When the Hong Kong government dropped all taxes on the importation of wine in 2008, it opened the doors to every wine producing nation in the world. In the first eight months of this year, the country imported US$857 million dollars worth of wine. More importantly, it exported $191 million worth, with the majority of it heading into Mainland China. The country has made no bones about wanting to be Asia's if not the world's, wine hub.

While no figures are available in New Zealand, the cost of vine trunk disease in California alone is estimated at US$260 million a year. Given diseases such as Eutypa Dieback and Botryospaeria are found throughout New Zealand, it is reasonable to assume that the diseases are equally costly to our industry.

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