The Chinese have overtaken both the French and Italians in terms of consumption of red wine. This shows a report made by Vinexpo, the world leading wine fair which will have its Hong Kong edition in May this year. The Chinese (including Hong Kong) drank 136 % more red wine in 2013 than they did in 2008. Ever since 2005, wine consumption has increased in China.
More than 155 million cases of 12 bottles of red wine were sold in China in 2013. This compares with 150 million cases in France. 80% of the red wine that is drunk in China is domestically produced. China is now the fifth wine producing country in the world. But imports are increasing which makes many French wine producers happy.
It is no longer just expensive premier cru châteaux from Bordeaux that he Chinese want. Both the lesser known chateaux in Bordeaux and wines from Burgundy and Languedoc-Roussillon are having good times. Vinexpo Asia-Pacific in Hong Kong 27-29 May 2014.
