(Wine-Searcher) - A minor spat in a tiny country paints a graphic picture of the world wine industry.

Of all the images to pop into my head this week that of a cluster of New Zealand winemakers, rampaging through the local supermarkets, grabbing a bottle of Australian Sauvignon Blanc out of the hand of a startled shopper, saying "sorry mate" in their earnest drawl, before smashing it on the floor, was one of the least expected.

It started with Kiwi national wine treasure Bob Campbell MW writing a self-styled "grumpy" piece on his own website, railing against the iconic New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc brand Montana using predominantly Australian grapes in their basic offering.