The Wine Buyer–Seller Meet held in Sydney on 28 July brought together over 40 Australian wine importers, restaurateurs, media professionals and trade representatives to explore an offering that has rarely had centre stage in Australia: Indian wine.
Organised by the Wine Growers Association of India (WineGAI) in partnership with the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) and the Consulate General of India in Sydney, the event was part trade fair, part conversation starter.
The Consul General of India in Sydney Dr. S. Janakiraman addressed the gathering with a clear message. Indian wines are ready to enter the Australian market, just as Australian wines have made their way into Indian stores, restaurants and homes over the past decade. This was more than optimism as it was backed by a growing trade relationship under the India–Australia Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (ECTA), which has eased tariffs and created space for new market entrants.
Dr Tarun Bajaj, Director of APEDA, spoke of the government’s role in supporting producers, citing both technical collaborations and policy reforms aimed at strengthening export potential. APEDA’s presence at the event was a reminder that the push for global shelf space is not just driven by individual winemakers, but by a broader national effort to connect Indian producers with international buyers.
Ashwin Rodrigues, founder of Good Drop Wine Cellars and Secretary of WineGAI, also addressed the gathering. He spoke candidly about the challenges Indian winemakers face, from limited awareness abroad to complex domestic regulations, but was equally clear about the opportunity. “We’re seeing better wine come out of India every year,” Rodrigues said. “Now it’s about building relationships with those who can take it forward.”
Rodrigues, who spent time in Melbourne before the event, noted the potential of the Indian diaspora to help bridge markets. “There are 780,000 people of Indian origin in Australia. If even a small percentage begin to ask for Indian wine at their local restaurant or bottle shop, that alone can open new doors.”
The event featured wines and meads from eight Indian producers including Frizzano by Good Drop, fruit wines from Talisva in Mysore, meads from Moonshine in Pune, and established labels such as Sula and Grover Zampa. The tasting focused on wines suited to both Indian cuisine and modern Australian dining, with clean, fruit-forward styles, tropical notes, and softer tannins.
Feedback from tasters was cautiously curious. Some were surprised at the quality and range, others asked detailed questions about grape varietals, storage conditions and pricing. Several importers expressed interest in taking discussions forward, especially with wines that sat in the mid-tier price bracket and offered something distinct from New Zealand Sauvignon Blancs or Australian Shiraz.
The event comes at a time when Australian wine producers are also looking to strengthen ties with India. Australian exports to India reached $16.2 million in value by late 2022, and the Joint Dialogue on Wine, established under ECTA, has created space for technical exchange, regulatory alignment and bilateral cooperation in viticulture.
Rodrigues sees this as the beginning of a longer road. “We don’t expect overnight success,” he said. “But we do believe that once someone tastes a good Indian wine, the conversation changes.”
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