Wine Export Roadshow

The Hon. D.G.E. HOOD (14:35): My question is also to the Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment. Will the minister update the council on the recent Wine Australia Far From Ordinary Roadshow?

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY (Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment) (14:35): It is a real pleasure for me to be able to talk about the Far From Ordinary—that is not the opposition I am referring to; it's the roadshow, the Far From Ordinary wine roadshow that is the largest ever promotion of Australian wine in the USA, a three-week long event travelling east to west coast across the US, engaging with American trade in six key wine markets, being New York, Chicago, Miami, Dallas, Los Angeles and San Francisco.

Wine Australia is currently delivering the federal government's four-year $50 million export regional wine support package, focusing on demand building in Australia's two largest export markets, the United States and China. Whilst I was in the US, I was able to attend the roadshow for a short while. I enjoyed seeing the great South Australian representation. You have to understand this is Wine Australia, but South Australia certainly punches above its weight. It was great to be there and discuss the importance of Australia and the US trade relationships with exhibitors. The roadshow was a great opportunity to explore market opportunities for future collaboration between Wine Australia and the Department for Trade, Tourism and Investment and the new South Australian government trade office in Houston, Texas.

Australia and the US continue to have a strong trade relationship, particularly with wine. Australia exported $154 million of wine to California in the year ending June 2019, representing a 35 per cent value share of the total exports to the US. However, this is something we still have to grow. South Australia, as you know, produces 80 per cent of Australia's premium wine and 50 per cent of all of our bottled wine. At any one time there are nearly a billion bottles of wine on the tables and in cellars around the world with a South Australian name on them, but our wine exports to the US dived after the GFC, and we are still recovering.

It is, I think, important to think of the great opportunity we have, the great relationship we have with the US. We only saw just recently the really strong relationship between Prime Minister Morrison and the US President Trump, and I think there's an opportunity for our two nations to come even closer together. I think certainly the wine industry and the wine market is a really great opportunity, especially where the exchange rate is, for South Australia and Australia to really exploit that opportunity.

The roadshow featured over 100 Australian wine exhibitors showcasing 193 wine brands. The South Australian companies were well represented at the roadshow, with companies such as Barossa Valley Estate and Angove Family Winemakers. D'Arenberg was there and a great ambassador and friend of South Australian wine, Chester Osborn, was there, as was Stephen Henschke, as was Yalumba. The Hill-Smith family was there but also First Drop Wines; as I said Henschkes; Mollydooker Wines; Penfolds, of course, the international flagship—everybody knows and loves Penfolds; Peter Lehmann Wines; and Wakefield Wines.

Roadshows like this demonstrate why having a physical presence in the US market is a must. We are very excited to soon open our trade and investment office in Texas.