China is the World's Leading Importer of Bottled Red Wine
China is becoming one of the largest wine consumers in the world, according to the latest report by the International Wine and Spirit Research (IWRS) institute. The Country of the Dragon consumes 3 billion bottles of wine per year and will soon become the leading importer in a few years.
The country’s annual per capita wine consumption is still relatively low (China’s per capita wine consumption will rise to 1.9-2 liters), compared to that of other countries, but the market outlook is quite promising.
In first-tier cities, the number of specialized shops (wine bars) is growing, where courses and tastings are also organized. The Chinese people feel more and more interested in deepening their knowledge of wine, with the growing middle and upper classes preferring to choose the most renowned classic French wines (as a real status symbol).
Red wine is the most consumed wine (80% of the market) and sought after and is considered a valid alternative to spirits and a more sophisticated choice than beer.
It is no coincidence that in the last 7 years the consumption of red wine in China has almost tripled and the country has become, according to a study presented at Vinexpo, the world’s leading consumer of red wine.
The most popular Italian wines at the moment are those which originate from Piedmont and Tuscany (Barbaresco, Barolo, Chianti, Brunello di Montalcino), but also other regions such as Sardinia (Vermentino) or Abruzzo (Montepulciano, Pecorino, Trebbiano, Cerasuolo) are growing in popularity. You can try all of them thanks to Rieccolo www.dpwinery.com, contact us for orders at info@dpwinery.cn.
China is also discovering bubbles (Sparkling wines such as Prosecco). A spur that puts even French rivals in difficulty, who are currently masters of the Chinese import market, with a share of over 50%.
Italy, despite contending with France for the supremacy of the world’s largest wine producer, despite a short delay, is now recovering with his growing presence in the Chinese market (in which Australia, Chile and Spain are also positioned).
Our strength, compared to France, is the quality / price ratio and the uniqueness of our wines (although the French have been able to create a system and build an image of excellence over the years). The challenge to conquer the Chinese market is therefore played out on two fronts: marketing and the ability to network.
Most wines imported into China are destined for the HoReCa channel (hotels, restaurants, cafes, catering), while the portion reserved for large-scale distribution is still modest.
