Amidst the negative news concerning the state of the wine industry it is refreshing to hear of a small Western Australian winery that’s achieving success in the export market.
Jarvis Estate in Margaret River was established by Matt and Jackie Jarvis in 2002.
The winery has as a low profile in the domestic market, highlighted by the decision not to have a cellar door, but has managed to find niche export markets many others have struggled to find.
Ms Jarvis explained that the winery’s success had come from being discovered by small, specialised importers who wanted traditional, single estate-grown wines.
“We keep our overheads low by not employing highly paid export managers or chief executives, and have been able to build a successful small business,” she said. “We are mindful that we allocate most of our wine to export orders, so are unsure that we would have enough stock to run a cellar door year-round.”
Jarvis Estate’s first export deal was with Ireland. A year later, a distributor in Quebec, Canada, added the Jarvis Estate brand to its portfolio.
Small export sales to Taiwan, Greece, Singapore and Hong Kong have subsequently been achieved, maintaining the demand for the vineyard’s produce.
This year, its export market has further increased with a distribution agreement and first shipment to Poland, and Jarvis Estate is currently awaiting label approval from regulatory bodies in the US, where it plans to distribute its acclaimed cabernet franc.
