Local wines set for China

They have just sold 2000 cases of fortified wine to a business in Shanghai, but they haven’t celebrated just yet.

“Technically the wine is good,” Mrs Banks said.

“But whether customers will buy it is a different thing. China is where the money is and the people are.”

The Chinese market comprises mostly of beer and spirits. The Banks may be filling a niche in the market or as Mrs Banks says there may not be any demand.

“The 2000 cases comprise of three varieties of fortified wine: rum flavoured, a whisky reserve tawny and reserve tawny,” she said.

The Banks got their break selling at the farmers’ markets in Sydney when a couple of months ago a buyer approached them about exporting to China.

“We get that all the time,” Mrs Banks said. “I almost fell through the floor when the bosses from Shanghai bought a trial order.”

After buying the winery in 2000, the Banks had a steep learning curve.

“Working in telecommunications in Newtown, we wanted something else to do,” Mrs Banks said.

“Mick had to go overseas once a month and I was travelling to Melbourne once a week. We had small kids and we were sick of it at the time.”

“I went to TAFE for 12 months for wine making and then did a Bachelor of Applied Science at CSU in Wagga.

“Mick went to TAFE and did three years in viticulture.”

“Picking grapes is a big issue. It’s full on and has to be done within days. The grapes have to be processed the day they are picked.”

“We actually buy most of our grapes,” Mr Banks said. “We get them from as far as Narromine and Molong.”

It’s not a glamorous job he says.

“You are always lumping boxes around. Everything is in volume.

“It’s dirty and hard work, but very rewarding,” he said.