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In the heart of Paris, under the shimmering lights of the Ritz Paris and the grandeur of the Musée d’Orsay, a historic moment unfolded, blending the worlds of art, technology, and viticulture. This was the stage where Domaine Franco-Chinois and its sister winery Canaan Winery, a project born out of Sino-France cooperation, had its homecoming.

Dos and don’ts of whisky cask investment
15 NOVEMBER 2023
By Richard Woodard
Interest in buying maturing casks of whisky has never been higher, but wise investors seek out the advice of experts – such as those at Bordeaux Index – before taking the plunge. Richard Woodard reports.

What does the future hold for Pinot Grigio?
10 NOVEMBER 2023
By Louis Thomas
From premiumisation to growing interest in dealcoholised wines, last weekend’s Delle Venezie DOC International Forum gave some insight into the commercial challenges and opportunities that lie ahead for north-eastern Italian Pinot Grigio.

Barolo en primeur 2023: ‘wine solidarity knows no boundaries’
01 NOVEMBER 2023
By Filippo Bartolotta
Filippo Bartolotta reports on this year’s Barolo en primeur, the largest charity event in the Italian wine calendar, covering some of the most important lots to come from the “complicated” 2022 vintage.

Hong Kong Customs officials have seized an estimated HK$100 million (USD $12.8 million) worth of smuggled goods, including 2,000 bottles of wines, in a major crackdown.

Hong Kong Customs officials have seized an estimated HK$100 million (USD $12.8 million) worth of smuggled goods, including 2,000 bottles of wines, in a major crackdown.
The 10 most-consumed alcoholic drinks have been identified in a new list that outlines which tipples we favour most.
Starting at number 10 and counting down, the analysts at the investment advisors Insider Monkey drew from their deeper dive report of the ‘20 Most Consumed Alcohols in the World’. Here are the results of the top 10, counting down to the number one alcoholic drink of all.

Hong Kong Customs officials have seized an estimated HK$100 million (USD $12.8 million) worth of smuggled goods, including 2,000 bottles of wines, in a major crackdown.
A drone trial to transport premium goods from the coast of Monaco to a superyacht in the ocean has been completed, with a £360 bottle of Dom Pérignon vintage Champagne and 500g tin of Caviar arriving safely onboard.

Hong Kong Customs officials have seized an estimated HK$100 million (USD $12.8 million) worth of smuggled goods, including 2,000 bottles of wines, in a major crackdown.
Chinese consumers’ alcohol beverage preferences, much like those of their peers elsewhere, are changing – they are prioritising quality over quantity and sustainability over extravagance, and exploring a diverse range of premium options.

Hong Kong Customs officials have seized an estimated HK$100 million (USD $12.8 million) worth of smuggled goods, including 2,000 bottles of wines, in a major crackdown.
ProWine Shanghai, the premier trade fair for the wine and spirits industry in the Chinese Mainland, is all set to celebrate its monumental 10th anniversary with an extraordinary edition in November. This highly anticipated event not only marks the grand return of international exhibitors to China after pandemic but also symbolizes a decade of ProWine’s influential presence in the dynamic Chinese market.

Hong Kong Customs officials have seized an estimated HK$100 million (USD $12.8 million) worth of smuggled goods, including 2,000 bottles of wines, in a major crackdown.
The Cask Whisky Association (CWA) has been launched to establish “a safe environment” for whisky enthusiasts and customers to buy and sell casks.

Hong Kong Customs officials have seized an estimated HK$100 million (USD $12.8 million) worth of smuggled goods, including 2,000 bottles of wines, in a major crackdown.
Wine and spirits producer Pernod Ricard has hired Morgan Stanley and JPMorgan for a strategic review of its Australia and New Zealand business.
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LATEST INDUSTRY HEADLINES

China bankers told to ditch
displays of wealth
19 JUNE 2023
By Sarah Neish
As the country recovers from the impact of multiple Covid lockdowns, financial companies in China have asked staff to refrain from sporting expensive clothes, bags and watches, and splashing out on luxury dining and entertainment.
Financial professionals in China have come under fire for showcasing their “flashy” lifestyles while much of the country grapples with austerity.

