By Jim Boyce in China – The formula for the typical ‘Wine in China’ story is no secret. Take an anecdote about businessmen mixing Chateau Lafite with Coke. Offset it with a tale of a young professional who is “passionate” about wine and taking a beginner’s class. Throw in some customs statistics to show the market’s growth, add a few quotes from foreigners who work for wine distributors, and end with “time will tell”.
Such stories might provide a few tastes of this market but they rely mainly upon atypical examples and feature few local voices, and thus tell us little about who or what influences it most. Then again, in a country with regions, cultures and spending habits as diverse as they are in China, it is often hard to put a finger on that someone or something that touches the whole place. Here is an attempt to do so — or to at least present ten subjects that might help to understand it a bit better. Continue reading “www.wine-business-international.com: Who is Who in China”
by Georgina Hindle – In the past year, China has overtaken the UK to join the list of the world’s top five wine-consuming nations, according to new figures released by Vinexpo.
Results from the annual study by The International Wine & Spirit Research (IWSR) show that between 2009 and 2010 consumption of still, light and sparkling wines grew by 33.4% in China (and Hong Kong included), leading to a total of 156.19m 9-litre bottles being consumed in 2011, knocking the UK into sixth position in the world-wine consumption market.
In the five-year period from 2006 to 2010, China and Hong Kong’s wine consumption grew 2.4 times larger with the study forecasting a further 54.25% rise between 2011 and 2015. Continue reading “decanter.com: China overtakes UK to become fifth largest wine-consuming nation: Vinexpo”
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn
Robert Parker, owner of “a million-dollar nose”, believes China’s fine-wine market is strong and growing. Yong Kai / for China Daily
If you hesitate about choosing from a large selection of wine, what will you do? For many people, the solution is quite simple: choose one with a high score from Robert Parker.
The world’s most influential wine critic, Parker’s million-dollar nose and his 100-score rating system have great impact on the wine industry.
The famous oenophile was on tour in Shanghai and Hong Kong recently to share his views and advice with wine lovers, the emerging wine market. Parker attended an exclusive dinner at the Pudong Shangri-La Shanghai, which featured a selection of rare vintage wines he has highly rated. Despite the price of 28,888 yuan per person, all the 40 tickets were sold out within two weeks, with some guests flying to Shanghai to meet him. Continue reading “Parker smells potential in China’s wines”
by Jane Anson in Bordeaux – Bordeaux is stepping up pressure on the Chinese government in an attempt to get it to recognise its Protected Designation of Origin status.
The move comes from a growing realisation that
Bordeaux’s greatest threat is not from fake bottles of first growths but from ‘passing off large quantities of entry level wine as Bordeaux,’ chamber of commerce president Pierre Goguet told
Decanter.com.
In Europe, Protected Designation of Origin is a legally-enforceable protection for certain foods and wines which can Continue reading “decanter.com: Bordeaux pressures China to recognise appellation”
LAURENZ V. (sprich „five“) Grüner Veltliner erobert China im Sturm. Dank der Partnerschaft mit der
Changyu Pioneer Winery ist der österreichische Produzent der 2011 am meisten verkaufte Veltliner
in China. LAURENZ V. passt perfekt zur Chinesischen Küche, zur scharfen Würze des Südens und
dem etwas milderen Stil im Norden des Landes gleichermaßen.
Vor sechs Jahren … Continue reading “LAURENZ V. Grüner Veltliner landet in China”
by Adam Lechmere – Torres China plans to double the number of its Everwines shops on the Chinese mainland this year.
This is part of a three-year development plan for the Spanish company: by the end of 2013 it intends to have 62 Everwines retail outlets.
These will either be independent shops – of which there will be 21 – concessions within department stores, or branded shelves in major grocers. Continue reading “Decanter: Torres plans major expansion in China”
by Adam Lechmere – Renowned Californian producer Opus One has opened offices in Hong Kong and Tokyo.
Yasuko Cadby and Yvonne Chong will cover Japan, and Hong Kong, China and Singapore respectively. Both are have extensive experience in the wine trade in their respective countries, a statement says.
‘These regions have shown Continue reading “Decanter:Opus One to open offices for China, Japan”
just-drinks.com editorial team – French wine producers enjoy a prestige among China’s fledgling wine drinkers that is threatening to drown out opportunities for other foreign producers, according to Rabobank.
