Wine journey

The fruit are hand picked at Yarra Valley. [Photo/China Daily]

"And then to try to talk about the Yarra Valley and the middle and the upper is a bit specific. The whole regionality thing is important but you have to do it in baby steps, you have to get people drinking wine and then get them drinking Australian wine, and the more comfortable you feel about wine the more you're going to explore."

While the names Bourdeux and Champagne might be familiar to even the most casual of wine drinkers, the Yarra Valley has some way to go to develop that same recognition factor, which is why Lunn visits China about once a year to host tastings, meet with hotel chefs and generally press the flesh with anyone of influence in the Chinese wine industry.

Yering Station is one of many Australian wineries that see massive potential in the Chinese market and want to be on the ground floor as China develops a taste for wine.

Yering Station wines are already sold throughout South East Asia and Lunn says he has witnessed a growing interest in wine in Asia over the past five years and he thinks tastes will continue to grow as food and wine matching becomes more popular.

"In Europe and Melbourne, Pinots are big but in Thailand, Cabarnet Sauvingnon is our biggest selling wine. The bigger reds are the most popular (in Asia) and I reckon over time that will change because (Chinese) food is perfect for the late mineral Chardonnays and delicate Pinots."

As the summer approaches in the city, a glass of the cooler climate wines might suit to the spicy saltiness of local cuisine.