Gordon Ramsay launches his Italian wine collection in Australia
27 APRIL 2023By Sarah Neish
By Sarah Neish
The chef and restaurateur has launched his successful range of Italian wines in Australia, marking the brand’s first launch outside of the UK.
Gordon Ramsay’s Italian Collection, created in partnership with winemaker Alberto Antonini, launched into the UK market in November 2021 with great success. Now, the range of three cross-regional Italian blends has been made available outside of the UK for the first time.
“Just like Italy has a special place in my heart, I have spent some incredibly happy times in Australia and many of those moments were made even better by a beautiful glass of wine, so it was only natural I chose to bring my collection here,” said Ramsay, who is currently filming television show Food Stars in Oz.
Ramsay is also preparing to launch a pop-up restaurant collaboration in Sydney, where his 3 Michelin-star Restaurant Gordon Ramsay with join hands with Sydney harbour’s Aria. The pop-up will be active from 8-10 May and will champion seasonal Australian ingredients.
“We feel very excited to have such an esteemed global chef as Gordon Ramsay joining our portfolio in Australia with his new selection of wines,” said Rob Hassan, sales and marketing director at Oatley Fine Wines. “We look forward to sharing the range with wine lovers around the country.”
The range is available for purchase now from selected Bottle Mart, Liquor Legends and Local Liquor stores in Australia, at a retail price of AU$19.99.
According to Ramsay his Italian Collection combines his own passion for wine with “the heart and soul of Italian winemaking”.
He and Antonini decided to take a bold approach to the wines by blending fruit from two different regions, Tuscany and Abruzzo. Because of this, the grapes are chosen based purely on taste and flavour without the constraints of traditional single region blending.
There are three wines in the collection, a Bianco, Rosso, and Rosato.
“Wine making has always fascinated me; it’s a magical process where tradition, passion, and science are blended together and captured in one stunning bottle,” said Ramsay. “When it came to launching my own wine range, it was very important to set the same standards and quality as I expect in my restaurants.”

Woolworths Group, the Australian retail giant, is mulling closing down Summergate Fine Wines & Spirits’ business operations in Hong Kong, Macau and mainland China after a deal with private equity firm Gravity Capital fell through.

An annual survey on China’s super rich have revealed their most favored imported spirits and wine brands.

After removing tariffs, Hainan, China’s biggest duty-free market, is planning to remove VAT and excise tax for imported wine and spirits in a bold move to further boost its attractiveness for tourists, as wealthy Chinese shoppers shift their spending back to home.

Data for the performance of China’s domestic wine market during 2022 makes for bleak reading, but while the downward trend continues there are signs of recovery.

As China’s economy rebounds, global spirits giants are rubbing their hands together in anticipation of growth. But they may want to watch out for a surplus in baijiu stock…

As China’s economy rebounds, global spirits giants are rubbing their hands together in anticipation of growth. But they may want to watch out for a surplus in baijiu stock…

The 14th HKTDC Hong Kong International Wine & Spirits Fair (Special Edition) ended on January 11 after a two-day run at a much smaller scale and less fanfare, as Hong Kong struggles to attract visitors despite loosened Covid rules.

Hong Kong customs have seized 9,000 bottles of smuggled wines inside two ocean-going vessels headed to Shanghai in a massive raid that led to seizure of more than HK$200 million (US$25.6 million) worth of smuggled goods including wine, expensive food ingredients, electronic goods, vinyl records and medicine, according to Hong Kong government.

Chinese stocks soared in the wake of border restrictions being lifted between Hong Kong and mainland China for the first time in almost three years, signalling hope for drinks brands in the market.

Champagne exports rocketed in 2022 amid soaring demand for fine fizz, meaning producers are now putting measures in place to mitigate the risk of a shortage for Valentine’s Day.

Italian wine exports are booming in the first 8 months of the year despite surging energy crisis and inflation, but suffered setbacks in the vast Asian market where exports to mainland China, Hong Kong and South Korea plunged.

Rising consumer purchasing power will propel the lucrative Chinese ice cream market to growth over the next three years, according to research – even if a surge of COVID-19 cases may keep restaurants and ice cream parlors shut for parts of this winter.

Bordeaux stages biggest wine protest in decades after plunging sales to China
Bordeaux winemakers staged the biggest protest in nearly two decades to call for government aid for a vine-pulling scheme that is expected to uproot 10% of Bordeaux vineyards following plunging wine demand from its biggest export market, China.

Prosecco DOC x Restaurants Campaign kicks off in Hong Kong
Consorzio di Tutela del Prosecco DOC (Prosecco DOC) has launched its first “Prosecco DOC x Restaurants Campaign” in Hong Kong, teaming up with some of the city’s best restaurants and hotels to bring Prosecco DOC to life and promote Italy’s beloved aperitif and food tradition to Hong Kong’s food and wine lovers.

