Top Chinese wine professionals honoured at China Awards 2017

The top Chinese wine professionals who excel in promoting Australian wine in China have been honoured at the Wine Australia China Awards 2017.

This year, the celebration of Australian wine was amplified with the inaugural Australian Wine Fair in Shanghai, which showcased the unique and diverse styles of Australian food and wine to media, wine enthusiasts and influencers.

‘The China Awards and Australian Wine Fair provide an excellent platform to celebrate those who excel in promoting Australian wine in China, as well as developing a deeper appreciation for Australia’s premium wines amongst wine influencers’, said Andreas Clark, Chief Executive Officer of Wine Australia.

‘Mainland China is Australia’s most valuable export market and the continued growth we are seeing is a testament to the great work being done by the wine trade. We appreciate their dedication to promoting Australian wine and their enthusiasm to educate and encourage more people to try the wide array of premium Australian wine on offer.

‘The Australian Wine Fair, a new initiative introduced as part of the Australian Government’s Export and Regional Wine Support Package, saw Australian winemakers from 10 wine regions travel to Shanghai to showcase their wines, host master classes and educate Chinese wine professionals and wine lovers about the diversity of our wines’, he said.

At the China Awards, 13 business representatives and individuals were celebrated for their outstanding contribution promoting and raising awareness of Australian wine in Australia’s most valuable export market. Rose Scott, CEO of Summergate, one of the winners of the Best Importer category, said, ‘The annual Wine Australia China Awards is one of the most important events in the wine calendar in China each year. We feel honoured to be recognised and we would like to thank Wine Australia in China and our brand partners for their support and the contribution they have all provided to assist with the development of this key future global wine market.’

The China Award ceremony attracted 230 guests, including wine importers, retailers, hoteliers, sommeliers, wine education and training professionals and media, and approximately 500 guests attended the inaugural Australian Wine Fair.

The Wine Australia China Awards winners in 2017 are:

Best importers – Sponsored by McWilliam’s Wines Group

• Winners: Summergate Fine Wines, Kerry Wines and Everwise Wine Limited

Best educator and Highly recommended educators – Sponsored by Barossa Wine School

• Winner of Best educator: Sam Chen
• Winners of Highly recommended educators: Ned Zhang, Wendy Ki

Best retailer and Highly recommended retailers – Sponsored by Dowie Doole

• Winner of Best retailer: Ole’
• Winners of Highly recommended retailers: JustGrapes and Wine Master

Best sommelier/Best wine list and Highly recommended sommelier – Sponsored by Tourism Australia

• Winner of Best wine list: The House of Roosevelt
• Winner of Best sommelier: Arneis Wu (from L'Atelier de Joël Robuchon Shanghai)
• Winner of Highly recommended sommelier: Feifei Liu (from The Middle House)

Australian wine champion – Sponsored by Sydney Royal Wine Show

• Winner: Serena Wang

The 10 Australian wine regions that participated in the Australian Wine Fair were: Barossa, Clare Valley, Coonawarra and McLaren Vale (from South Australia), Mornington Peninsula, Rutherglen and Yarra Valley (from Victoria), Margaret River (from Western Australia), Hunter Valley (from New South Wales) and Tasmania.

Find out more information about the China Awards or the Export and Regional Wine Support Package on the Wine Australia website.

Photos are available on request.