Location, location, location. It’s not just the golden rule for setting up successful restaurants and vineyards, it’s also the catchcry for those seeking the best exposure for their premium products in today’s ultra-competitive wine world.

In early November, we spent six days visiting Singapore and Hong Kong, taking a good long look at the way the international wine scene has evolved there in recent years. We began our visit by meeting with local distributors TSA Wines (Singapore) and Montrose Wines (Hong Kong) and a handful of their key clients. 

Next, we headed off to Hong Kong’s vibrant International Wine & Spirits Fair, where we joined Domaine A, Frogmore Creek, Josef Chromy Wines, Sugarloaf Ridge and Tamar Ridge/Pirie Tasmania as part of a Tasmanian delegation exhibiting wines under Wine Australia’s A+ Australia marketing initiative. (View our story at www.australiaplus.com/stories/3/lubiana.aspx)

Senior client manager Martin Turmine from Tasmania’s Department of Economic Development helped facilitate valuable assistance to the delegation in the form of on-ground and financial support, ensuring that we enjoyed a prime location within the exhibition centre’s vast showcase of international wines.

A record number of 14,000 buyers and almost 700 exhibitors from 29 countries participated in the three-day event. Tasmania was given the spotlight on Day 2 of the fair, with Wine Australia’s Paul Henry and Lucy Anderson providing helping hands at an hour-long tutored tasting of wines from all seven members of the delegation.

Our Estate Pinot Noir, Estate Chardonnay and Alfresco Riesling were well received by key trade buyers in the region, underpinning the truly international flavour of this important annual wine and spirits event.

We look forward to continuing our close working relationships with the Department of Economic Development, Wine Australia and Austrade in developing a small but significant presence in several key Asian markets in the coming years.

During the first nine months of 2010, Hong Kong’s wine imports were valued at more than HK$4.67 billion. The city is now also the second-largest centre for wine auctions in the world, and has its sights set on New York’s prime position at the head of the market.