Over 40,000 fake Lafite and Penfolds wines uncovered in Fujian
Fujian, the affluent coastal province in southern China, has announced one of the province’s biggest fake wine busts in its history: over 40,000 bottles of fake DBR Lafite and Penfolds were uncovered in a police raid with value well worth over RMB 11 million (US$1.56 million).
Call Us Today For More Information
(English) +86 13910191249
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LATEST NEWS

The 10 most-consumed alcoholic drinks have been identified in a new list that outlines which tipples we favour most.
Starting at number 10 and counting down, the analysts at the investment advisors Insider Monkey drew from their deeper dive report of the ‘20 Most Consumed Alcohols in the World’. Here are the results of the top 10, counting down to the number one alcoholic drink of all.

ProWine Shanghai, the premier trade fair for the wine and spirits industry in the Chinese Mainland, is all set to celebrate its monumental 10th anniversary with an extraordinary edition in November. This highly anticipated event not only marks the grand return of international exhibitors to China after pandemic but also symbolizes a decade of ProWine’s influential presence in the dynamic Chinese market.

In a strong sign of recovery from the pandemic’s devastating impact, China’s dining industry is projected to hit a record-breaking year in 2023, with total revenues estimated to reach RMB 4.8 trillion (US$659 billion). This upward trajectory follows a challenging period marked by millions of restaurant closures and revenue declines, highlighting both the industry’s resilience and its ongoing path to renewal.

In a significant shakeup of key players in China’s wine imported business, Torres China will be acquired by now Wajiu-owned Summergate through a partnership agreement that aims to “drive the next stage of imported wine business in China,” according to a joint press release.
The news was officially announced at a signing ceremony attended by Alex Li, CEO of Wajiu, the B2B wine and spirits platform, and Miguel Torres, CEO of Familia Torres, in Shanghai today.

Demand for fine wine is outstripping other investment assets — including watches, luxury handbags, and art — new research by WineCap shows, with investors buying into the category as an “inflation hedge”, Cru World Wine told db.
New research from fine wine investment platform WineCap has revealed fine wine’s growing prevalence among high net worth client portfolios.

Research by scientists from across the world has suggested taurine, one of the ingredients found in many energy drinks, could be ‘the elixir of life’ and help us to live longer.
The study, led by Columbia University Irving Medical Centre, and published in esteemed journal Science, found that taurine supplements can slow down the aging process in worms, mice, and monkeys and can even extend the healthy lifespans of middle-aged mice by up to 12%. It also suggests a deficiency of taurine — a nutrient produced in the body and found in many foods — is a driver of aging in animals.
Taurine, which is found in many energy drinks, including Red Bull, Monster, Rock Star, Relentless and other brands, was first identified by the study’s leader Vijay Yadav when researching osteoporosis, where he discovered its role in building bone, while other scientists also discovered taurine levels correlated with immune function, obesity and nervous system functions.

Russian officers have raided a bottling factory in Moscow, which had been bottling fake Johnnie Walker Black Label whisky and other brands.
The officers found the fake bottles, which they said were unsafe to drink. On a post on a Russian social media post, the liquid within a fake Johnnie Walker Black Label bottle appeared to include a black, oily substance.
The news follows Diageo, which owns the Johnnie Walker brand, boycotting the Russian marketplace and numerous attempts by underground bottling facilities to produce counterfeit versions of the brand’s whisky, as well as other drinks which are unavailable.
Speaking about the findings, Diageo told db: “Diageo is not either directly or indirectly importing or selling any products in Russia. We are always very concerned of any reports of counterfeit alcohol as it can so often be harmful for both consumers and society.
“We are taking all appropriate steps within the parameters of current local and international laws to ensure our products are not counterfeited.”

While grocery prices for most household items in Hong Kong are surging from pandemic levels, the city’s wine drinkers might be relieved to learn that wine price not only did not hike up, but rather among 260 supermarket items had the sharpest drop last year, according to a survey by the city’s consumer watchdog.
The Consumer Council released its latest survey on Hong Kong’s grocery price and found that the average price of a basket of 260 items from the supermarkets increased by 2.1% over 2021, the steepest hike since 2013.
Nearly 70% of the goods or 175 items increased in price, with the top three product groups being butter (15.4%), tea bags (11.7%) and cheese (10.2%).
Interestingly, despite rises in dry goods including glass bottles, aluminum and corks, the Beer and Wines category had the largest cut in price in 2022 (-3.1%), and within the category, average price of wine fell by 5.1%, leading the council to conclude it has “the largest reduction in aggregate average price across all groups during the year”.
The council surveyed five everyday wines from three of the city’s biggest supermarket chains, ParknShop, Wellcome and Aeon. They are Penfolds Koonunga Hill Shiraz Cabernet, Oyster Bay Sauvignon Blanc, Yellow Tail Merlot, Carlo Rossi and Mouton Cadet. The average price of 4 out of the 5 wines dropped by up to 12.6%.
The survey result on wine however did not reflect wines sold on trade at restaurants or retail shops as wine importers in the city generally said price hikes of up to 20%, as a result of increased costs on dry goods and supply chain bottlenecks.

