South Australia’s esteemed Barossa wine region is Australia’s sole participant in an elite global virtual tasting event this week.
The initiative being organised by the prestigious Wine Origins Alliance will see top wine producers and trade associations from 16 wine regions across eight countries involved in the Wine on Earth Taste-A-Thon.
Renowned winemakers from Seppeltsfield, Henschke, Bethany Wines and Rojomoma Red Art are hosting the interactive session telling the world about wine heroes and traditions in their famed Barossa Valley and Eden Valley.
Barossa Australia is the sole representative from Australia’s 65 wine regions.
“We are honoured to join this remarkable group of leading world wine regions dedicated to protecting place names,” Barossa Grape and Wine Association chief executive James March said.
“Despite our fierce competition in the worldwide marketplace, we all agree that location is the most important ingredient in creating truly unique and distinctive wines.
“The ‘Wine on Earth Taste-A-Thon’ is a fantastic opportunity to join our global colleagues and collectively share our unique sense of place.”
Seppeltsfield senior winemaker Fiona Donald is sharing the region’s history and Alex MacClelland from Bethany Wines will tell stories about the Barossa’s old Grenache vines.
It comes on the back of Barossa Grape and Wine Association this year launching its own Barossa Live sessions where renowned industry figures host a live tour or discussion about their finest drops.
There have been 27 Barossa Wine LIVE Happy Hours to date, with more scheduled throughout June and into early July.
Emily Hay, who oversees the association’s marketing and communications said it was a natural extension to the events having the Taste-A-Thon streamed from the grand new $4.5 million The Barossa Cellar between the townships of Tanunda and Angaston.
High-profile group of wine industry personalities the Barons of the Barossa drove the cellar project, now home to Barossa Grape and Wine Association and thousands of bottles of premium museum wine donated by local wineries.
“Bernadette Kaeding, who owns Rojomoma Red Art with her husband Sam Kurtz, will talk about their experience from a smaller winery based in the northern region of the Barossa,” Hay said.
“We became signatories of the wine origin alliance in 2018 and this is a great way to draw attention to what we are doing, the alliance works on the basis of location matters.”
The Barossa takes its turn on the global event at 3.30pm (ACST) on Facebook Live and barossawine.com on Wednesday, June 17.
The coalition of 31 organisations aims to protect wine region names globally.
Other participating regions include Bordeaux in France, Napa Valley in the United States and Rioja in Spain.
“For centuries, wine has brought people – and nations – together,” Wine Origins Alliance director Jennifer Hall said.
“Now, even while we are social distancing, wine still brings us together. After all, it’s always 5 o’clock somewhere.”
Live events supporting the wine industry also have been regularly held this year by the state’s Department for Trade and Investment, including webinars focusing on exports into China and Hong Kong.
The department is now asking for interest from South Australian wineries wanting to showcase their products through a wine tasting, or ‘pitch session’ virtual exhibition experience.
This event is being designed for existing winery export brands in the commercial or premium price point, to help build connections with buyers and distributors in overseas markets via a virtual platform.
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