Grapevines branch out

By Meg Kennedy

A Moorabool winery is set to make its debut in Japan, following a recent State Government grant to export to East Asia.
St Anne’s Winery was the recipient of a $10,000 grant as part of the State Government’s Wine Growth Fund initiative.
The grant will allow St Anne’s to export to East Asian markets and seek a consultant, to aid in analysis and advice for entering the new market in Japan.
St Anne’s Winery Export Director Angus McLean said the winery’s export strategy “has been rolling for 20-years”, but the introduction of the Japan-Australia Economic Partnership Agreement in early-2015 saw Japan become a “market of interest” to St Anne’s.
“In the last 4-years, this market has shown significant growth and alerted us to the fact that we should be engaging with it,” he said.
Mr McLean said St Anne’s began developing a strategy to market to the Japan market, with the assistance of the Victorian Government in 2016.
As for the benefits for St Anne’s, Mr McLean said along with the growth of the winery’s export strategy and sales to foreign markets, the new venture “allows investment back into our product, [creating] vineyard expansion, which translates as jobs and increased viability.”
“Being able to reach cities in Asian markets with the same population as Australia, is testament to the importance of this campaign to grow our business,” he said.
Member for Buninyong Michaela Settle said that “Victorian winemakers produce some fantastic wines, and we’re proud to back St Anne’s Winery in growing their business.”
Mr McLean says the wines are estimated to debut in the East Asian market in “10-15 months” time.
The Wine Growth Fund is part of the State Government’s commitment to boost the wine industry in Victoria, by aiding Victorian wine producers to create jobs and increase exports.