The top official in China’s alcoholic drinks industry has warned that the country’s wine consumption has hit a bottleneck as its wine industry has “no more retreating ground” after being hit the hardest among all beverage categories during the pandemic.
The stern warnings came from Song Shuyu, Chairman of China Alcoholic Drinks Association (CADA), the official drinks body in China regulating the alcohol industry, at the association’s annaul meeting in Shandong.

China’s dwindling wine consumption is directly responsible for dragging down global wine consumption, according to OIV, as the associaiton estimates that China has been drinking less wine each year since 2018, with an annaul loss of 2 million hectoliters (mhl) or roughly 260 million bottles.
In the latest “State of the World Vine and Wine in 2022” report published by OIV, it shows that world wine consumption last year is estimated at 232 mhl, dropping by 2 mhl (-1%) compared to 2021.
But what’s alarming as the report notes is that starting in 2018, global wine consumption has decreased at a regular rate, which is mainly attributed to the decline in China’s consumption, to the detriment of 2 mhl loss per year since 2018.

Gordon Ramsay’s Italian Collection, created in partnership with winemaker Alberto Antonini, launched into the UK market in November 2021 with great success. Now, the range of three cross-regional Italian blends has been made available outside of the UK for the first time.
“Just like Italy has a special place in my heart, I have spent some incredibly happy times in Australia and many of those moments were made even better by a beautiful glass of wine, so it was only natural I chose to bring my collection here,” said Ramsay, who is currently filming television show Food Stars in Oz.

Hong Kong customs have seized 9,000 bottles of smuggled wines inside two ocean-going vessels headed to Shanghai in a massive raid that led to seizure of more than HK$200 million (US$25.6 million) worth of smuggled goods including wine, expensive food ingredients, electronic goods, vinyl records and medicine, according to Hong Kong government.
Call Us Today For More Information
(English) +86 13910191249
(Chinese) +86 13570641386
LATEST NEWS

The 10 most-consumed alcoholic drinks have been identified in a new list that outlines which tipples we favour most.
Starting at number 10 and counting down, the analysts at the investment advisors Insider Monkey drew from their deeper dive report of the ‘20 Most Consumed Alcohols in the World’. Here are the results of the top 10, counting down to the number one alcoholic drink of all.

ProWine Shanghai, the premier trade fair for the wine and spirits industry in the Chinese Mainland, is all set to celebrate its monumental 10th anniversary with an extraordinary edition in November. This highly anticipated event not only marks the grand return of international exhibitors to China after pandemic but also symbolizes a decade of ProWine’s influential presence in the dynamic Chinese market.

In a strong sign of recovery from the pandemic’s devastating impact, China’s dining industry is projected to hit a record-breaking year in 2023, with total revenues estimated to reach RMB 4.8 trillion (US$659 billion). This upward trajectory follows a challenging period marked by millions of restaurant closures and revenue declines, highlighting both the industry’s resilience and its ongoing path to renewal.

In a significant shakeup of key players in China’s wine imported business, Torres China will be acquired by now Wajiu-owned Summergate through a partnership agreement that aims to “drive the next stage of imported wine business in China,” according to a joint press release.
The news was officially announced at a signing ceremony attended by Alex Li, CEO of Wajiu, the B2B wine and spirits platform, and Miguel Torres, CEO of Familia Torres, in Shanghai today.

Demand for fine wine is outstripping other investment assets — including watches, luxury handbags, and art — new research by WineCap shows, with investors buying into the category as an “inflation hedge”, Cru World Wine told db.
New research from fine wine investment platform WineCap has revealed fine wine’s growing prevalence among high net worth client portfolios.

