The Grape Wall Press

A Regularly Updated Roundup of China Wine Stories

APRIL 2024 EDITION

(Past Editions Here)

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China’s crowded wine market offers no lifeline for struggling global industry

Reuters: Casey Hall

“‘Now we see more cocktails, craft beers, there’s so many more choices for consumers,’ [said Judy Chan of Grace Vineyard].

“‘Wine … had this halo of international sophistication. Part of the problem is that it’s lost that halo.'”

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Ningxia wine grape growers brace for late cold as spring arrives

China Daily

“‘The buds are too tender to survive the frost, which usually lasts for 20 days and always comes at midnight. At this time of year, we have to stay up all night to reduce the damage,’ said Zhang Tao, 51, who is responsible for over 173 hectares of wine grapes at Ningxia’s Hongsipu winery.

“However, this year he is less worried about possible frost disasters thanks to 50 ‘giant stoves’ provided by Ningxia’s meteorological department.”

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Treasury Wine puts December deadline on cheaper brand demerger

Australian Financial Review: Simon Evans

“The spotlight for investors in Treasury is on the re-opening of China’s wine import market for Australian winemakers after punishing tariffs of 175 per cent were removed late last month after three-and-a-half years….

“Craig Woolford, an analyst at MST Marquee, said he expected about 300,000 cases of mid-tier wines from Treasury Wines would be sold into China in the next financial year, delivering $22 million in extra earnings….

“The company has already signalled it will lift prices globally from July 1 for some Penfolds wines including Bin 389, 407 and 128.

“Mr Woolford said this was likely to add another $20 million to the company’s profits. But the rebuild of the China distribution network could add $30 million in costs, resulting in a net benefit of $11 million in the year to the end of June 2025.”

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SA wine mogul Warren Randall aims for China reboot after tariff wall crumbles

In Daily

“Before China introduced crushing tariffs on Australian wine exports four years ago, Warren Randall was savouring the fruits of success in the lucrative Asian market.

“He was selling premium bulk red wine to Chinese winemakers, Seppeltsfield was doing well there and he’d just found a niche in the market via his ‘entry-level’ One Pound Per Acre brand acquired in January 2020 – just months before the tariffs were introduced.

“But overnight, the $1.1 billion export market was wiped out with tariffs of more than 200 per cent were slapped on Australian wines after China’s relationships soured with the former Morrison Government.

“Now, the former number one overseas buyer is finally set to reopen to Australian winemakers after China’s Commerce Ministry revealed the tariffs were ‘no longer necessary’.”

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Australian winemaker looks to go deep into Chinese market

Xinhua

“‘We already have purchase orders in the system from our past customers, so we are very confident that people quickly want to have our wine back into China,’ said [Kym] Teusner [of Teunser Wines] who has about 200 hectors of vineyards now.

“‘I’m pretty excited about the next few years,” he said, adding the Barossa Valley is a very diverse place that allows winemaking to suit different parts of China, as the Chinese market is diverse too.'”

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A China winemaker’s road less travelled

The Straits Times: Tan Hsueh Yun

“In school, Mr Mu Chao says, he was good at chemistry and biology. By his own admission, the Qingdao native is a firm fan of one of the city’s most famous products –Tsingtao Beer.

“So, of course, he became a winemaker.”

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