Rosnay organic products have made small but significant inroads into the Asian wine market.
Thanks to their recent securing of an import deal, father and son Richard and Sam Statham are just back from Singapore, where their wines and olives were presented to leading food and wine industry names.
Through the Fair Price group of supermarkets, Rosnay's 2004 Cowra Region Triple Blend and its 2004 Cowra Region Chardonnay/Semillon can now be found in 38 supermarkets and several clubs and restaurants across the country.
Singapore isn't the only Asian country where Rosnay wines can be found. Eight hundred cases have already made their way to China only a month ago.
"The Singapore market is a very sophisticated market," explained Sam.
"It's also a stepping stone into other south east Asian countries, such as Indonesia and Malaysia, due to its efficient, reliable warehousing."
The two admit luck was on their side in securing the Singaporean deal.
"The reason we got in was because Singapore has a growing organic section in their supermarkets. Fair Price was looking to add organic wine to its shelves, and so far, we are the only organic label they have chosen."
Since then, heavy promotion of the label has followed.
"They have us in Wine and Dine, Singapore's equivalent to Good Living magazine and other food mags. They also organised two five course wine dinners, with not just organic wine, but whatever organic food products we could supply, including olives, olive paste and figs. And we learnt a lot ourselves from some of their great food matching with our five Rosnay wines."
Two of Singapore's top chefs presented the produce, matched with wines, creating further exposure for the enterprise. Sam and Richard also gave a slide presentation on organic farming at Rosnay during the dinners, which fascinated the Singaporeans.
The Asian gains come several years after Rosnay explored the potential of export to Europe, in particular, Germany, but were disheartened by industry trends.
"We visited the EU market before starting in organics in 1997, then again for the Biofach trade fair in Germany in 2003 and 2004.
"Over that period, the European organic wine trade became more consolidated, with wholesalers trying to reduce the numbers of wine brands. In the long term, Europe is going to be harder, plus we are closer to Asia, so it's cheaper to get it there.
"We hope to sell more to China, but the problem with China is you never know when you will get an order, whereas Singapore makes smaller orders, but more often," Richard said.
Rosnay is also currently preparing a smaller 100 case order for an importer in the United States and already have promotional plans in place to help increase the volume.
And next door, organic vignerons Herb and Jenny Gardner have established their own organic wine in Japan. The Gardners were the first of several organic growers to invest in Rivers Rd Organic Farms, in which Rosnay is also a part.
While admitting it is tough in the wine industry at the moment, being organic is one tool that helps differentiate the Rosnay name.
"It's a point of difference, and every little thing does help."
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