China solar panel agreement brings hope for EU wine resolution

The European Commission has reached a preliminary agreement with Beijing over imports of Chinese solar panels, raising expectations from the wine industry of a solution to the anti-dumping investigation.

Although all member states still need to vote on the solar panel issue on August 6, both China and the EU have agreed to a minimum price for the panels, according to EU Trade Commissioner Karel de Gucht.

The row dates back to June, when the EU threatened to impose import tariffs of up to 47.6% on solar panels it said were being sold at below cost price –- and which then threatened the beginings of a wider trade war, with EU wine in line for a retaliatory import tax.

John Watkins, managing director of ASC China, told decanter.com, ‘While there is no guarantee that a resolution of the solar panel issue will resolve the anti-dumping issue, it is a very good step in the right direction for EU wines in China.’

Until there is a definitive resolution, the general advice to European winemakers continues to be to comply with the Chinese Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) investigation into anti-dumping tariffs.

The official investigation was announced on July 1, 2013, with July 20 the final date for all exporting companies to register with the two companies carrying out the study on behalf of MOFCOM.

Later this week, on July 30, up to ten European wine companies will be selected for detailed investigations – with companies who willingly registered for the study standing to benefit from lower taxes than those who did not.

The final decision is currently due on July 1, 2014. A preliminary tax may be put in place in early 2014 while waiting for the final results.

http://www.decanter.com/news/wine-news/584204/china-solar-panel-agreement-brings-hope-for-eu-wine-resolution

Mattei’s Tavern, credit: Kara Block Photography

Banks, who has been investing in the region since 2000 says: ‘I am a big believer long term of the Santa Barbara wine country.

‘The wines have been on a steady rise from obscurity to being one of the most interesting and diverse wine regions in the world.’

Banks says he purchased the 150-seat restaurant and four surrounding cottages known as Mattei’s Tavern, which was originally built as a stage coach stop in 1886, ‘in order to provide hospitality on the same level we see in Napa and other great wine regions.’

The cottages will be renovated and Bank aims to break ground for an additional 64-room hotel in 2014.

In a town with few hospitality options Banks says the restaurant will be ‘the centrepiece of the Valley community.’

Joining Banks as partner in the venture is head chef Robbie Wilson, whose vision was pivotal in creating Mattei’s Tavern. Wilson says he plans to ‘preserve the integrity of the history of the place’ and has sought inspiration from local products — tuna, halibut and prawns from the Pacific, beef from surrounding ranches — while bringing a ‘more refined, more technical’ touch to the traditional cuisine.

The wine list will include Sandhi wines, which Banks co-founded in 2010 with sommelier Rajat Parr and winemaker Sashi Mooran, but also other local wines alongside the best of Burgundy, Cote Rotie and Cornas. ‘We have been building the wine list and cellar for several years and expect to have a world class wine programme shortly,’ says Banks.

Mattei’s Tavern aims to open in late July.