Trade Minister, Niall Blair visited the Mudgee vineyard on Thursday to highlight the positive increase – with the business expected to double its 2016 volumes into China.

From small beginnings four years ago when exporting represented five per cent of the company’s business, export activities now account for more than 25 per cent of the operation.

“There is a huge global appetite for high quality products and services produced here in regional NSW,” Mr Blair said.

“It’s fantastic to see companies like Bunnamagoo in Mudgee reap the rewards of expanding their business into international markets.

“China in particular presents a significant opportunity for winemakers, ABS statistics show in 2015-16 NSW wine exports to China grew 33 per cent to $43 million.”

Winemaker, Robert Black agrees saying “I think we’re only just seeing what China can do.”

“There is certainly massive opportunity in China, and if all the promises come to fruition we don’t have enough grapes here to supply their needs. There’s a fantastic future there, if Australian producers can take advantage of it,” he said. 

Bunnamagoo Estate Wines exported 8,000 cases of wine to the Chinese market in 2016 and expects to ship more than 15,000 cases in 2017.

“They like clean wines, fruity fresh wines, they like wines with good colour, wines that we should all enjoy drinking too. To them, that speaks Australian, depth of colour, and generosity of flavour,” Mr Black said.

Estate General Manager, Stuart Hughes says the China-Australia Free Trade Agreement has really opened the door to business in China. “In the last 18 months, we’ve had approximately 23 per cent growth in export, of which 20 per cent of that is China.”

Wine Australia statistics show 134,000 litres of wine with a Mudgee label were exported in 2016 with a value of approximately $800,000. Key markets include China, USA, Hong Kong, Singapore, as well as the cruise ships and airlines.