Wignalls Wines owner Rob Wignall said sending his premium pinot noir wine to China topped off 28 years of quality production.

It is believed to be the first major shipment of premium wine from the region to be accepted for the increasing Chinese market.

“This is not just a sale of some wine for the general marketplace,” Mr Wignall said.

“They have bought the best product for the best places. This is definitely our best wine.”

Mr Wignall said the unusual aspect of the order was the top value placed on it by the buyer.

The shipment includes the as-yet unreleased 2009 pinot noir and some 2008 pinot noir.

“It has only been bottled six weeks, but will drastically improve by the time it gets to China,” Mr Wignall said.

“It will be as good as the 2008 pinot which was included in the order.”

Mr Wignall said the sale showed the value of distributing the product, no matter how small or large an order might be, as it resulted from a representative for the buyer tasting the 2008 pinot at one of Sydney’s top restaurants, Rockpool.

Not only did he enjoy the wine, the label’s Feng Shui colours made it an attraction, Mr Wignall said.

Pinot noir vines was first planted in Albany by Mr Wignall’s late father, Bill, in 1982 when drip irrigation was pioneered.

The result was an immediate gold medal for the wine’s first showing in 1985.

The 2009 pinot noir will be released locally in March.