Neil McGuigan says that the world is over ‘big’ Australian wines

By James Wells, reporting from ProWein

Australian Vintage chief winemaker and CEO Neil McGuigan said he has noticed a clear trend by international buyers away from high alcohol Australian wine.

Speaking with TheShout on the first day of ProWein in Düsseldorf, McGuigan said he has noticed the change in the attitudes from international buyers at the show.

“There’s no doubt that the buyers are looking for more balance in Australian wine. No buyer has said they want the alcohol higher, not one person – so thank god we are over that. 

“So it is no longer about the big Australian wines, it is now all about balance, refinement and elegance, but still fruit. Let’s not walk away from what we can do well which is fruit, but let’s put it in a package that is approachable and drinkable and you end up emptying the bottle and then you open another one – that’s what we are after. 

"Everyone is now looking at Australia for this style of wine.”

McGuigan also revealed that one of the key projects he is working on at the moment is a lighter-coloured French Provencal style rosé which will be released to the market in May.

McGuigan claimed that ProWein is now the leading global wine exhibition.

“It’s the number one international wine show in the world. Buyers from all over the world are here – the Asian buyers are here in droves, we have Canadians, Americans, the London trade are here as well, the Russians are here, the Swedes and Nordics are here and of course there’s the Germans – so it's just absolutely fantastic.”

“The buyers are here because all of the wine companies are here. There’s even wines from Israel, wines from Greece and wines from India is here – therefore all of the buyers come and they are here to do business.”