ONE of nature's cruel ironies is that, right when this year's brightest, freshest pupils are released into the world, most of us don't want to know about them. I'm talking about rieslings, by the way. Fresh, zippy, citrus tree floral and lemon and lime juicy drops from the 2010 vintage are making their way to our wine lists or store shelves. So far, many of the ones I've tasted are smart, keen to impress, perhaps a little naive but mostly pure and beautiful.

Ascend into the small towns huddled around the towering Mount Macedon such as Woodend or Kyneton, which are located an hour North-West of Melbourne, and you can’t fail to miss the faintly Northern European feel of the place. Perhaps it is the crisp bite of a cool Spring day, the historical streetscapes or even the patches of greenery from recent Winter rains but this is a very unique and beautiful landscape; not just in geography but also the climate that envelops it.

When it comes to matching wines with food, there are no hard and fast rules. The best way to learn what works and what doesn’t is to try out different combinations. That’s all very well when you have time on your side and several bottles lined up at a relaxed weekend dinner party, but not so helpful at a business lunch when the wine list is in your hands.

The understated Cape Mentelle Cellar Door is nestled in an outcrop of woodland at the cooler, Southern end of Margaret River on the picturesque Wallcliffe Road. Directly behind sits the barrel hall and it is here that for a weekend in November last year, guests from around the country gathered to attend what is most certainly one of the great events on the Australian wine calendar - the Cape Mentelle International Cabernet tasting.

For decades the Hunter Valley has been Sydney’s playground, a place to enjoy a weekend away in the country with family and friends all washed down with a healthy dose of local shiraz, semillon and chardonnay. Just close enough to make the two-hour drive along the F3 from Sydney an easy run, the magical mix of vineyards, some outstanding wines and the imposing Brokenback Range continues to draw people, both local and international visitors, to the Hunter in ever increasing numbers.

On the fertile and steep hills of Piedmont in North-Western Italy, ancient towns sit upon dramatic hills, dotted among a patchwork of vines. In these quiet and sleepy villages, seemingly far removed from the nearby metropolis of Milan, life has remained relatively unchanged for centuries with grand food and wine an important part of the everyday existence. With local treats, such as the cherished black truffles, in addition to wines made from varietals such as moscato, barbera, arneis and dolcetto, Piedmont, and the Langhe region in particular, is one of the world’s great food and wine destinations.

A HANDFUL of wineries based in New Zealand's celebrated Marlborough region have gone into receivership, and more are expected to follow, as the area's popular sauvignon blanc suffers from a high New Zealand dollar, over-supply and a resurgence by Australian chardonnay.

WINE investors may be forced to adopt more sober expectations of returns should controversial superannuation reforms requiring do it yourself fund investors to sell their collections ­become law.

Australia has more drinkers whom buy wine than any other Anglo nation, but it's the baby boomers, not young consumers who are driving the market for wine sales, an industry researcher says.

Big Australian Wineries dominate our market with the top 10 wine brands creating the vast majority of Australian wine producing over 50% of all the wine in Australia.