Chinese dominate wine exports

While Americans may be buying more Margaret River wine, Chinese buyers are more willing to pay top dollar, Australian Grape and Wine Authority data shows.

Steady economic recovery has made the US the biggest market for Australian wine exporters in overall value.

However, Chinese buyers dominate exports for wines priced at more than $10 a litre - the primary market for many Margaret River producers.

Flametree Wines export manager Liz Mencel said Asian markets paid more on average for Margaret River bottled wines than the US in the year to January 15.

Ms Mencel is a Margaret River Wine Association board member and said China was well ahead of Singapore, Canada, the UK and Hong Kong in demand for wines more than $10 a litre.

"For many wineries in the Margaret River region producing a premium product, such as Flametree, this price bracket is of significantly greater interest in terms of overall profitability," she said.

Australian Grape and Wine Authority market development general manager Stuart Barclay said Chinese buyers preferred the Margaret River-style of cabernet sauvignon.

"While it's true that the US is a bigger wine market, the right export strategy for a winery is more complicated than just the size of the market," he said.

"Given the geographic location of the region, China in principle is an easier market for WA winemakers to visit more frequently.