Coonawarra wineries plan promotional tour of China
Date£º
2014-07-21 10:21 Source£º
www.abc.net.au Author:
Danielle Grindlay Translator:
Grape growers in South Australia¡¯s Coonawarra region have grand plans to take their wine to China.
Grape vines on the rolling hills at Kingston in South Australia
The region is planning a China road show and has received and initial $70,000 in funding support from the South Australian Government.
Coonawarra Grape and Wine Incorporated marketing manager Renee Harrison says producers will sell the region¡¯s story and connect with new distributors.
"China is one of the biggest markets for wine," Ms Harrison says.
"They are learning as a nation about the great wines that we have in Australia.
"Coonawarra hasn't actually been there as a region yet and it's quite important for us; now is probably a great time."
Although individual wineries are already exporting small amounts to China, Ms Harrison said a collaborative approach was essential.
"It's important to get the brand, Coonawarra name out there and that's kind of the whole point of this trip," she says.
"Previously Coonawarra has (had its) name up in lights, especially throughout the European and United Kingdom regions."
Co-owner of Majella Wines, Brian Lin, is one of about 20 producers committed to the project.
Mr Lin is already exporting about five per cent of his grapes to China and hopes to increase that to around 20 per cent.
"We've done more work in Hong Kong and Singapore than we have in China, they're much easier markets to crack," he says.
"While we've had a presence in China it hasn't been, up until now, as big a market.
"There's a lot of very good Australian wine exported over there, a lot of it goes to top hotels and restaurants; I think the next big thing in China is retail."