Copycat wine producer from South Australia banned from exporting to China
A WINE company exporting South Australian reds has been banned from selling its product to China because its operations could “cause harm to the reputation of all Australian grape products’’.
A WINE company exporting South Australian reds has been banned from selling its product to China because its operations could “cause harm to the reputation of all Australian grape products’’.
Dalefold Wines, a one-person operation based out of a Broadview home, has had its licence to export grape products suspended by Wine Australia with immediate effect and until further notice.
The company is run by Shuyun Liu who is also the sole shareholder.
Wine exports to China are big business for Australia, growing from a tiny base about a decade ago to be our biggest single export market, with $1.04 billion in the year to March 2018.
Quality and counterfeiting of popular brands such as Penfolds is a big issue however.
Dalefold’s suspension means the company, which barely has any presence online beyond one 2-star review of its Bin 108 Dry Red, may not export wine from Australia.
It is the first time such a ban has been implemented since 2015-16.
Wine Australia said it had “collected and reviewed information in relation to a consignment of wine exported by Dalefold Wines on 20 June 2018 and other related matters.
“Wine Australia presented the findings of its investigation to Dalefold Wines and suspended its licence after finding that:
■ Dalefold Wines has exported three grape products from Australia that were not approved by Wine Australia and for which an export certificate was not in force. Accordingly, Dalefold Wines has contravened section 44 of the Wine Australia Act 2013 and the Wine Australia Regulations 2018.
■ Dalefold Wines has engaged in activity that aims to leverage from the reputation of another wine brand in China through causing consumer confusion to the extent that is likely to:
-adversely affect the export trade in all grape products from Australia by diminishing consumer confidence in the integrity and authenticity of Australian grape products in China
■ have a deleterious effect on the successful promotion of the export of grape products from Australia by diminishing consumer confidence in the integrity and authenticity of Australian grape products in China, and
■ cause harm to the reputation of all Australian grape products, relations with importers, current promotional strategies, consumer sentiment in relation to exported Australian grape products, or the marketability of Australian grape products relative to competitors.
■ Dalefold Wines is not a fit and proper person for the purposes of section 9(3)(g) of the Wine Australia Regulations 2018.’’
Wine Australia said.
Dalefold could not be contacted as it has no listed phone number.
“Dalefold Wines may make an application to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal for review of this decision in accordance with the Administrative Appeals Tribunal Act 1995,’’ Wine Australia said.
“The prescribed time for making an application under the Act is 28 days.
“In the past three financial years, Wine Australia has conducted 795 audits. During this time, one company has had its export licence cancelled. Currently there are 2298 active licenced exporters.’’
cameron.england@news.com.au