France is the “epitome of wine” in China and French producers have been gaining market share at the expense of rivals in Australia and the US, Rabobank said in its latest quarterly wine report, published this week. Continue reading “CHINA: French wine prestige holds sway over rivals”
by Adam Lechmere -A new wine documentary exploring the relationship between Bordeaux and China is in production.
Presented by Andrew Caillard MW of Australian auctioneers Langton’s, The Fine Wine Game aims to ‘explore the phenomenon that is China and the burgeoning interest in Bordeaux,’ producer Warwick Ross told Decanter.com. Continue reading “Decanter: New wine film to lift lid on China and Bordeaux”
By: Stuart Todd – Chinese biggest wine producer, COFCO, has acquired the Château de Viaud in the prestigious Bordeaux Lalande-de-Pomerol AOC wine region, a law firm assisting in the deal has confirmed.
Law firm Gide Loyrette Nouel confirmed to just-drinks this week that a deal has been signed. Château de Viaud’s estate covers 20 hectares and was previously owned by Bordeaux trader Philippe Raoux. Financial details of the deal have not been disclosed. Continue reading “CHINA/FRANCE: COFCO buys Bordeaux’s Château de Viaud”
by Jane Anson in Bordeaux- As further indication of Bordeaux’s increasing dependence on the Asian market, China – when taken together with Hong Kong – is due to overtake Germany as the largest volume importer of the Bordeaux wines.
China alone became the largest value importer outside of the EU in May 2010, and when taken together with Hong Kong is due to overtake the UK for value of imports.
Jean-Pierre Rousseau of negociant Diva reported this week that over 50% of his business now takes place in Asia. Continue reading “Decanter: China to become biggest Bordeaux importer”
by David Furer – Greece’s Kir-Yianni and China’s Mogao wineries have joined forces to plant the first Xinomavro vines in China. This is China’s first planting of a Greek grape, and the only Xinomavro for commercial purposes anywhere other than Greece.
The joint venture, Moen Estate, has raised ¥500m (US$74m) for the project, in Gansu province. Mihalis Boutaris of Kir-Yianni in Naoussa told decanter.com the pilot vineyard will increase from 4ha next spring to 150ha over the next few years. Continue reading “Greece and China joint venture”
Adam Lechmere in Hong Kong – Western producers have to concentrate on education before they make any real headway in the Chinese market. This is the message from exhibitors at Hong Kong Vinexpo this week.
Veterans of the market, like Camille Seghesio of Seghesio Family Vineyards of Sonoma, or Robert Shen of the massive Aussino retailer in mainland China, are convinced that educating Chinese consumers in the basics of wine is the key to success. Continue reading “Education, education, education is key for China”
Source: Stuart Todd – China provided the major bright spot in a grim year for Bordeaux wine exports in 2009, according to trade body the Conseil Interprofessionel du Vin du Bordreaux (CIVB). Exports to China increased by 40% in value on the previous year to EUR74m (US$101.6m), while volumes doubled to 137,000 hectolitres.
This is in stark contrast to what CIVB president Alain Vironneau called “a catastrophic year” for Bordeaux in general. Global exports fell 14% in volume to 4.96mhl (661m bottles) and by 23% in value to EUR3.37bn. The underlying decline in value exports in 2009 is more marked due to one-off gains in 2008 from sales of prestigious 2005 vintage wines.
Vironneau said there has been “slight improvement” in export sales over the past three months, “even though this does not compensate for our losses – far from it”. Another positive is the 2009 vintage, which experts have described as exceptional.
BEIJING, May 29 (Xinhua) — From famous chateaux ranging from Lafite to Margaux and Mouton, wine lovers had a chance to bid for top French wine in Beijing on Friday at the first wine auction yet on the Chinese mainland. Continue reading “Beijing hosts China’s first fine French wine auction”
Mark Godfrey – Grape expectations in China. China’s reputation as both a wine market and producer looks to be going in only one direction. Mark Godfrey in Beijing speaks exclusively to consultants, sommeliers, retailers and producers on the ground to assess the progress the country has made. Continue reading “China’s growing thirst for wine”
Sophie Kevany in Bordeaux
Chateaux Mouton Rothschild, Lafite and Haut Brion have released their 2007 primeur prices, all at Continue reading “Mouton, Lafite, Haut Brion release”
Sophie Kevany in Bordeaux
The Moueix family of Chateau Petrus has bought Chateau Belair, decanter.com has learned. Continue reading “Moueix buys Belair”
