Australia ‘needs to keep engaging with India’

India’s relatively small export market still shows strong potential for Australian fine wine, says one industry body.

Wine Australia’s recent tasting in New Delhi which focused on many fine wine labels rarely seen outside of Australia, demonstrated the enthusiasm India’s emerging middle class are showing for Australian fine wine, says Brian Walsh, chair of Wine Australia.

“While the Indian export market was currently small, it nevertheless demonstrates potential for strong growth in the future and we need to keep engaging with markets like India where the potential for increased wine demand is strong.

“Now is the time to cement Australia’s reputation as a producer of fine wine and tastings like this one, along with the work we do with in-market Australian wine educators in both Mumbai and New Delhi, will help us grow demand among discerning Indian wine consumers,” he said.

Wines in the line-up represented over 100 years of Australian winemaking, including 1915 Seppeltsfield 100 Year Old Para Vintage Tawny, 1963 Penfolds St Henri Shiraz, 1970 Wynns Coonawarra Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, 1984 Penfolds Grange and 1998 Petaluma Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon.

Recent export figures revealed an increase in the value of Australian wine exports to India of 10% to AUS$4 million in 2015. Australia is the number one importer of wine to India followed by France and Italy.