The Rutherglen wine region will be one of several Victorian regions on show during this week’s Meet the Winemaker tour.

The state government-funded project is the first ever large-scale inbound trade event specific to the wine industry — and hopefully is just the first of many.

The tour has attracted buyers from China, Japan, South Korea, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, India, the Philippines and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), providing an excellent way for our wines to reach a global audience.

We, on the Border and in the North East, already know how lucky we have to have so many quality wine regions within easy reach, not just for the experience but also the associated economic and tourism benefits.

With wine one of Victoria’s most valuable exports, it makes sense to invest in this industry and keep it growing.