Beyond Wine: Australia’s Spirits Are Coming

Riding on the success of Australian wine, the country’s spirits industry is now turning its attention to the China market.

While Australia’s domestic spirits market is valued at more than US$4 billion, according to IWSR, its annual exports stand at only around US$150 million.

The gap becomes more striking when compared with wine. In 2022, Australia exported AU$210 million worth of spirits, versus AU$2.1 billion for wine, underscoring how underdeveloped the export side of the spirits sector remains, both domestically and against international peers.

China, despite being Australia’s largest wine export market by value, accounts for just about 2% of its spirits exports.

Against this backdrop, Australian distillers and trade bodies are accelerating efforts to build a presence in the country.

A new industry-focused tasting event, “BeSpirits Shanghai – Australian Spirits Showcase,” has been launched to target the Chinese market, bringing together nearly 20 Australian spirits producers.

The event is jointly organised by the commercial section of the Australian Consulate-General in Shanghai, Austrade Shanghai, and wine industry media platform Vino Joy News. It will take place on May 22, 2026, at The Cannery bar in Shanghai’s Jing’an district.

According to organisers, this marks the first time Australian spirits producers have entered China as a collective group for a dedicated tasting event.

The lineup brings together nearly 20 of Australia’s most distinctive craft distilleries, offering a rare opportunity for China-based importers, distributors and buyers to assess a full spectrum of the country’s spirits in one place.

From single malt whisky and rum to native botanical gin and even Australian-produced baijiu, the portfolio reflects both the depth and diversity of Australia’s fast-evolving spirits scene with a strong emphasis on provenance, innovation and category crossover.

For trade professionals, it also offers a chance to engage directly with producers, understand production philosophies and identify brands with real potential for the China market.

Schedule:

• 13:30–14:00 Registration

• 14:00–16:00 Trade session

• 16:00–17:00 Open to spirits enthusiasts

Address: The Cannery, 1107 Yuyuan Road, Jing’an District, Shanghai

You can register here or scan the QR code below to register, and access is limited to confirmed guests only.

Full list of participating producers can be viewed here.