The first shipment from two South Australian wineries to India have arrived, a key milestone for the state as the sector works to grow its trade footprint in the country.
This is the first time McLaren Vale-based Wirra Wirra and Langhorne Creek’s Metala have entered the Indian wine market – paving the way for more local brands hoping to export to the country.
Fittingly, the arrival of the shipments accompanies this weekend’s annual India wine trading event Mumbai ProWine 2023.
The State Government has supported 10 South Australian wineries to be represented at the event, a program Wirra Wirra and Metala participated in last year – which led to contracts with Indian suppliers.
The South Australian exhibit at ProWine Mumbai will include a masterclass where South Australian wines will take centrestage in a tasting and educational presentation led by respected Indian sommelier and wine educator Nikhil Agarwal.
To further support efforts to boost wine exports to India, the state government has also launched the Indian Chapter of the South Australian Wine Ambassadors Club.
The club – an international network of advocates who share a passion for South Australian wine – will help raise the profile of the state’s wines internationally.
This follows a significant reduction in India’s tariffs on some Australian wine under the Australia-India Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (AI-ECTA), which took effect late last year.
It is hoped heavily reduced tariffs will support the growth of the state’s wine exports to India, which totalled $9.5 million for the year ending September 2023.
South Australian brands hosted at ProWine Mumbai 2023 include Lambert Estate, O’Leary Walker Wines, Kingston Estate Wines, 1837 Barossa, Mitolo Wines, Lindsay Estate Wines, Haselgrove Wines and Eight at the Gate Wines, along with Wirra Wirra Vineyards and Metala Wines.
Metala Commercial Manager Justin McCarthy said there were great opportunities for South Australian wineries in the emerging Indian market.
“Given Australia is a proud, quality wine producing country – and India is only just starting to learn about wine – we have a genuine opportunity as an industry to ensure sommeliers, retailers and consumers alike, learn about South Australia’s wine history, our regional differences and our high-quality varietal options in the way we want the story told,” Mr McCarthy said.
The news comes as South Australia vies for a bigger share of India’s trade market as the state government establishes a designated “country director” to seize on free trade agreement opportunities.
Based in Mumbai, the India Director will be recruited and tasked with establishing connections across the Indian market opening doors for South Australian businesses seeking to export to India and seek investment into the state.
India is the state’s fifth largest merchandise export market, with South Australia exporting almost $1.1 billion of goods in the12 months to September this year, an increase of 10.5 per cent on the previous year.
