Wine co-operative hosts wine tasting for 90 Chinese visitors
Most of the visitors were Chinese nationals interested in wine purchases from Australia for export to China.
The group tasted the range of Co-operative wines and Co-operative directors' own labels, including Mt Cole Wineworks, Eurabbie Estate, Ludvigsen and Clarnette Wines, Chandler Wines of Redbank and NMIT's own label, at the NMIT Aradale Winery and Training Centre before travelling on to Halls Gap for sightseeing
The potential buyers are interested in sourcing wine from the Grampians Pyrenees to supply the market for mainly red wine in China. The buyers were introduced to the Co-operative through an agent in Melbourne who has a large number of Chinese nationals who are interested in the purchase of wine in Australia for import to China.
The red wines presented were typical Grampians and Pyrenees Shiraz reds from the last three vintages.
The Co-operative now has three vintages of red wine being matured at the Aradale winery
Grampians Pyrenees Wine Co-operative chairman Garry Rice said the range and styles of the wines represented some of the best examples of shiraz and cabernet sauvignon from the two regions and were judged by the tasters as having the flavours and intensity appreciated by the Chinese market
"The Co-operative has been working closely with these overseas contacts to develop the market for local red wine in the Chinese export market," Mr Rice said.