How to succeed in the post-pandemic Australian market: 5 tips from Gill Gordon-Smith IWE and Vanessa Green IWA

In the wine2wine Business Forum 2021 session, available today in podcast format, IWE speaker Gill Gordon-Smith and IWA moderator Vanessa Green discuss the current state of the Australian market and how Italian brands can achieve better results by tapping into the Australian passion for Made in Italy. Australia post-pandemic After almost two years, Australia is emerging from the restrictions imposed by the Covid-19 Pandemic. As a result of the extended lockdown, the Australian beverage sector has undergone a massive transformation in both on-premise and off-premise sales. Local producers lost important export markets and turned inland in search of new sales, a development which also impacted imports. The situation is not, however, entirely negative: Wine consumption rates amongst Australian consumers have increased and they are also looking for new tastes and flavours. Italy represents an exciting prospect for both consumers and commerce. Italian wine in Australia A distant but not exotic country, culturally close to Europe and Italy, where wine is already part of everyday life, Italian wine is booming in Australia. Recent trends in tourism, with increasing numbers of travellers looking to Italy, has also resulted in an increasing appreciation for Italian food and the Mediterranean lifestyle more generally. In addition, with a sizeable Italian community, significant plantings of Italian varietals, and an informed market, Italian wines are poised to gain more traction as the economy opens up and rebuilds. Among the most popular bottles we find Prosecco (especially rosé), Barolo and Barbaresco, as well as Chianti and the wines of Etna. According to some importers, great growth potential is foreseen for Valpolicella, as fresher, less potent reds are another booming category. Gill Gordon-Smith IWE and Vanessa Green IWA Gill Gordon-Smith IWE is Italian Wine Expert of the Vinitaly International Academy, wine producer, retailer, judge and educator. With diplomas in training, design and development, professional education and training, she is a WSET certified educator, and has worked with Qantas Airways to develop the renowned Sommelier in the Sky programme. She is passionate about Italian vines and wines, and produces Italian vines in McLaren Vale. Vanessa Green has worked in B2B and B2C organizations, specializing in market development. She is an Italian Wine Ambassador of the Vinitaly International Academy, and studied at the WSET, AWRI and is a member of the Crimson Wine. de Bordeaux and the Ordre des Coteaux de Champagne. Vanessa is CEO of Cliftons, a global provider of conference and event management solutions and Managing Director of Crimson Wine.