WINNING WINES: ORVA president David Crawley and Cumulus Wines’ Debbie Lauritz show trade delegates Edwin Lee, Yi Zhang, Jim Jin, Kevin Liu and Yifeng Zhou the best Orange has to offer. Photo: JUDE KEOGH 0228winetour1
THE hosts of a delegation of Chinese trade representatives believe their visitors will take a positive message about Orange wine back home with them.
Representatives of retail stores and restaurants were among the delegation that toured Orange this week under the Wine Australia Regional Heroes Foundation Partnership Program.
The program aims to increase export opportunities in key overseas markets for a selection of Australian wine regions, including Orange.
Orange Region Vignerons Association president David Crawley said the visitors were impressed with what they saw in the region.
“They were really impressed with all the wines, and particularly the region itself. It’s all about selling the region to the international market,” he said.
“They commented on all the orchards and what a production centre it is.”
The tour included a masterclass at Highland Heritage estate and visits to a number of wineries.
Chardonnay and shiraz from several wineries featured in the masterclass, which focused on the unique charcteristics of those varieties grown in Orange.
The delegation left Orange for the Barossa, McLaren Vale and Coonawarra regions.
Mr Crawley said the goal of the Regional Heroes program was to promote Australian wine generally.
“There’s a lot of interest in Australian product,” he said.
