Leanne Altmann is killing it. In August last year Altmann topped the Riedel Advanced Sommelier examinations and was awarded Dux (the first female in Australia to receive the title), and then a month later she won the Vin de Champagne Award in the professional category. We sat down for a quick chat.

It’s fair to say that Accolade’s Global Wine Director, Paul Lapsley can look back on his 40-year winemaking career with immense satisfaction.

Barossa stalwart St Hugo has announced the appointment of Peter Munro to the role of Chief Winemaker.

“The name Figeac has 2,000 years of history,” says Hortense Idoine-Manoncourt, president of Château-Figeac, in Bordeaux. “It’s Gallo-Roman. It’s quite unique.”

The Granite Belt Wine School is a super-smart initiative designed to educate Japanese sommeliers on the unique terroir, climate and elevation of the Queensland region, as well as showcase the quality and diversity of its wines.

Calabria Family Wines has taken a giant leap from the Riverina to open a new cellar door in the Barossa Valley.

Traditionally, Grosset Wines has only ever allowed visits to its Clare Valley headquarters for a brief period each year. Now, for the first time, it will be throwing open the doors of its newly renovated cellar door for six weeks during the autumn months.

Talented team Michael and Zara Madrusan from Made in the Shade and who are also responsible for such venues as The Everleigh and Heartbreaker will launch Bar Margaux in Melbourne’s CBD in May.

The latest evolutionary phase of Launceston’s critically-acclaimed Stillwater restaurant was announced in March, with the addition of seven ultra-modern, luxuriously appointed waterfront rooms to the renowned eatery’s offerings.

The Royal Queensland Wine Show (RQWS) has announced Jim Chatto as its new chief judge.