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Clare Valley producer Kilikanoon Wines has been named Best Producer Australia at the 2026 Mundus Vini Grand International Wine Awards, with its Attunga 1865 Shiraz 2022 taking Best Australian Red of Show. The German-based competition judges entries from producers worldwide. For Kilikanoon, the result extends a long record at the show: the winery has previously been named Best Australian Producer a record nine times. CEO Travis Fuller said the dual result reflected the work of the team. “To be named Best Australian Producer and then have Attunga 1865 named Best Australian Red of Show, is a pretty special result for the team. There are some incredible Australian producers putting wines into these competitions, so to come out on top is something we’re really proud of.”
Treasury Wine Estates has failed to secure trade mark protection for key design elements of its Penfolds red wine bottle following opposition from Endeavour Group. The refused trade mark covered a bottle with a red capsule, embossed design, white label and dark green glass that appears black when filled with red wine. Drinks Trade understands the application relates to the new core range Penfolds bottles being rolled out in its 2026 collection. The trade mark application was filed by TWE subsidiary Southcorp Brands Pty Limited in April 2024, with Endeavour filing the notice to oppose the application in June 2024. The trade mark was officially refused in August 2026 after IP Australia found that the mark was not inherently adapted to distinguish TWE's wines. Drinks Trade reached out to TWE and Endeavour Group ahead of publishing the story.
Brown Brothers is inviting Australians to stop waiting for the perfect occasion and start enjoying the moment with its new Proseccoyeah! campaign. Built around the idea that the perfect occasion is now, the campaign encourages consumers to embrace everyday moments, whether that means wearing the dress, booking the holiday, buying themselves the flowers, starting the thing, using the good glasses or simply popping the bubbles. At its heart is a simple reminder: celebrations do not need to be saved for traditional milestones or special events. Sometimes, choosing to enjoy the moment is enough to make it an occasion. Through Proseccoyeah!, Brown Brothers aims to inspire more spontaneous Prosecco occasions and bring greater joy to the everyday. The campaign comes to life through a series of creative executions, including “Wear the Damn Dress”, “Start the Thing”, “Buy the Flowers” and “Use the Good Glasses”. Rolling out across out of home, television, digital, social and in store channels, the striking key visuals and short form videos encourage consumers to stop waiting and start living, while positioning Brown Brothers Prosecco as the perfect accompaniment to the moment.
Asahi Beverages has expanded its Hard Rated RTD range with a ‘cheeky’ new flavour, Orange Passionfruit Zero Sugar. The release mixes Hard Rated’s classic orange flavour with the tropical taste of sweet passionfruit, delivering the RTD brand’s iconic flavour punch, all with zero sugar. The launch is being supported by Hard Rated’s national Born Cheeky brand, calling on Australian consumers to PASH HARD. Hard Rated Alcoholic Orange Passionfruit Zero Sugar is available nationwide now in 4-pack, 10-pack, and 24-pack formats.
Good Drinks Australia has expanded Rekorderlig into high-ABV with the launch of Rekorderlig 8%, available in Passionfruit-Mango and Strawberry-Kiwi. The range is positioned as a “dubbel-strength” extension of the Swedish cider brand, building upon its history as a leader in flavour-driven ciders. Cider is a segment that retains relevance in liquor, with one in four liquor shoppers participating, including a significant over-index among the 18-35 year old demographic. The launch targets the fastest-growing cider segment, with high-ABV growing ahead of the broader category in Australia, accounting for 25 percent of total volume and value.
Cricket Australia partner McGuigan Wines is marking the historic 150th Anniversary Test with limited-edition Black Label bottles and a consumer promotion offering one prize per day for 150 days.. Available in both Black Label Red and Black Label Pinot Grigio, the collectible bottles feature a cricket-inspired design commemorating 150 years since Australia and England played the first Test match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in 1877. The release forms part of McGuigan’s second year as Cricket Australia’s Official Wine Partner and is being supported by a 150-day consumer promotion. Consumers who purchase any bottle of McGuigan wine can enter simply by scanning for the chance to win prizes including tickets to the 150th Anniversary Test, BBQs, televisions and cricket merchandise. Alyssa Kane, McGuigan Marketing Manager, said: “We know our consumers love their cricket, and the 150th Anniversary Test gives us an incredible opportunity to celebrate a milestone that means so much to Australian cricket fans. We wanted to create something that is genuinely exciting and goes beyond simply enjoying a glass of wine. It’s our way of bringing the partnership to life and giving McGuigan drinkers the opportunity to get closer to the game.”
Asahi Beverages has expanded Cascade Draught 3.5% into the on-premise channel, with the beer now available on tap across Tasmania. The 3.5% ABV mid-strength lager is the same beer as the canned Cascade Draught launched in August , and contains 1.2 standard drinks per schooner. Its launch coincides with ongoing growth of no-, low- and mid-strength beer, with the segment now accounting for more than 30 per cent of total beer sales in Australia. Cascade Brewery's Head of Manufacturing Brendan Flanagan said the range extension followed feedback from Tasmanian publicans and their customers.
Ardbeg has unveiled Dark Reserve, a new limited-edition Islay single malt created exclusively for The Whisky Club in Australia and New Zealand. The 49.4% ABV release combines whisky matured in black sherry and Ardbeg’s usual bourbon casks, before being finished in the rare black sherry casks. According to the distillery, black sherry is comparable to Pedro Ximénez sherry, with grapes sun-dried to concentrate the Spanish wine’s deep, sweet notes. The result is a strikingly deep coloured Ardbeg with rich, sherried notes of molasses, nuts, dates, ginger and clove layered on the distillery’s signature charcoal and peat.
One of Australia's first-to-market hard tea ranges, Haiver Hard Tea, has been brought back by Geelong producer Haiver Spirits following strong consumer demand. Haiver founder and distiller Matthew Anastassiou takes a different approach to most hard teas, using tea brewed on a beer base instead of simply blending tea with spirits, giving it a softer mouthfeel and gentler carbonation much closer to real iced tea. The Drinks Trade Tasting Panel was sent a sample of Haiver Hard Tea Tropical Punch for review: “Smell of tropical ice tea – citrus, pineapple and mango tropicals across black tea base. Flavour is the same, with juicy fruit atop background of black tea, with medium sweetness and body. Subtle-yet-intriguing tannin profile. A flavour-forward tropical RTD with a unique sales point.”