For six years, the Wine Australia China Awards have recognised wine trade professionals who have made outstanding contributions to promoting and raising awareness of Australian wine in China.
The 7th annual Wine Australia China Awards took place in Shanghai on 11 November 2019, with eight coveted awards honoured at the gala ceremony.
Wine Australia China Awards provides the key partners in the Chinese Australian wine sector with a platform to celebrate and showcase the quality, creativity and innovation behind Australian wine. The event aims to drive excitement, engagement and education about the Australian wine category by engaging with key influencers amongst trade, media and consumers.
This year, there are eight awards categories, including two new awards – Best Australian Wine Promotion – Off Premise and Emerging Australian Wine Advocator.
All award information and supporting entry documentation can be found in the award title links below.
- Best Australian Wine Promotion Online presented by McLaren Vale Grape Wine & Tourism Association
- Best Australian Wine Promotion On-Premise presented by ASC Fine Wines
- Best Australian Wine Promotion Off-Premise presented by Australian Vintage Limited
- Outstanding Feature Story on Australian Wine presented by Hellmann Worldwide Logistics
- Outstanding Lifestyle Story on Australian Wine (Ft. Food and/or Tourism) presented by Tourism Australia
- Australian Wine List of the Year presented by Summergate Fine Wine & Spirits
- Australian Wine Communicator of the Year presented by Treasury Wine Estates
- Emerging Australian Wine Advocator presented by Margaret River Wine Association
Best Australian Wine Promotion Online presented by McLaren Vale Grape Wine & Tourism Association
This category recognised an outstanding Australian wine promotional campaign in an online store that:
- Demonstrates innovation, creativity and clever marketing
- Attracts and engages customers, enhancing their awareness and appreciation of Australian wine.
Best Australian Wine Promotion On-Premise presented by ASC Fine Wines
This category recognised an outstanding Australian wine promotional campaign in a hotel, bar or restaurant that:
- Demonstrates innovation, creativity and clever marketing
- Attracts and engages customers, enhancing their awareness and appreciation of Australian wine.
Best Australian Wine Promotion Off-Premise presented by Australian Vintage Limited
This category recognises an outstanding Australian wine promotional campaign in a wine retailer that:
- Demonstrates innovation, creativity and clever marketing
- Attracts and engages customers, enhancing their awareness and appreciation of Australian wine.
Outstanding Feature Story on Australian Wine presented by Hellmann Worldwide Logistics
This category recognised outstanding writing in a published (trade media) article which was:
- entertaining
- thought-provoking, and
- provided the reader with new or original insights into the world of Australian wine.
Outstanding Lifestyle Story on Australian Wine (Ft. Food and/or Tourism) presented by Tourism Australia
This category recognised outstanding writing in a published article in trade or consumer media that has content which is:
- Entertaining
- Thought-provoking
- Provides the reader with new or original insights into the world of Australian wine.
Australian Wine List of the Year presented by Summergate Fine Wine & Spirits
This category recognised the best wine list from a restaurant, bar or hotel located in Mainland China that has a wine list of a high standard which:
- Contains an excellent representation of Australian wines
- Enables the customer to select Australian wines of different variety and style, from different wine regions
Australian Wine Communicator of the Year presented by Treasury Wine Estates
This category recognised outstanding work by an online wine communicator with an interest in Australian wine using social media, website, or video content that demonstrates:
- Innovation
- A contemporary focus
- A clever use of multiple communication tools
Emerging Australian Wine Advocator presented by Margaret River Wine Association
This category recognised an individual who has been working in the wine sector in China for between two and five years, whose efforts are making an outstanding contribution to the growth of Australian wine in China. In relation to Australian wine, the recipient will have demonstrated:
- Significant return-on-investment to their employer
- Outstanding delivery of value to their clients or customers
- Skills appropriate for a future sector leader
- Vision, forward-thinking and a strategic approach to support the growth of Australian wine in China
Award judges
Trade awards (alphabetic order based on surname, except for the panel leader)
- Judging panel leader - Stella Cai, Senior Business Development Manager, Australian Trade and Investment Commission Shanghai office
- Charles Guo, Founder of Winemaster House
- Silvia Hu, Co-founder and Editor-in-chief of Sommelier Press and Bartender Press
- Li Demei, Associate Professor, Food Science and Technology College in Beijing University of Agriculture, renowned winemaker and key opinion leader
- Maxime Lu, Founder and Editor-in-chief of WineOnline.cn
- Eva Xie, Gourmet and Wine Critic, Writer, key opinion leader, senior media professional
- Sunny Zhang, Founder of Pinor, Founder of Pinor Sommelier Academy, and Publisher of Pinor Magazine
- Siwei Zhu, Co-founder, Managing Editor and Senior Wine Educator of TasteSpirit
Media awards (alphabetic order based on surname, except for the panel leader)
- Judging panel leader - Lu Yang MS, Corporate/Group Director of Wine for Shangri-La Hotels & Resorts, and Founder of Grapea Institute
- Alexander Caillard, Head of Pudao (Mainland China) and Langton’s East Asia (Hong Kong)
- Tom King, Managing Director - North Asia, TWE China
- Li Wei, President and CEO, Swan Holding Group, Founder of HBF
- Bel Sun, Regional Sales Manager of China, Negociants International
- Simon Wang, Chief Operating Officer, ASC Fine Wines
The eight award winners received a trophy and a certificate, as well as a 7–10 day trip between January – June 2020 to Australia’s celebrated wine regions to further discover the diversity and uniqueness of Australian wine. UPDATE: Due to international border closures and travel restrictions related to COVID-19, Wine Australia had to cancel the planned trip to Australia. Winners were awarded an alternative prize.
The Wine Australia China Awards 2019 is supported by the Australian Government's $50 million Export and Regional Wine Support Package.
Contact
For more information about the Wine Australia 2019 China Awards, please email Jessie Qian Jessie.qian@wineaustralia.com
