Explore UK 2022-23
Open to all wineries, Explore UK runs from November 2022 until January 2023.
The program offers market briefings, panel discussions, insights, and targeted marketing to importers and agents.
The briefings have been designed to clearly portray the current market as it is, and how to navigate it and create opportunities. The briefings will provide information and insight into a different facet of the market, such as consumer trends, on- and off-trade, and the importer landscape. This will prepare you on how to go to market, your pricing strategy, category performance and in-market opportunities so that you can tailor your message for appointments with customers.
Following the market briefings, we will be talking to agents and importers through dedicated emails, sharing your wine story and proposition. This part of the program is all about encouraging agents and importers to browse and make connections with participating wineries.
As part of Explore UK, wineries will also have the opportunity to showcase wines at the Australia Trade Tasting in London on 24 January 2023. At the event there will be a special free-pour tasting zone, featuring wines from wineries on Explore UK. This new-to-market area gives buyers from importers and retailers the chance to taste your wines.
Market Briefings
Introduction to the UK market
1 November 2022
This presentation will provide an overview of the market and a roadmap to exporting from Australia to the UK, hosted by Judy Kendrick and Ana Sofia Oliveira. Coordinators of the ‘Wines Unearthed’ section at the London Wine Fair each year, Judy and Ana have hosted similar briefings for wineries across the globe looking to export to the UK.
Consumer trends in the UK
3 November 2022
In this briefing we will dive deep into consumer trends in the UK, hosted by Lulie Halstead of Wine Intelligence, and moderated by Laura Jewell MW of Wine Australia. Lulie will explain the structure and buying behaviours of consumers in the UK, with a particular focus on the changes over the last two years.
Introduction to the importer landscape
8 November 2022
This briefing will examine the importer landscape in the UK, exploring what importers are looking for, and how best to approach them. The discussion will be moderated by Richard Siddle, editor and founder of The Buyer. Our panellists are David Cartwright (Sales Director, Seckford Agencies), Miranda Fong (Buyer, Graft Wines) and Harriet Kininmonth (Head of Wine, Matthew Clark/Bibendum).
Introduction to the off-trade
9 November 2022
Discover this dynamic sector with a lively panel discussion bringing together national retailers, online retailers and smaller independent outlets, hosted by Emma Symington MW of Wine Australia. Our panellists are Georgina Haughton (Buyer, J Sainsbury’s), Freddy Bulmer (Buyer, The Wine Society) and Hal Wilson (Owner, Cambridge Wine Merchants).
Introduction to the on-trade
10 November 2022
Several key players from a range of on-trade outlets and buying groups, from fine dining to the multiple pub sector, will discuss the UK on-trade scene in a session moderated by Andrew Catchpole, editor of Harpers. Our panellists are Charlie Young (Owner, Vinoteca), Holly Ninnes (Head of Wine, St Austell Brewery) and Kelvin McCabe (Sommelier, Hackney Coterie).
Registration
Registration for Explore 2022-23 is now open.
- UK – register by 30 October 2022
- Canada – register by 2 December 2022
- Europe – register by 3 February 2023
The cost is AUD $1900 ex-GST per winery* for each region.
*A virtual expo space (winery profile) on CONNECT is included in the program cost, through June 2023.
Criteria for participating in Explore 2022-23
- Wineries should have an export licence and exporter ID.
- Wineries should be new to the market. If you have current distribution in the region and are looking to change, please let us know so that we can tailor the communications accordingly and it not be a surprise to the current importer.
- Wineries can be of any size and offer brands, bottled, bulk and buyers own branded wines. Formats can include alternative packaging such as cans and kegs.
- Wineries should have a strong story and commercial offering. A strong commercial website is preferable, with relevant imagery and additional information.
FAQs
Frequently asked questions
For wineries seeking distribution in Canada, the Explore program will make you ‘export ready’ for the Canadian market. Participating wineries will receive market readiness briefings, insights and targeted marketing to key customers (importers and agents).
Explore Canada 2023 registration is open now and until December 2. The cost is $1,900 AUD per winery. 20 spots in Explore Canada 2023 will be funded 100% through a partnership with South Australia’s Department for Trade and Investment. To find out if you’re eligible for this funding, please review the eligibility requirements on the website.
No. The cost for an expo space (winery profile) on Australian Wine CONNECT is included in the program cost. The Explore program will be marketing your brand to agents and importers through our virtual Australian Wine CONNECT platform. We will be driving agents and importers to your virtual expo space to learn more about your brand, wines and set up appointments.
No. This program offers you insights and market knowledge to be business ready and will promote your brand to interested agents and importers, who will then reach out to set up appointments through Australian Wine CONNECT. If they would like to receive samples, we can provide guidance on the process but the costs and logistics for shipping samples are not included in the program fee.
The Explore program will prepare you to be business ready in the Canadian market, with briefings on how to go to market, pricing strategy, category performance and opportunities so that you can tailor your message for appointments with customers. It will also offer targeted marketing to our extensive network of agents and importers, encouraging them to browse the brands in the program and book appointments to learn more.
No. We will be driving agents and importers to your virtual expo space on Australian Wine CONNECT to learn more about your brand, wines and to set up appointments. We will not be providing direct introductions or setting up meetings for you, and due to privacy regulations we will not be sharing contact details for agents and importers.
Explore Canada will run in January - February, with market briefings beginning in mid January, and marketing to agents and importers from late January to the end of February. The Explore Canada Curated Collection will be live on the CONNECT platform for January – March 2023, to enable importers and agents to browse and discover the participating wineries.
Yes, a CONNECT exhibitor can receive one free spot for one of the Explore programs. Please contact connect@wineaustralia.com for more information.
For questions about Explore Canada, please contact annie.dingwall@wineaustralia.com.