Rising Aussie wine industry stars head to China for month-long immersion program

The second year of the Australia-China Winemaker Immersion Program exchange to China is officially underway, following an opening ceremony event held on Friday at the Penfolds Magill Estate. Designed to “foster deeper engagement between the Australian and Chinese wine industries and develop emerging winemaking and viticultural talent in both countries”, the Australia-China Winemaker Immersion Program is delivered in partnership between the Australian and Chinese wine industry associations – Australian Grape & Wine and the China Alcoholic Drinks Association – supported by government, industry and academic institutions across both countries, including Wine Australia, Treasury Wine Estates and the Wines & Spirits division of Chinese agricultural and food company COFCO. The participants include Harry Scanlon, owner, winemaker and viticulturist at Scanlon Wines in the Adelaide Hills; Leila Davis, co-founder and winemaker from Beechworth-based Foreign Friends; Holly Edson, travelling winemaker and front of house manager at Noosa’s Atelier Wine Bar; and Mike Lyons, Treasury Wine Estates assistant vineyard manager in the Barossa Valley. The group will spend four weeks in China during harvest season, gaining hands-on experience in two of the country’s premier winemaking regions: Shandong and Ningxia.