Wine workshops to prepare for China re-entry

30 Jan 2024
Wine makers, grape growers and exporters are invited to participate in a series of workshops in preparation of the outcomes of the review of wine tariffs imposed on the South Australian industry by China.
 
As part of the South Australian Government’s re-engagement strategy, close to 200 businesses from South Australia’s wine sector will gain deep insights into the China market at workshops held in the Barossa, Adelaide Hills, Coonawarra and Riverland, from 29 January to 1 February.
 
Delivered by a team of experts, the workshops will provide the latest updates on the lucrative China market across topics including economics, wine market conditions, market access and entry, legal considerations and cultural awareness.
 
The workshops are facilitated by the Department for Trade and Investment in partnership with the South Australian Wine Industry Association (SAWIA) and the Department of Primary Industries and Regions, South Australia (PIRSA).
 
Minister for Trade and Investment Nick Champion will be attending the workshop in the Barossa today, to hear first-hand from our wine producers how the Government can help reposition South Australia as a market leader in China.
 
Advocacy for the removal of restrictions on wine continues, with a review of wine tariffs by China currently underway. 
 
The recent visit to China by Premier Peter Malinauskas attracted strong interest from Chinese importers and industry to re-engage directly with South Australian wine exporters once there is a resolution to the restrictions in place.
 
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese met with President Xi Jinping on his trip to China. Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong and Federal Trade and Tourism Minister Don Farrell have also been busy advocating for Australian producers on trips to Beijing.
 
Significant progress has been made at both state and federal levels to stabilise the relationship with China, who have already removed trade impediments on a range of Australian products since May last year, including coal, cotton, timber, barley, and oaten hay.
 
The workshops follow a tailored industry briefing delivered by the Department for Trade and Investment and Showcase SA in October last year, where the state’s wine sector heard first-hand from the sector representatives who participated in the Premier’s China visit.
 
Wine exports to China
 
In October 2020, at its peak and one month prior to the start of tariffs, China was South Australia’s largest wine export market, with exports valued at $946.5 million, accounting for 47.2 per cent of South Australia’s wine exports globally.

For the year ending November 2023, wine export to China was valued at $2.7 million with volume at 752.5 thousand litres.
 
China Market Insights Workshop
 
Registrations are open for the China Market Insights Workshops, offered exclusively to South Australian grape and wine businesses.
 
connectplus.sa.gov.au/business_missions/china-market-insights-2024   
 
Dates and locations: 

Monday 29 January 2024, Coonawarra Hall, Coonawarra, 10.30am – 1.30pm 
Tuesday 30 January 2024, The Barossa Cellar, Vine Vale 9.00am – 12.00pm 
Wednesday 31 January 2024, Hotel Renmark, Renmark, 9.30am – 12.30pm 
Thursday 1 February 2024, Adelaide Hills Convention Centre, Hahndorf, 9.30am – 12.30pm