Australia’s Taylors Wines was the standout performer at the China Wine and Spirits ‘Best Value’ Awards for 2015, bringing home a trophy and a number of gold medals.
Wines and spirits from 31 nations were entered in China’s biggest-value wine competition, with Australian producers awarded 311 medals, more than any other country in the competition.
Taylors Wines’ 2015 Taylors Estate Merlot won the trophy for the Australian Wine of the Year and the Clare Valley winemaker achieved another three double gold and nine gold medals across its portfolio.
This is the third year in a row that Taylors has received a trophy at the international wine show, last year winning Clare Valley Wine of the Year for the 2014 Taylors Estate Merlot and in 2014 Australian Wine of the Year for its 2010 Promised Land Shiraz Cabernet.
Other trophy-winning Australian producers include family-owned McWilliam’s Wines, receiving the South Australian Wine of the Year trophy for its 2013 Wildling Winemakers Shiraz, and Wolf Blass Wines, receiving the Barossa Valley Wine of the Year award for its 2012 Wolf Blass Platinum Shiraz.
Recent figures from Wine Australia reveal that wine exports into the Chinese market increased by 66 per cent in the past year, to $370 million, which represents the largest percentage growth among Australia’s top five wine export markets.
China is Australia’s biggest export market by value for wine at a wholesale price point of more than $7.50 a bottle, and third largest overall by value after the US and UK.
The China Wine and Spirits Awards attract more than 5,000 entries, judged each year by 100 leading China-based wine and spirit importers, distributors, wholesalers, restaurant group owners and sommeliers.