Victorian Premier Ted Baillieu officially launched the opening of the Sunny Estate Wine Cellar in Shenzhen, announcing a further Victorian government investment plan to support the business open more outlets across China, writes De Bortelli’s Nikki Palun.
Amidst spectacular dancing dragons and beating drums, Victorian Premier Ted Baillieu opened the Sunny Estate Wine Cellar and Bar at the prestigious Mission Hill Golf Course and Resort in Shenzhen during the Victorian Government Super Mission to China in September. This is the second Sunny Estate Wine Cellar to be opened within the past year, with another 50 stores planned over the coming 12 months.
Sunny Estate is the vision of Sunny Zeng, a successful businessman from Guangdong who spent over 10 years living in Victoria. Sunny produces his wine with the assistance of the De Bortoli family, third generation family wine makers since 1928.
“I was looking for a partner in Australia who shared a similar vision to my own – to bring the best wines that Australia can offer to China. I spoke with many wine producers, and in the end, I formed a deep relationship with the De Bortoli family. Not only are they passionate and genuine about making wine, but they are also flexible and able to meet the rapidly growing demands of the Chinese wine market”.
“So many of my close friends and colleagues only drink French wine which, I believe, is a great shame as Australia produces some of the finest wines in the world.”
“They have a wine history of over 200 years, some of the oldest vines in the world and a wealth of experience and knowledge that has been passed from generation to generation of family wine makers. The land and climate in Australia is so diverse and therefore capable of producing premium wines that are not only elegant but also perfectly suited for Chinese cuisine.”
Within an exclusive yet inviting setting of the Sunny Estate Wine Cellar at Mission Hill Shenzhen, people can enjoy a wide range of Sunny Estate and De Bortoli wines from all over Australia, including rich and generous Shiraz from the Barossa, elegant Cabernet Sauvignon from Margaret River and delicate and aromatic Pinot Noir from the Yarra Valley.
“We have high quality wines to suit everyone, no matter if they prefer strong and fruity red wines, structured and refined wine styles, or light and refreshing white wines.”
At the launch, Premier Baillieu also announced the investment by the Victorian Government in the Sunny Estate Wine Cellars and Bars through their ‘Put Victoria on your table’ initiative. This program will enable Victorian wineries to display and sell their wines through the Sunny Estate shops, giving them unprecedented exposure to China’s wealthy elite.
With new shops opening at Mission Hill Dongguan and Hainan over the coming months, De Bortoli Managing Director, Darren De Bortoli, is extremely pleased with the results so far.
“Success in China is all about relationships. There is a natural synergy between the way the Chinese do business and how family wine producers do business. For us, it’s all about trust and integrity and building a strong foundation for the future. We have welcomed Sunny into our family and look forward to working closely with him and his sons, when they come of age.” ■
*Nikki Palun is De Bortoli Wines’ Export Manager – Asia.
