The Hedonist takes out wine export award

(R to L) James Cooter, Walter Clappis and Kimberly Clappis are wine makers of Hedonist Wines, who have won the national export award prize, beating 14,500 other wines from around Australia. Picture: Brooke Whatnall
Source: AdelaideNow

WALTER Clappis has been to China more than a dozen times, promoting his wines and forging relationships with local distributors.

It is that sort of dedication which was today rewarded, with his Hedonist Wines winning Wine Australia's George Mackey Memorial Trophy for its 2009 The Hedonist Shiraz.

The wine, which was made by Mr Clappis, his youngest daughter Kimberly and James Cooter, was selected from more than 14,500 competitors for the trophy.

Mr Clappis said the shiraz was great value for its price point,

"Wineries always say their wine is better than the price bracket that they sell it in, and it's become a sales cliche, but we say that quietly, but we say it in the bottle," he said.

"Our export sales are growing"

The company's wines have been selected for British Airways business class, and it has won back to back contracts to supply Cathay Pacific's business class.

"We're living up to our philosophy of putting very good wine in the bottle for the price.

"We're in several countries, we're in Waitrose, an upmarket supermarket chain in England. They have four masters of wine doing the selection process, so that's a big deal."

Mr Clappis said China was also important, taking about 30 per cent of its exports.

"We'll see that figure increasing in the next five years.

"Our distributor has set up a school and I go over there frequently running appreciation and educational programs.

"I give a lot of my time in trying to educate and try to familiarise the Chinese with the product.

"The more familiar people are with the wine the more the market will want to buy it."

The George Mackey trophy was established in memory of former Wine Australia (formerly Australian Wine & Brandy Corporation) chairman George Mackey.