Chinese delegates tour SA vineyards

Vintage visit: Chinese wine merchants visiting Jacob Creeks winery in the Barossa Valley, South Australia.

SOUTH Australian vintners are ready to entertain 40 Chinese wine professionals touring the state.

Agriculture Minister Michael O'Brien said the Chinese visitors who arrived on Sunday would visit the state's top wine regions and forge ties with local wine businesses.

"The relationship that our winemakers are developing with China is a very important one," Mr O'Brien said.

"China is our nation's fourth-largest market for wine and is still growing. This is a sign that Chinese wine consumers recognise the quality of Australian wine."

The visitors are among a group of 100 wine delegates in Australia this week for the Regional Heroes initiative, led by Wine Australia.

The grape and wine industry is South Australia's third-largest exporter, contributing an estimated $1.9 billion to the state's economy in 2009-10.

O'Brien travelled to China last month to showcase SA food and wine at a special trade promotion in Guangzhou.

The Chinese delegates will experience wines in the Adelaide Hills, Barossa Valley, Clare Valley, Coonawarra, Eden Valley, Langhorne Creek and McLaren Vale.