Wine Australia Awards Launch in China

The Wine Australia Awards – a new, global initiative from the Australian Wine and Brandy Corporation – will be launched in China in October 2009, with applications made available to China based businesses, sommeliers, F&B staff, wine writers, educators, retailers, importers, distributors and restaurateurs, before being rolled out across North America, the UK and Europe throughout the course of the year.

The inaugural awards presentation will take place as part of the annual Wine Australia Tasting, when four fully funded trips to explore Australia’s wine regions will be presented to businesses and/or individuals who are to be recognised in the following award categories: Wine Australia Trophy, Wine Australia Restaurant Award, Wine Australia Retail Award and Wine Australia Communicators Award.

The Wine Australia Trophy is the top award, and will be presented to an individual or business which has displayed an outstanding contribution to the growth of wine and of Australian wine in China. This Trophy is hosted by a different Australian wine region each year, and in addition to visiting other regions across Australia, the recipient will be hosted by the cool climate Victorian regions of the Yarra Valley and Mornington Peninsula in the inaugural year.

The remaining three Awards are relevant for applicants currently employed in: wine retail (including importing businesses, retail and distribution); restaurants/bars/hotels; and wine education/wine writing. The awards will be presented to individuals or businesses who are able to demonstrate a commitment to the responsible promotion of wine and who can demonstrate an enthusiastic interest in Australian wine.

“Our aim is to recognise and reward ambassadors of wine, and of Australian wine in China – people or businesses who have worked with passion and enthusiasm to promote wine to Chinese consumers,” said Wine Australia’s Regional Manager for China, Miss Ali Hogarth.

“Their reward will be a once-in-a-lifetime chance to tour some of Australia’s key wine regions, to meet the people behind the famous brands and to try the wines where they are made. Wine Australia plans to host this visit to Australia in the first half of 2010.”

Ms Hogarth said potential applicants must be resident and based in mainland China (thus excluding Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan) and currently involved in positions directly involved in writing, buying, selling or educating about wine and Australian wine.

Applicants must also have a proficient understanding of written and spoken English to ensure they gain the maximum benefit from their tour.

“Other than that the requirements are pretty simple – we just want to hear why you would be a good choice for the trip, what you would hope to gain from it, and how it would benefit you in your chosen career,” Ms Hogarth said.

Applications for the Wine Australia Awards close on 31 December this year. Finalists will be interviewed in January 2010, with the winners to be announced at an awards ceremony in Beijing on the 26^th January.

Further information and application forms can be found online at www.wineaustralia.com/china or by emailing china@wineaustralia.com

For further information, please contact:

Anthony Yan - China Communications Manager
Australian Trade Commission (Austrade), Australian Consulate-General in Shanghai
T: (86 21) 6321 1333 / F: (86 21) 6321 1222
E: anthony.yan@austrade.gov.au