Treasury Wine Estates (TWE) hosted the launch of the inaugural Australia-China Winemaker Immersion Program this week at its Shanghai office.

The winemaker talent exchange program is being facilitated through a collaboration with Australian Grape & Wine and the China Alcoholic Drinks Association, with support from the South Australian Government’s Wine Exporters China Re- Engagement Support Program.

The program’s four successful Chinese participants are travelling to South Australia to spend four weeks gaining hands-on experience in local viticultural practices, winemaking operations, sustainability projects and a range of academic and industry activities – as well as visiting some of the state’s iconic producing areas and wineries.

TWE said the program aims to foster deeper engagement between the Chinese and Australian wine industries, building on the recently strengthened diplomatic and economic relationship between the two nations. The Chinese wine professionals will have a unique opportunity to experience the world-renowned Australian wine industry, explore innovative production methods, and engage directly with TWE’s talented production teams during the vintage period in South Australia’s vineyards in the Barossa Valley, Magill and McLaren Vale regions.

The initiative pioneered by the Australian and Chinese wine industry associations – Australian Grape & Wine and the China Alcoholic Drinks Association – is supported by government, industry and academic institutions across both countries including the South Australian Government’s Department of State Development and Primary Industries and Regions South Australia, TWE and the Wines & Spirits division of Chinese agricultural and food company COFCO.

TWE is a key co-organiser of the inaugural program, which also features wine and regional tourism experiences that showcase Adelaide’s role as one of the world’s Great Wine Capitals – a network of 12 internationally-renowned wine regions including France’s Bordeaux and California’s Napa Valley. One of Australia’s most significant wine-producing regions, South Australia is home to the National Wine Centre of Australia, as well as industry and research bodies, including Wine Australia and the Australian Wine Research Institute – all participating in the program.

The successful participants were assessed against a range of criteria including technical and theoretical expertise, career experience and areas of professional interest. The inaugural 2025 cohort – consisting of Ding Weikang of leading agricultural institution Northwest A&F University in Shaanxi, Gao Yujie of September Helan in Ningxia, Miao Chengpeng of Château Rongzi in Shaanxi, and Xue Churan of China Great Wall Wine Company in Hebei – is a diverse and highly engaged group with winemaking and R&D skills, eager to learn more about Australia’s wine sector.

Speaking at the Shanghai launch event, Penfolds Managing Director Tom King said: “At Treasury Wine Estates, we’re proud of our history with China’s wine industry, which started when the first bottle of Penfolds was exported from South Australia to Shanghai in 1893. This program cements our commitment to the long-term future and success of the Australian and Chinese wine industries – we have much to learn from each other and we’re delighted to be playing a role in fostering knowledge exchange and cross-cultural collaboration.”

The second component of the 2025 program will take place in China later in 2025, when four Australian wine industry professionals will engage with industry and academic institutions during the Chinese vintage period.

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