China success just right drop for Australian wineries

China has been the fastest growing export market for Australian wine for several years, and, despite a drop in exports in 2013, China remains the biggest destination for Australia's premium wines above A$7.50 ($6.80) per liter.

This was in keeping with a slowdown in the imported wine market across the board, mainly due to the highly effective austerity measures introduced by the Chinese government at the end of 2012, mainly implemented to curb spending by government bodies on luxury goods such as premium imported wines.

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Bottled wine exports to China decreased by 7 percent to 33 million liters in 2013, while the average value of bottled exports grew by 3 percent to A$6.55 ($5.62) per liter.

Taylors Wines Managing Director Mitchell Taylor told Xinhua the award wins were testament to the inroads Australian winemakers are making in the all-important China market.

"Australian winemakers are taking a very considered approach to the Chinese market and it is proving to be very valuable long-term," Mitchell said. "It is always rewarding receiving international accolades, but to have such breadth and depth of recognition in China is a true coup."

The China Wine and Spirits Awards attracts judges from all major purchasing decision makers in the growing Chinese market including wine importers, distributors, wholesalers, restaurant group owners and sommeliers based in China.

The breadth of Australian success reflects the diversity of a sector that criss-crosses almost every climate and soil type for production. This sees Australian vineyards producing all of the major wine types, from red wines to white wines, fortified wines - such as port - and sweet wines to sparkling wines.

There were a total of 1,132 wines entered in this year's China Wine and Spirits Awards, quickly morphing into an internationally critical event for the wine calendar, providing a fast growing Chinese wine market and attracts judges from across the globe, overseen by Chairman of Judging, MW Lynne Sherriff.