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www.wangarattachronicle.com.au
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FRIDAY, February 10, 2023
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BRIGHT STARS WANGARATTA’S Fergus McNamara, a 2022 Galen Catholic College year 12 student, and Rutherglen‘s Jaimee Gaston, who completed year 12 at Cathedral College last year, both have a passion for performance. The 18–year–olds have been selected to take part in a VCE showcase of Victoria’s top drama and theatre studies students from last year, and will reprise their performance exam characters in mid–March at Melbourne‘s Merlyn Theatre. Full story page 5 PHOTO: Simone Kerwin
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Guess who’s coming to dinner? Sport
Export growth WANGARATTA district’s largest wine company says it is making inroads, but more still needs to be done to find alternative global markets since China imposed hefty tariffs in March 2021. In an effort to offset the China downturn, Milawa-based producer Brown Brothers has been developing new and existing markets and relaunched wine varieties into the UK last year with a
Brown Brothers making g inroads overseas despite p challenges g BY STEVE KELLY skelly@ nemedia.com.au
strong uptake. Other Asian markets including South Korea, Singapore, Malaysia and the Philippines are continuing to support the company’s wine varieties. For Brown Family Wine
Group (BFWG) export sales were mixed last year, as the first six months were strong, but slowed in the second half. “We relaunched Brown Brothers into the UK with Orange Muscat and Flora, which has been very well received,” chief executive officer Dean Carroll said. “In South Korea and Singapore we had built up stocks to combat the
increasingly challenging global logistics issues last year and as such we have been working our way through that increased stockholding which has now been done. “We’ve continued to have good sales in other Asian markets such as Malaysia and the Philippines. “The US has been down slightly although showing good promise for our
Tasmanian wines.” Fruity styles like Moscato and Cienna continue to connect with overseas consumers and up and coming wines such as Fiano and Tempranillo are starting to be recognised and Pinot Noir from Tasmania continues to go from strength to strength. Mr Carroll said BFWG has managed to maintain
THINKING OF SELLING in 2023? Our second annual community grants round is NOW OPEN. Grants of up to $2,500 are available. Applications close Monday 27th February 2023. To apply please scan the QR code here:
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its presence in China due to demand, albeit the going has been challenging in clearing customs and logistics, with exceptional delays causing out of stocks due to both government relationships and COVID staffing shortages. He said it has put increased pressure on local producers where many have been in oversupply particularly in red wine. ■ Continued page 3
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