representation of women in CEO roles to 33.7%, surpassing the estimated Australian average of 22%. 

“The number of women in winemaking and viticulturist roles have shown good increases as well, while the number of women in marketing roles remains relatively steady. While these results are encouraging, in critical roles such as winemaking and viticulture there is room for improvement.”

Australian Grape & Wine’s Diversity and Equality in Wine Committee Chair Ali Laslett said: “While we are happy to see a shift in the dial with these results, there is still some way to go on many fronts, including the gender pay gap. 

"This research provides us with significant evidence over a 10-year period and we are grateful to Dr. Galbreath for conducting this very important research for us again.”

Wine Australia General Manager Research and Innovation Dr Liz Waters said evidence shows that women in the sector need sustained support to help achieve their career aspirations, particularly in senior and leadership positions.

“Since the original report was released, significant efforts have been made by many in the sector to promote the achievements of women and raise awareness of the importance of diversity, equality and inclusion in our sector,” Waters said.

“This new report shows an improvement in our gender representation over the past decade, but there is more that can be done and it remains an ongoing priority, as identified by the sector in consultations for the One Grape & Wine Sector Plan.”

In the report, Dr Galbreath makes several recommendations to keep improving the share of roles held by women in the Australian grape and wine sector, including pay equality, business ownership, regional women’s networks, mentorship and ‘male champions’, data reporting graduate career pathways, and consideration of benchmarks to aim for greater share of women in underrepresented roles.

The full report can be downloaded from wineaustralia.com.

Two Tasmanian vineyards recognised for sustainability

The Tasmanian wine sector's environmental sustainability report for 2023 has been released, with two vineyards recognised for their practices during the season.

The voluntary VinØ ('vin zero') program is a framework to ensure Tasmania’s wine producers are doing everything they can to produce high-quality wine without negative impacts on the environment or local communities.

Paul Smart, Wine Tasmania's Viticulture & Winemaking Officer, noted that just under half of Tasmania's vineyard area was managed under the VinØ Program in 2022/23 (41%), with 30 vineyards and wineries reporting on a range of business and sustainability practices.

"The VinØ Program covers all aspects of vineyard and winery management, such as soil health, biodiversity, carbon emissions, waste and water management, biosecurity, social and human resources," Smart said.

"In 2023, practices across biodiversity, carbon emissions, waste management, pest and disease management and biosecurity all saw improvements. Biodiversity will remain a key focus area for 2024, as well as winery practices and one-on-one support for program members."

Smart announced two VinØ Program awards for 2023: Stargazer Wines in the Coal River Valley (top image) was awarded the 2023 VinØ Program Champion, while Westella Vineyard in the Tamar Valley was announced as the 2023 VinØ Program Most Improved Producer.

Accepting the award on behalf of Stargazer owner Sam Connew, Bryn Williams said: ""We are thrilled to receive the VinØ Program Champion award this year.

"It goes to show how large an impact small incremental change can have on a business. It's been very valuable for Stargazer to assess its own procedures through the VinØ framework.

"There is always room for improvement and reflection and our business will evolve as the VinØ Program continues to develop and expand in the future."

Jacquie Adkins of Westella Vineyard said: "After joining VinØ, we quickly realised the value of the program's organisational framework. VinØ has become an essential tool for Westella as we strive for continuous improvement and identify areas of our vineyard operations that require focus. Winning the award was a welcome recognition of the planning, paperwork, and physical effort that goes into developing a vineyard and achieving high quality fruit."

Australian wine industry still faces a major problem

Even the early removal of Chinese tariffs on wines imported from Australia would not be enough to prevent the wine industry facing several years of oversupply, a new report preidcts.

Rabobank's Wine Quarterly Q3 2023 report says that improved trade relations between the two countries and the recent removal of Chinese tariffs on Australian barley has led to optimism that five-year tariffs placed on Australian wine in March 2021 may be removed early.

