Ararat Gold sales continue in China

ARARAT - The Grampians Pyrenees Wine Co-operative will send its second container of Ararat Gold Shiraz to Ararat's sister city Taishan.

Inroads into the Chinese wine market culminated with a trip to Taishan in May 2010 by members of the Co-operative and representatives from Ararat Rural City Council to witness the launch of the Ararat Gold Shiraz.

Since then the Co-operative has secured a wine agent, Madam Zhen at the Yu Chang Cigarette and Wine Wholesale Company.

Co-operative chairman Garry Rice said since the initial container left Australia for China, the Co-operative's members have processed more grapes and bottled more wine and now have available a stock of bottled product, ensuring it can keep up with demand as required.

In addition to the Ararat Gold Shiraz, the Co-operative has also produced Ararat Gold Cabernet and Ararat Gold Cabernet Sauvignon.

While the first container of wine comprised wine at a high-end price, the second container load will contain mid-range priced wine. Each container holds around 12,000 bottles of wine.

Mr Rice said according to agents in Taishan, sales of the Ararat Gold are going well.

"We are selling throughout Guangdang Province and they seem to be reasonably happy," he said.

"We sent our first local container and within a year they wanted a bit more variety, which we can supply out of our stocks."

Mr Rice emphasised the importance of having an agent in China.

"It is very important, it means it is much easier to import into China now we have an agent.

"Madam Zhen has an extensive network of contacts and sales opportunities in beer, wine and spirits."

Madam Zhen is in the process of signing an agreement with the Co-operative as its China import agent, which will speed up orders by having stock available directly in China.

She is also considering opening Ararat Gold Wine shops in other regions to promote and sell Grampians Pyrenees region wines.

Looking to the future, the Co-operative is also hoping to sell a container into Yiwu, one of Ararat Rural City's Friendship Cities.

Mr Rice said the Co-operative has a good contact in Yiwu, a wine retailer who has opened new shops, a contact which was made at the Yiwu Trade Fair last year.

"We don't have any doubts that it will come off (the deal)," he said.

Mr Rice praised the work of other Co-operative members and particularly Ararat Rural City's International Relations Officer Henry Gunstone, for their work in continuing to push the Ararat Gold label and the wines of the individual Co-operative members.

This month Mr Rice will join a delegation from Ararat Rural City in visiting China. The delegation will visit Sister City Taishan as well as Nanchang and Ji'an.

The Co-operative is also toasting its success at a number of wine shows.

The Ararat Gold Shiraz 2008 receive a highly commended award at the China Wine Show, which saw 1000 wineries enter from across the world, while the 2010 bottling received a bronze medal at the Victorian Wine Show.

While each having their own individual labels to market, members of the Co-operative are continuing to work together to promote the Ararat Gold label.

"The Co-op is responding to all the opportunities we get," Mr Rice said.

"The initial fever about the sales was a bit tempered by the fact that the market we were aiming for was difficult to sell wine into. But we are adjusting to that and have been developing this over the last year.

"Now we have bottled stock ready to go.

"Some is labelled for domestic consumption and this will be another opportunity for us to sell a bit of wine.

"Everyone is still smiling and confident!"