AUSTRALIA and indeed, the Goulburn Valley region, have developed a reputation for producing excellent wines notwithstanding some of the more recent issues facing the industry.
Leading into last season’s harvest were droughts and the risk of smoke taint from the bushfires that raged across the state.
This year, a new set of problems are facing the industry. First up, COVID-19 has brought about incidental problems more related to the international seasonal workers, skilled winemakers in particular, who work the European and North American vineyards in their season and travel to Australia in ours. Travel restrictions are likely to see a dramatic drop-off in these available skilled workers in this coming season.
On top of that, in what seems to be an ongoing political to and fro, Chinese importers are being told that as from November 6, Australian wine will not be granted customs clearance into China amid claims of dumping and government subsidies to wine producers ahead of proposed tariff increases in China.
Bron Dunwoodie, co-owner of Wine by Sam out of Seymour, who took out Class 1 honours for a shiraz in last year’s Dookie Wine Show, had just finished putting together a seven-pallet consignment of their wines to China when the announcement was broadcast.
“The idea of dumping doesn’t really fly. Our wine prices to China are higher than the prices we get from Europe,” said Bron.
“We are still waiting to hear if our shipment will be affected by the embargo.”
Other winemakers in the region will similarly be affected with a number heavily committed to the Chinese market that has risen over the last decade or so. China now takes more than $1.4B of Australian wine each year.
Federal Minister for Trade, Simon Birmingham, is seeking answers from his Chinese counterpart but is yet to has yet to engage with him.
Wine along with barley, wheat, timber and lobsters are all currently facing import restrictions into China.
