Germany's Wine Export Prospects: Successful Delegation Trip to Japan and China

One concrete outcome of the trip was the signing of a memorandum of understanding by Federal Minister Alois Rainer and his Japanese counterpart, Norikazu Suzuki, under which exports of German red wines to Japan are to be expanded. Given that German wines in Japan are traditionally strongly associated with Riesling and other white wines - which already enjoy a very positive image there - the red wine segment in particular offers additional growth potential within an already established market.

German-Chinese Exchange Among Young Winemakers 

Furthermore, during an exclusive roundtable discussion at the Chinese Ministry of Agriculture, Melanie Broyé-Engelkes’ proposal to intensify exchanges between members of Generation Riesling (GenR) and the younger generation of Chinese winemakers was received positively, with the aim of consolidating the successful development of German wines and the strong position of German Riesling in the important Asian wine export market.

GenR is Germany’s largest supraregional network of young leaders in the wine industry. The collaboration with its Chinese partners is intended to take place on an equal footing and also to promote cultural exchange among the participants. Media coverage can engage wine-loving audiences on both sides with exciting content. 

New Opportunity for German Red Wine Exports to Japan 

Broyé-Engelkes thanked Federal Minister Rainer for the opportunity to participate in the delegation trip, during which German wines were consistently showcased very well. She also praised his commitment to German wine as part of the Ministry of Agriculture’s agricultural export strategy. Broyé-Engelkes sees the signed memorandum of understanding as offering good potential, particularly for boosting exports of German red wines to Japan.

“Our Pinot Noirs are excellent accompaniments to Japanese cuisine, and as the world’s third-largest producer of Pinot Noir, we have both very high-quality wines and the necessary quantities for large-scale exports,” said the DWI General Manager.

Further Positive Effects on Exports Expected

During the delegation’s visit, Broyé-Engelkes also held promising discussions with numerous key importers, distributors, and business representatives from both countries, which are expected to have positive effects on exports of German wines to China and Japan in the medium term.