Research by scientists from across the world has suggested taurine, one of the ingredients found in many energy drinks, could be ‘the elixir of life’ and help us to live longer.
The study, led by Columbia University Irving Medical Centre, and published in esteemed journal Science, found that taurine supplements can slow down the aging process in worms, mice, and monkeys and can even extend the healthy lifespans of middle-aged mice by up to 12%. It also suggests a deficiency of taurine — a nutrient produced in the body and found in many foods — is a driver of aging in animals.
Taurine, which is found in many energy drinks, including Red Bull, Monster, Rock Star, Relentless and other brands, was first identified by the study’s leader Vijay Yadav when researching osteoporosis, where he discovered its role in building bone, while other scientists also discovered taurine levels correlated with immune function, obesity and nervous system functions.

Russian officers have raided a bottling factory in Moscow, which had been bottling fake Johnnie Walker Black Label whisky and other brands.
The officers found the fake bottles, which they said were unsafe to drink. On a post on a Russian social media post, the liquid within a fake Johnnie Walker Black Label bottle appeared to include a black, oily substance.
The news follows Diageo, which owns the Johnnie Walker brand, boycotting the Russian marketplace and numerous attempts by underground bottling facilities to produce counterfeit versions of the brand’s whisky, as well as other drinks which are unavailable.
Speaking about the findings, Diageo told db: “Diageo is not either directly or indirectly importing or selling any products in Russia. We are always very concerned of any reports of counterfeit alcohol as it can so often be harmful for both consumers and society.
“We are taking all appropriate steps within the parameters of current local and international laws to ensure our products are not counterfeited.”

While grocery prices for most household items in Hong Kong are surging from pandemic levels, the city’s wine drinkers might be relieved to learn that wine price not only did not hike up, but rather among 260 supermarket items had the sharpest drop last year, according to a survey by the city’s consumer watchdog.
The Consumer Council released its latest survey on Hong Kong’s grocery price and found that the average price of a basket of 260 items from the supermarkets increased by 2.1% over 2021, the steepest hike since 2013.
Nearly 70% of the goods or 175 items increased in price, with the top three product groups being butter (15.4%), tea bags (11.7%) and cheese (10.2%).
Interestingly, despite rises in dry goods including glass bottles, aluminum and corks, the Beer and Wines category had the largest cut in price in 2022 (-3.1%), and within the category, average price of wine fell by 5.1%, leading the council to conclude it has “the largest reduction in aggregate average price across all groups during the year”.
The council surveyed five everyday wines from three of the city’s biggest supermarket chains, ParknShop, Wellcome and Aeon. They are Penfolds Koonunga Hill Shiraz Cabernet, Oyster Bay Sauvignon Blanc, Yellow Tail Merlot, Carlo Rossi and Mouton Cadet. The average price of 4 out of the 5 wines dropped by up to 12.6%.
The survey result on wine however did not reflect wines sold on trade at restaurants or retail shops as wine importers in the city generally said price hikes of up to 20%, as a result of increased costs on dry goods and supply chain bottlenecks.

The top official in China’s alcoholic drinks industry has warned that the country’s wine consumption has hit a bottleneck as its wine industry has “no more retreating ground” after being hit the hardest among all beverage categories during the pandemic.
The stern warnings came from Song Shuyu, Chairman of China Alcoholic Drinks Association (CADA), the official drinks body in China regulating the alcohol industry, at the association’s annaul meeting in Shandong.

China’s dwindling wine consumption is directly responsible for dragging down global wine consumption, according to OIV, as the associaiton estimates that China has been drinking less wine each year since 2018, with an annaul loss of 2 million hectoliters (mhl) or roughly 260 million bottles.
In the latest “State of the World Vine and Wine in 2022” report published by OIV, it shows that world wine consumption last year is estimated at 232 mhl, dropping by 2 mhl (-1%) compared to 2021.
But what’s alarming as the report notes is that starting in 2018, global wine consumption has decreased at a regular rate, which is mainly attributed to the decline in China’s consumption, to the detriment of 2 mhl loss per year since 2018.

Gordon Ramsay’s Italian Collection, created in partnership with winemaker Alberto Antonini, launched into the UK market in November 2021 with great success. Now, the range of three cross-regional Italian blends has been made available outside of the UK for the first time.
“Just like Italy has a special place in my heart, I have spent some incredibly happy times in Australia and many of those moments were made even better by a beautiful glass of wine, so it was only natural I chose to bring my collection here,” said Ramsay, who is currently filming television show Food Stars in Oz.

Hong Kong customs have seized 9,000 bottles of smuggled wines inside two ocean-going vessels headed to Shanghai in a massive raid that led to seizure of more than HK$200 million (US$25.6 million) worth of smuggled goods including wine, expensive food ingredients, electronic goods, vinyl records and medicine, according to Hong Kong government.