L-R: Harry Scanlon, Michael Lyons, Leila Davis and Holly Edson. The group departed for a four-week exchange to China on Saturday. Image supplied

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.

“Since the first Penfolds wine was exported from South Australia to Shanghai in 1893, Treasury Wine Estates has continued to develop our business in the Chinese market. This program is an important part of our commitment to China by advancing shared industry capability through technical knowledge and expertise exchange,” said Kerrin Petty, chief supply & sustainability officer for Treasury Wine Estates.

Attended by industry colleagues, program partners and government representatives from Australia and China, including Acting Consul-General of the Consulate-General of the People’s Republic of China in Adelaide, Wang Hongsun, and Federal Member for Sturt, Claire Clutterham MP, the opening ceremony was an opportunity to recognise the four successful participants, who flew to China on Saturday.

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.

Scanlon said they are looking forward to being immersed in all aspects of China’s wine industry, including learning how producers there are developing their own identities and styles.

“I also hope to come away with a deeper understanding of the people behind the industry and build relationships that can continue to strengthen the connection between Australian and Chinese wine,” Scanlon said.

Davis is interested in how China is tackling challenges similar to those faced by the wine industry in Australia such as extreme climates, frost, water scarcity and long-term vineyard resilience.

“I want to understand the techniques and mindset behind adaptations, from vineyard management through to winemaking decisions, and bring back practical techniques I can share with the Australian wine community with a particular focus on sustainability and future proofing,” Davis said.

Meanwhile, Edson would like to learn more about how Chinese wineries distribute and market their wines.

“Most of all, I am excited by the opportunity to meet and learn from Chinese winemakers, viticulturists and other wine professionals, while building meaningful connections and sharing knowledge and experiences within the industry.”

Lyons believes the program is an “incredible opportunity” to build relationships and exchange ideas.

“I am particularly keen to learn more about Chinese vineyard management practices, sustainability initiatives, climate adaptation strategies, and the approaches being used across China’s emerging wine regions.”

The program will include “practical immersions at leading Chinese wineries” including Penfolds Ningxia, Chateau Junding and COFCO Great Wall, academic exchange at China Agricultural University in Beijing and a visit to the China International Fair for Trade in Services, one of the country’s four major national trade fairs. The program will conclude on 23 September, with a special event commemorating 40 years of the sister province relationship between South Australia and Shandong.

“This program is about building the next generation of relationships between the Australian and Chinese wine sectors. We hope participants return with new ideas, stronger networks and a deeper understanding of each other’s wine regions, consumers and production practices,” said Lee McLean, chief executive of Australian Grape & Wine.

“Those connections will be invaluable as our industries work together to respond to shared challenges and opportunities, from sustainability and climate adaptation to engaging the next generation of wine consumers.”

Xingsan Huo, secretary general, wine branch for the China Alcoholic Drinks Association said they are delighted to welcome the participants to China.

“In March, Chinese winemakers visited Australia’s industry with a thirst for knowledge. Now, we’re honoured to connect Australian winemakers and viticulturists to a land equally rich in winemaking wisdom.

“Wine is the essence of terroir and a bond of friendship – this exchange will be an opportunity to share winemaking expertise, and importantly, build a strong dialogue between our cultures. Participants will experience the unique charm of China’s wine regions, marking a new beginning for collaboration between the wine industries in our two nations,” Huo said.

CEO of Wine Australia Dr Martin Cole added that international collaboration “plays an important role in building capability across the global wine community”.

“The Australia-China Winemaker Immersion Program gives participants the opportunity to learn from their counterparts in China, gain new perspectives and bring valuable insights back to Australia. Wine Australia congratulates this year’s cohort. We look forward to seeing the benefits of these experiences flow back to their businesses and the broader Australian grape and wine sector,” Cole said.

The second of two reciprocal legs in the 2026 program follows the success of the Australian leg of the program in March, which saw four Chinese wine industry professionals immersed in key South Australian production regions, including the Adelaide Hills, McLaren Vale and Barossa Valley, during vintage.

“By strengthening bilateral industry relationships and facilitating practical knowledge sharing, the Australia-China Winemaker Immersion Program aims to support emerging industry talent to collaborate on common challenges such as climate adaptation, market access and sustainability,” organisers said.

In June, a Treasury Wine Estates delegation joined the Australia China Business Council visit to Yaochi Xiye winery in Xinjiang, reconnecting with Kou Yaqin, one of the Chinese winemakers who took part in the Australian leg of the program earlier in 2026.

During her time in South Australia, Kou explored “region-specific viticulture challenges of irrigation and rootstock selection for warm and dry growing conditions”. After returning to Xinjiang, Kou has successfully modified vineyard irrigation, with a longer-term rootstock project underway through a new nursery block developed with the Grape Research Institute of the Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences.

Organisers claimed this follow-up visit “reinforced the program’s core purpose: growing the wine industry in both nations by sharing ideas, collaborating and building enduring relationships that continue to shape their regions and the broader industry long after the exchange ends”.