The tippler: cork problems, the Great Australian Fine Wine Encounter

At the Loire Wine Fair this month, Rosalind Crowley, the wine correspondent of the Cork Examiner, scotched any misleading rumours to the effect that her publication was entirely devoted to the subject of cork. In these days of plastic corks and screwcaps, cork has become a recurring issue, as the full-page ads that have recently been taken for real cork suggest. Now we have the Cork Information Bureau, which isn't an Irish tourist agency, but part of an international campaign launched this month by the Portuguese Cork Association to "raise awareness of the advantages of cork stoppers and the overwhelming consumer preference for natural cork". It remains to be seen whether it's not too late to reverse the damage done to consumer confidence by the continuing problem of corkiness, the TCA compound in defective corks that makes wine taste cardboardy.

¿ As today's feature on wine branding indicates, the likes of Lindemans and Nottage Hill are a great way of discovering the joys of Australian wine. But with more than 1,000 wineries, along with an increasing focus on different regional styles and improving quality, there's a lot more to Aussie wine than just the big brands. The first Decanter Magazine Great Australian Fine Wine Encounter, on Saturday 18 May, brings winemakers from 75 wineries to the Landmark Hotel in Marylebone, London NW1. There will be hundreds of wines to taste, as well as wine masterclasses from well-known Australian commentators Andrew Caillard MW, and Max Allen, and authors on hand to sign their books, including The Independent on Sunday's restaurant critic, Terry Durack. Single tickets are £26, doubles £50, from the ticket hotline on 020-7471 2000, or, for more details, contact Catherine Woods at Decanter on 020-7271 2001, or e-mail: catherine_woods@decanter.com