SA wines trump Californian drops in global trade wars with US president

Canada’s stoush with this its once-friendly neighbour the United States is creating a windfall for South Aussies.

Penfolds Angus Lilley.

A Canadian province is ditching its bottles of Californian wines and refilling shelves with South Australian drops in protest over US President Donald Trump’s debilitating tariffs.

Latest figures showed SA has sold more than a million dollars of wine in the province of Ontario in just one month after joining forces with Canada’s largest liquor retailer.

The news comes as SA sees Canada rocket up its rankings from 18th to fifth largest export partner after the state rapidly stepped into the gaping hole created by Mr Trump detonating trade deals with its once-close neighbour this year.

It is a welcome relief to the state’s precious wine industry as it continues to struggle with the long-term devastation of crippling Chinese tariffs and a global red wine glut.

Trade Minister Joe Szakacs said the government-owned Liquor Control Board of Ontario’s (LCBO) promotion saw 14 South Australian wine labels collectively sell $1.3m of wine.

Exports to Canada have grown 150 per cent from $268m to $691m in the past year.

“Canada is not only a key Commonwealth partner, but it’s also a diversified market for our

state’s exporters to North America,” Mr Szakacs said.

Chalk Hill managing director Tom Harvey and winemaker Renae Hirsch. Picture: supplied

“With ongoing global instability in trade, strategic initiatives like this LCBO promotion are part of the South Australian Government’s ambition to grow wine exports into key export markets and diversifying into growing markets.”

The LCBO is a government-run enterprise that imports more than 32,000 products from more than 79 countries and is one of the largest retailers and wholesalers of beverage alcohol in the globe with nearly 700 stores.

SA wine labels in the LCBO promotion included Angove Family Winemakers, Dandelion Vineyards, Kilikanoon, Mitolo, Mojo, Naturalis, Penfolds, Small Gully, Two Hands Wines, Wakefield Wines, Chalk Hill, Wynns Coonawarra Estate, Yalumba and Zonte’s Footstep.

Treasury Collective managing director Angus Lilley said the group was proud to be providing Canadians with some of the best Australian wine including Wynns Coonawarra Estate.

“It’s great to see Canadian wine lovers embrace Australian wine and it’s a moment for both countries to raise a glass to collaboration and exceptional wine,” he said.

Originally published as SA wines trump Californian drops in global trade wars with US president