Winemakers urge Queenslanders to back Australian vineyards over Christmas

Winemakers hit hard by “ridiculous” Chinese tariffs have urged Queenslanders to back Australian vineyards over Christmas.

Winemakers have urged Queenslanders to back Australian vineyards over Christmas as the industry suffers devastating blows to export revenues affected by Chinese tariffs.

The industry is pushing for the state to support their local cellar doors in a bid to help winemakers who are fearing the domestic market being flooded with extra produce that is not going overseas.

Helen McAteer from Witches Falls Winery in Tamborine Mountain said the Chinese market was a large one for many wineries.

She said Witches Falls Winery exported around 15 per cent to China and is now urging Queenslanders to support local cellar doors.

“People need to consider, like they do with their food, where their wine comes from as well,” she said.

“And to see what is at their local cellar door and support us that way because after everything that has happened this year, on top of drought in the vineyards and fires, it’s just another hit to the industry and if people want diversity, which people do appreciate, then if they don’t come and visit those places then that diversity is going to be reduced.”

Australians encouraged to buy Australian wines. Witches Falls Winery in the Scenic Rim Karin Garland, Ren Dalgarno and Kathryn Sowter. Picture: Nigel Hallett

Sirromet Wines chief winemaker Mike Hayes said it was important to support local winemakers after the industry was hit with “ridiculous tariffs”.

“Sixty per cent of all wine is exported out of Australia and out of that a fair slug goes to China,” he said.

Mike Hayes of Sirromet Wines.

“If that’s the case, all those wineries that have been slugged with a 150 per cent to 170 per cent tariff tax and the smaller wineries have been slugged with a 212 per cent tariffs, you are looking at undoubtedly an extra one third of Australia’s wine production at 40 per cent being flooded on the domestic market.

“Buy Queensland wine to support your local industry because undoubtedly we are the finest wine producing province in Australia and the world.”

Wine industry heavyweights from around the country have joined the call for Aussie revellers to rally behind local producers to stand up to the Chinese government’s bullying tactics after a horror year for the sector that also saw them suffer through bushfires.

Australian Grape and Wine chief executive Tony Battaglene said China was trying to put pressure on Australian producers and it was crucial locals helped those producers get through as much of the year’s supply as possible.

“China is a $1.2b market and that is a lot of wine to try and move into other markets. We hope everyone gives a case of wine to their friends for Christmas to try and help producers,” he said.

Tyrrell Wines chief executive Bruce Tyrrell also criticised China for imposing new tariffs on producers.

“China has been behaving like this for quite a while and it’s like the big bully in the schoolyard. There is only one way to fix that and that’s to stand up to it,” he said.

“There are a number of producers out there whose businesses are largely China based and now their market is gone.

“It’s wonderful for people support their own people and most of us are doing it naturally. This China situation will prod those who aren’t already to also back local suppliers.”

Originally published as Winemakers urge Queenslanders to back Australian vineyards over Christmas