Australian winemakers to join new China immersion program for industry collaboration

Australian Grape & Wine, the national association representing Australia’s winegrape and wine producers, has announced the launch of a new China immersion program aimed at early-career Australian winemakers. The initiative, called the Australia-China Winemaker Immersion Programme, is a collaboration between Australian Grape & Wine, the China Alcoholic Drinks Association, and Treasury Wine Estates. The program is designed to give participants a deeper understanding of China’s wine regions, production methods, and consumer market.

The program will run from October 10 to November 8, 2025. Four selected Australian winemakers will spend a month in China, with placements in Beijing, Shanghai, and Ningxia. During their stay, they will gain hands-on production and technical experience at several leading Chinese wineries. These include Treasury Wine Estates’ Stone & Moon Winery, Greatwall Chateau Terroir, Changyu’s Longyu Estate, and Yuanshi Vineyard.

In addition to practical winery placements, the program includes technical training sessions led by experts from China Agricultural University and Shanghai Jiao Tong University. Participants will also take part in a regional tour of Ningxia, visiting key sites in one of China’s most important wine-producing areas. The program concludes at the China International Import Expo in Shanghai.

Lee McLean, chief executive of Australian Grape & Wine, said the initiative aims to help Australian winemakers better understand Chinese wine regions and consumers. He noted that both countries’ wine industries face similar challenges related to sustainability, climate adaptation, and evolving consumer expectations. According to McLean, the program is designed to equip participants with the skills and knowledge needed to address these challenges collaboratively.

The Australia-China Winemaker Immersion Programme covers return economy flights to Shanghai for participants, as well as all accommodation, transfers, and meals during their stay. This stage of the program follows an earlier exchange in February 2025 when four Chinese winemakers spent time immersed in Australia’s wine industry.

Kerrin Petty, chief supply and sustainability officer at Treasury Wine Estates, emphasized that the program is about more than just technical skills. He described it as an opportunity for cultural exchange and building lasting relationships between the Australian and Chinese wine sectors. Petty encouraged early-career Australian winemakers to apply if they are interested in broadening their horizons and learning from one of the world’s fastest-growing wine markets.

Applications for the Australia-China Winemaker Immersion Programme are now open and will close at 5 p.m. AEST on Monday, September 8, 2025.