But the Rabobank report says even in a “best case scenario”, with tariffs removed this year and Chinese consumption of Australian wine recovering quickly, this would “not be a panacea” with Australia’s wine industry still facing at least two years to work through its current wine surplus.

While this isn’t good news for Australian wine makers, there is an upside for consumers, says the report author: RaboResearch associate analyst Pia Piggott (image).

She says the oversupply is keeping prices of many quality Australian red wines at reduced levels.

So large is the current oversupply, says Piggott, that Australia has the equivalent of 859 Olympic-sized swimming pools worth of wine in storage.

"That’s over two billion litres of wine, or over 2.8 million bottles of the wine,” she said.

The Rabobank report says Chinese anti-dumping tariffs placed on Australian wine had led to significant disruptions for Australia’s wine industry, with Australia’s value of exports decreasing 33% over the past two years.

Piggott said with the tariffs coinciding with significant growth in Australian production and logistics bottlenecks from Covid, the Australian wine industry is now dealing with inventory oversupply which is depressing prices - particularly for commercial red varieties.

“Driven by sustained economic growth, rising incomes as well as the social status of wine drinking and gifting, global wine imports to China grew at an impressive 18% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) in the decade up to 2017 elevating China to be a top five wine importing nation globally,” she said.

“In the four years following the China-Australia Free Trade Agreement in 2015, the tariff on Australian wine reduced from 14% to zero %, helping to double Australia’s market share in China from 12% to 24%.

“When a slew of Chinese anti-dumping tariffs and soft bans hit various products exported by Australia in 2020-2021, wine took the most notable hit, losing about one third of export value from its peak in 2019.

“Unluckily, the tariff coincided with an exceptional growing season - and Australia’s largest crush on record.” 

Tasmania's tiny wine industry continues to boom

 

Cool-climate Tasmania continues to punch above its weight in the wine industry with new figures showing the island state produces just 0.9% of Australia's total wine grape production but accounts for 4% of total value. 

The 2023 Tasmanian Wine Grape Vintage Report shows Tasmanian wine producers rose to the many challenges across the 2023 season to harvest modest volumes of excellent quality.

Wine Tasmania CEO Sheralee Davies said a challenging season resulted in low yields in many parts of the island but that there was also plenty of positive news.

"The overall 2023 vintage production is very similar to 2022, with many wine growing areas experiencing significantly lower yields," Davies said. 

"The decrease in yields has been partially offset by newer vineyards starting to come into production, with the island's total vineyard area continuing to expand.

“Due to the vigilance and tireless management of our producers, quality of the wine grapes harvested this year is reported to be excellent. With volumes down and increasing global demand, this means Tassie wine lovers may need to get in early to secure wine from their favourite vineyards.”

The 2023 season’s challenges came primarily from wet, cool growing conditions, causing delays to the ripening of wine grapes across much of the island. 

In 2023, Tasmania collectively harvested 12,390 tonnes of wine grapes, anticipated to produce 895,000 cases of wine with 32% sparkling wine. 

The season also delivered another record for the value of Tasmanian wine grapes, up to $3,377/tonne (up 4%)  compared with the national average of $642/tonne. 

Details at www.winetasmania.com.au/vintage2023

Image: Kate Hill Vineyard, Huon Valley. Winsor Dobbin

Sustainability message a driver of wine sales

Sustainability is increasingly becoming a driver of wine sales, a new report reveals.

Sustainable Winegrowing Australia has released its Impact Report for the 2021–22 financial year, revealing record growth in membership by Australian grape growers and winemakers.

The report shows 48% growth in membership in financial year 22, with over 1,150 vineyards, wineries and wine businesses involved with 45% certified.

It says 75% of Australia's wine and grape growing regions are now committed to implementing sustainability practices and the program now represents 40% of total wine production in Australia - a 90% increase on the previous financial year.

