Winemaker Nikki Palun lost her whole business overnight when a trade dispute with China put tariffs as high as 218.4 per cent on Australian wine in November 2020.

China’s decision, labelled as “petty” by then finance minister Simon Birmingham, brought Australia’s top $1.2 billion wine export market to an abrupt halt. Exports resumed in March last year, but a slower Chinese economy and changing wine culture mean the market faces an uncertain future.