Wine initiative is sharing the drop across Japan and Korea

The Australian Government is partnering with the viticulture industry to promote Australian wine in key export markets — Japan and Korea.

The Wine Country Manager initiative is designed to help Australian wine exporters diversify their markets. The initiative will bring together exporters, importers, wine experts and buyers to increase sales of Australian wine in supermarkets, restaurants and homes across Korea and Japan.

Under the Wine Country Managers initiative, industry bodies Wine Australia and Australian Grape & Wine will partner with the Australian Trade and Investment Commission (Austrade) and Australian embassies to run education seminars and marketing activities in Japan and Korea.

Australia’s Minister for Trade and Tourism Senator the Hon Don Farrell has announced Rosemary Macdonald and Suzie Chung as Wine Country Managers for Wine Australia for Japan and Korea, respectively.

Wine Australia Chief Executive Officer Dr Martin Cole welcomed MacDonald and Chung to the new roles that will be based with Wine Australia.

“Ms MacDonald and Ms Chung will be a vital conduit between Australian wineries and the local wine trade in Japan and South Korea,” Cole said.

Suzie Chung, Country Wine Manager for Korea and Trade Minister Don Farrell.

Australian Grape & Wine Chief Executive Tony Battaglene said he was delighted at the appointments of MacDonald and Chung, which are funded though the Australian Government’s Agricultural Trade and Market Access Cooperation (ATMAC) Program.

“The Australian Government recognises the challenges facing exporters and has provided this investment to assist in the wine sector’s strategic and long-term efforts in Japan and South Korea,” Battaglene said.

Farrell said that Korea is the 10th largest export destination for Australian wine exports, while Australia is the sixth largest supplier of wine to Japan, with both regions representing growing markets for Australian wine exporters.

Top image caption: (from left to right) Australian Trade Minister Don Farrell; Country Wine Manager for Japan, Rosemary Macdonald; and Chairman of the Japan Wines and Spirits Importers Association Taiichiro Isono.