By Andy Young
Australian wine has a perfect opportunity to advance its profile across Asia, having been named as ‘Country of Honour’ for the 2018 Vinexpo Hong Kong exhibition.
Vinexpo Hong Kong is a key trade-only wine and spirits exhibition for the Asia-Pacific region, which attracts top decision making importers, buyers and sommeliers from across the region. As Country of Honour, Australia will host a range of masterclasses, a dedicated tasting area and educational activities during the exhibition.
Andreas Clark, CEO of Wine Australia said: “This is a brilliant opportunity to shine the light on the diversity and premium quality of Australian wine. Greater China is our number one and fastest growing export market, so Australia taking the title of Country of Honour will help strengthen our position in the market, and enable us to showcase the breadth of fine Australian wine to some of the most influential people in the region.”
China is now Australia’s number one export market by value for Australian wine having overtaken the US late last year. While China and Hong Kong together account for 28 per cent of all Australia’s wine exports, Asia in total accounts for 39 per cent. And as well as attracted delegates from China and Hong Kong, top visiting countries to the exhibition include South Korea, Japan, Taiwan and Vietnam, giving Australian wine a huge opportunity to further grow exports to Asia.
Guillaume Deglise, CEO of Vinexpo said: “Vinexpo is very proud to host Australia as country of honour for the 20th anniversary of the fair in Hong Kong. The connection with Wine of Australia reflects the growing appetency of Asian consumers for Australian wines, and Vinexpo’s objective to enhance the dynamism of the Australian wine industry at the exhibition.”
Vinexpo will take place at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre from 29 – 31 May 2018 and will be followed by Wine Australia’s China Roadshow, which takes Australian winemakers around China.