A glass of wine. Credit: Serge Esteve on Unsplash

Wine Australia has suspended Dalefold Wines’ export licence for grape products with immediate effect.

The wine authority is currently deciding on the length of the suspension, as well as considering whether the licence should be permanently cancelled.

The decision was taken after it was discovered that three grape products being exported by Daleford Wines had not been approved by Wine Australia. In effect, the products were not listed in the firm’s export certificate.

“The activity may have also caused harm to the reputation of Australian grape products, and affected relations with importers.”

Wine Australia urged that such activity could have impacted the export trade of all grape products from Australia, and could also lessen consumer confidence in the integrity and authenticity of its grape products in China.

The activity may have also caused harm to the reputation of Australian grape products, and affected relations with importers.

The Australian wine authority noted that it has collected and reviewed information in relation to a consignment of wine exported by Dalefold Wines on 20 June this year.

The authority further added that Dalefold Wines has contravened section 44 of the Wine Australia Act 2013 and is not a fit and proper person for the purposes of section 9(3)(g) of the Wine Australia Regulations 2018.

As per the new changes in the Wine Australia Regulations 2018, no other wine exporters can export wine on behalf of Dalefold Wines as its licence has been suspended.