Australian wine exports are showing positive growth in value and volume for the first time in seven years, according to new figures from the Australian Grape and Wine Authority.
Orange, Australia
Australian wine exports are showing positive growth in value and volume for the first time in seven years, according to new figures released by the Australian Grape and Wine Authority.
The figures, which cover the last 12 months, are "an encouraging sign for the sector", according to Andreas Clark the chief executive officer of the Australian Grape and Wine Authority.
He said there was clearly growing interest in Australian wines in export markets, as seen in positive feedback from international events Wine Australia has taken part in like this week's ProWein.
"There are still challenges ahead, but from the feedback we've received at some of our recent events, there's undeniably renewed interest in Australian wine in key export markets," he said.
ProWein 2015 was no exception for Wine Australia. The trade body had its largest stand ever, with 39 producers from 28 of the nations's 65 different regions and more than 400 wines on show.
Laura Jewell MW
Laura Jewell MW the regional director of Wine Australia for the UK and Europe said Wine Australia's 'village' had been very busy. "Our largest ever presence, and the hundreds of visitors we received throughout ProWein, speaks volumes about how important this event is in providing an essential platform for trading, education and communication," she said.
"The buzz on the Wine Australia stand was impressive, reinvigorating an appetite for Australian wine through the storytelling of our people and provenance. I was delighted to hear many deals were brokered and that our producers are already making plans for ProWein 2016."
ProWein
The weakening Australia dollar has helped to make the Australian wine offering more attractive in recent months according to some producers.
Matt Tallentire, senior export manager of Casella Family Brands said: "Of course it has helped us. I think you'll find that everyone in the Australian wine industry is fairly happy about the weakening of the Australian dollar. It is weakening and coming back to a position where it makes exporting wine more achievable. It makes the proposition that much more attractive. When we were at parity with the US dollar, the Australian wine market had a bit of a hiccup. But it is coming back to normal now, which is great