Sustainable Winegrowing Australia is governed by the Australian Wine Research Institute, Australian Grape & Wine and Wine Australia.

The program supports grape growers and winemakers in measuring, reporting, and encouraging best practices in vineyards and wineries, amid rising consumer and retailer demands for sustainable products.

Wine Australia’s head of ESG and Market Access Rachel Triggs says: “It’s been another really challenging year for the industry facing extreme weather events and inflation pressures, and yet the growth in membership demonstrates that sustainability is a major priority for producers.

"United, we're making headway on the industry’s 2050 emissions and waste targets and looking ahead we are excited to be evolving with greater focus on the social and economic metrics of the program.

“Wine-drinkers and retailers around the world are increasingly seeking out brands that meet their sustainability standards, with 65% of Australian wine drinkers preferring sustainably made wine and 54% of global wine drinkers only trusting sustainable wine that is officially certified.

"Sustainable practices and the benchmarking provided by the program are essential to ensuring the Australian wine industry remains competitive while protecting the distinctive land, robust vines and quality wines Australia is known for globally.” 

The report highlights the progress vineyards and wineries, ranging from small independents to large brands, are making across environmental benchmarks.

“Successful sustainability is never done in isolation and it’s exciting to see the impact of the program not only with emissions reduction and waste but also in the reshaping of our business culture, making this a really great place to be, to work and to communicate," says Voyager Estate vineyard manager Glen Ryan.

Find out more about Sustainable Winegrowing Australia and download the report HERE.

How the pandemic has forever changed travel

The global Covid-19 pandemic has changed the way people think about travel, a new report from the Hilton Hotels group reveals.

The 2022 Traveller: Emerging Trends and the Redefined Traveller, a Report from Hilton describes how over two years people’s lives were dramatically altered and radically changed.

As a company that has welcomed over three billion guests in its more than 100-year history, Hilton showcases within the report how it is evolving alongside the changing traveller.

“The world – and the hospitality industry – went through so much in the last two years - and as we’ve uncovered in this report, travellers’ needs and interests have shifted too,” said Chris Nassetta, president and chief executive officer, Hilton.

“At Hilton, we’ve been incredibly focused on delivering the experiences our guests are looking for, through every up and down we’ve faced. As we look to the future, I am optimistic about what lies ahead – travel is certainly returning, and we’re excited to build on that momentum.”

The Report highlights dozens of eye-opening travel and behavioural trends that are leading to innovations both inside and outside of the hotel industry.

While each trend details specific insights and data driving change, four consistent themes emerged that summarize the new, pandemic-changed traveller:

# Amid Chaos, People Found Efficiencies – And Will Be Looking for the Same in Travel: People have embraced efficiencies in many aspects of life and will be looking for similar conveniences in their travels, like contactless check-in and check-out and digital keys.

# Overall Focus on Wellness Will Span Beyond the Gym: With a reimagined workplace and new routines and habits in place, travellers will be looking for more grounding and balance in their travel schedules.

# New and Existing Passions and More Refined Tastes and Preferences: New and refreshed hobbies are leading to a more informed, sophisticated, and, in some cases, in-shape 2022 traveller. People are anticipated to pack their passions, driving demand for new trends in fitness, culinary options and unique travel experiences.

# A New Sense of Caring Has Emerged - And Is Expected to Strengthen: The pandemic separated families and friends, which is leading to a prioritisation of reunion and reconnection travel in 2022. Beyond their inner circles, travellers are expected to care more about sustainability and community efforts – and are looking to remain loyal to brands, companies and organizations that align with their values.

“The pandemic’s impact on the travel industry has been well documented, however, it is equally important to recognize the psychological impact the pandemic had, and will continue to have, on travellers for years to come,” said Dr Kate Cummins, a clinical psychologist who recognises travel as an important component of mental well-being.

“The traveller may have changed, but the benefit of travel remains the same - increased emotional health and wellness, and after a tough two years, that’s something we all need.”