Diplomats, business types and longtime Beijing residents may find a familiar face grinning back from a bottle of red wine this month.

The grin belongs to Geoff Raby, Australia's former ambassador to China, who has teamed up with the Swan Wine Group to craft a new wine from Auswan Creek in Australia's famed Barossa Valley.

"Mr Raby was the perfect fit for our new Ambassador wine series," says Wei Li, president and CEO of Swan. "He is a well-known wine lover and continues to be an active promoter of Australian products. He also understands the Chinese taste in wine, which generally favors reds that are fruity, easy to drink and low in acidity."