Selling Aussie Wines in China – 1932

Much is made by the Australians for the success of their wines in China. Certainly as long as I can remember the Australians have been energetic in selling their wines in China and I’ve purchased and consumed many a bottle myself. However, the quest to sell Aussie wine in the Middle Kingdom goes back a bit further. Here, from the Sydney Morning Herald in October 1932, a round-up of Australia’s trade in China…

Wine is a surprising (at least to the author) addition to Australia’s trade success stories in China…port wines no less. Though, interestingly, it seems that the canny manager of the Imperial Hotel in Tientsin (Tianjin) removed the label to prevent 1930s style wine snob prejudice. That manager was, at the time, Alexander Mackprang, from a long established in China Scottish family.