A group of 11 influential importers and buyers from China and Hong Kong visited South Australia last week to experience the state’s world-class wines first-hand and to agree to new export deals.
The four-day program, hosted by Tony Love and Kate Spain, saw the diverse group of buyers take part in an immersive experience of South Australia’s wine, food and tourism offerings.
The tour included visits to the Barossa Valley, McLaren Vale and Coonawarra.
Minister for State Development Chris Picton welcomed the visiting importers at an event at the National Wine Centre in Adelaide.
This provided wineries from other regions including the Adelaide Hills, Clare Valley, Langhorne Creek and the Riverland the opportunity to meet with the delegation and showcase their wines.
One of the importers signed a new distribution agreement with Mirus Vineyards, a Barossa winery co-located with Wonderground Gallery, operating as both a dedicated art gallery and cellar door.
“The visit aimed to build direct business connections between producers and importers through business matching opportunities, as well as supporting brands already in China to engage buyers looking to expand their portfolios in market,” Minister Picton says.
The visit is part of continued re-engagement with China by the South Australian Government through the $3.9 million Global Wine Growth Program, launched last year.
It provides sustained support to local wine exporters as ongoing international trade challenges and a decline in wine consumption continue to impact the global wine industry.
The program expands on the success of the $1.85 million Wine Exporters China Re-engagement Support Program announced in March 2024.
“That program saw South Australia recover 90 percent of its all-time peak wine exports to China in just one year, outperforming other states,” Picton says.
In the year to February 2026, South Australia exported $612.7 million of wine to China, making up more than 68 percent of all of Australia’s wine exports to China.
“We know how good South Australian wine is,” Picton says.
“These trips are about getting major international importers to try our wines because we know once they do, they will want to do business.
“The strong interest from the importing businesses reflects the continued demand for South Australian wine in the China market.
“By drawing key global wine buyers and importers to our state, we’re creating more business opportunities for the South Australian wine industry.
“Following the recovery of our state’s wine exports to China over the last two years, the State Government is stepping up its support for the wine industry through the Global Wine Growth Program.
“Later this year, we will also welcome the first ever direct flights from Adelaide to Shanghai, the financial and economic capital of China, unlocking new export pathways for even more of the state’s premium producers.”
Nick Radford from Mirus Vineyards says, “With the significant headwinds facing South Australian wineries, programs such as the China Importer Immersion are more important than ever.
“Last week’s visit allowed us to meet representatives from an importer we have been in discussions with for six months to finalise a distribution agreement.
“This is a huge boost to our small family-owned business and gives us the confidence to continue to invest in our region.
“With Mirus Vineyards and Wonderground Barossa we have invested heavily in the region to bring to life our vision of making contemporary wines with a strong sense of place and to offer visitors to our gallery, cellar door and vineyard an experience that is unique to the Barossa Valley.”
• Subscribe to the beautiful printed edition of WBM – Australia’s Wine Business Magazine here.
Recent Comments