Aussie winemakers' ties with China are bearing fruit

Shanghai

WANG Zhe, a wealthy Chinese businessman from Guangzhou, liked his glass of decade-old Chardonnay at an Australian winery so much he wanted more.

So he asked to buy the entire vintage.

It was the sort of offer, made over roast lamb and vegetables at a dinner in his honour, that has sent Australian wine exports to China soaring by 63 per cent, hitting A$848 million (S$884 million) last year.

And Co…