A SOUTH Australian shiraz blending the finest attributes of the Clare Valley and McLaren Vale regions is blazing a trail for the nation's wines in China.

Taylors Wines' 2005 Jaraman shiraz - which is not on sale in Australia - has won the gold medal for best red wine of the show at the Shanghai International Wine Challenge.

The general manager of Taylors' Clare Valley operations, Neil Jericho, said the gold medal would help promote Australian labels in a region with a growing appreciation for quality wines.

"They're a bit like the Japanese, I suspect, they like their French and European wines," Mr Jericho said yesterday.

"I can see China taking off over the next 10 years quite substantially and I can see them drinking more white wines. They like their red wines because of their health benefits."

Australian Wine and Brandy Corporation figures show China is the nation's top export destination for bottled wine in Asia. In the year to May 31, Australia exported more than one million cases to China for the first time.