First container of Ararat Gold Shiraz to enter Guangdong

ARARAT - The first container of the Grampians Pyrenees Wine Co-operative's Ararat Gold Shiraz is bound for Taishan in China later this month.

Co-operative chairman Gary Rice along with Ararat Rural City Council's economic development manager, Clyde Humphries jointly announced confirmation of the Co-op's first sale in to China.

"Since undertaking the Wine Expo in Taishan in May, there have been lengthy discussions between the Taishan Government, the Co-op and Council," Mr Humphries said.

"Unlike a normal trade agreement, the entity that was granted the rights to distribute the premium Ararat Gold brand through Guangdong Province had to meet certain trading and government standards before being endorsed by both Ararat and Taishan officials.

"Today we are happy to announce that Taishan's Yu Chang Wine Company will be the endorsed distributor for the province."

Mr Rice said it had been a long but worthwhile road that the nine wineries had travelled to this point since being invited by Council early last year to consider forming a co-operative to market wine in to China.

"We are literally seeing the fruits of our labour about to be bottled and shipped to Taishan," Mr Rice said.

The first consignment will be approximately thirteen thousand bottles depending on whether the container will be palletised or hand stacked. If hand stacked the number of cases and bottles will increase.

The co-operative is gearing up to meet demand and is also planning for its next foray in to the Chinese market when they will be exhibiting Ararat Gold Shiraz and other product lines at the Yiwu International Commodities Fair in October.

Mr Humphries said that Council's Economic Development Unit was pleased to see this first step in building economic activity into the long standing cultural arrangements with Taishan and sister cities around China.

"As the co-operative gets its trading feet we will be utilising the many associations to towns and individual Chinese officials that Ararat has cultural and friendship links with, to sell Ararat Gold Shiraz," Mr Humphries said.

Madam Zhen, an owner of the Yu Chang chain of wine shops, has already requested a second container to be sourced to enhance a new wine shop she is opening especially to showcase Ararat Gold and Australian wines - focusing on wines from the Grampians Pyrenees Region.