The Hon. Nick Champion, Minister for Trade and Investment (SA), The Hon. Leon Bignell, Member for Mawson (SA), Joint Media Release, 3 April 2023
South Korea’s flag carrier and largest airline, Korean Air, is taking South Australia’s premium wines to the air – now serving local drops on its flights.
The deal secured by South Australia’s Department for Trade and Investment will see Dandelion Vineyards and Murdoch Hill Wines join Henschke as premium South Australia wine offerings on Korean Air flights.
A variety of the producers’ wines will now be available for purchase to thousands of passengers each week, while also being served on First Class and Business Class flights from Asia to Europe.
An Adelaide Hills Pinot Noir and McLaren Vale Shiraz were hand-picked for the airline by a globally renowned sommelier and will be matched with in-flight meals, showcasing one of South Australia’s biggest exports to travellers from around the globe.
The decision to stock South Australian wines onboard Korean Air coincides with an increase in wine consumption in South Korea over the past decade, which has seen the State’s wine exports surge following the Korea-Australia Free Trade Agreement’s commencement on 12 December 2014.
South Australian wine exports to South Korea were valued at $31.8 million in the 2022 calendar year – three times larger than seven years ago.
State Trade and Investment Minister Nick Champion visited South Korea as part of the Malinauskas Labor Government’s first overseas trade mission in October last year, when he launched the South Korean chapter of the South Australian Wine Ambassadors Club (SAWAC).
South Korea is one of six key markets selected as part of the SAWAC, established to fuel export growth and create new markets.
Dandelion Wines is partnering with SAWAC ambassador and key South Korean importer Vinokims to drive sales and help local wines break into the Korean market.
Quotes attributable to Nick Champion
This will provide the perfect platform to showcase South Australia’s outstanding premium wine offering to the world.
Korean Air is a major international airline and South Korea one of the State’s biggest export destinations, so it’s a perfect match for local producers looking to expand.
We will continue to find ways Government and private companies can work together to connect South Australian exports into new markets.
Quotes attributable to Leon Bignell
Dandelion Wines have done a great job taking McLaren Vale wines to the world and South Koreans are about to get a taste of our delicious wine region.
We know Koreans are big fans of quality wines and this grouping of SA wines won’t disappoint.
Airlines are a great place to showcase wines because people are setting out on an adventure or returning home and looking for something to really add to their experience.
Quotes attributable to Dandelion Wines Founder & Winemaker Elena Brooks
Our wines have been successfully flying across Australia and Asia for the past 10 years, however this is the first distribution agreement with Korean Air.
We are very excited to see there’s growing evidence that South Korea is eager to import more high-quality wines. Together with our importers Vinokims, this will continue to drive our success in the South Korean market.
