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China’s Latest Alcohol Ban Rattles Liquor Industry

The Top Panels and Seminars Driving Conversation at Vinexpo Asia/ Australian Vintage To Acquire MadFish/ US$99M Wine Fraud

Author

Natalie Wang
May 23, 2025

As Asia’s wine industry gears up for a packed week in Singapore, Vinexpo Asia 2025 is set to spotlight the trends and voices shaping the region’s future. We’ve rounded up the must-attend panels and insider conversations you won’t want to miss — from China’s market revival to premiumisation strategies. Read the full preview here.

Meanwhile in Chablis, one winemaker’s battle with cork taint has led to one of Burgundy’s most radical transformations. I met with Margaux Laroche in Hong Kong. Find out what Margaux said “was the worst thing you can do” in France to rile up trade and consumers. In our interview she tells us how her family is rewriting tradition at Le Domaine d’Henri. Discover the story.

In Australia, Australian Vintage has announced a deal to acquire MadFish Wines and take on global distribution for Howard Park. What does this mean for Western Australia’s wine exports? Find out here.

China’s liquor industry is on edge again, following a sweeping new alcohol ban for all official working meals. The ripple effects could be far-reaching. Read our full report.

Over in North Asia, the California Wine Institute is betting big on sommeliers to bridge cultural and palate divides. Meet the newly appointed ambassadors tasked with promoting California wines across Korea, Japan, and Taiwan. Meet them here.

And finally, in a case that shocked the global wine investment community, a British man is facing extradition to the U.S. over a US$99 million wine fraud scheme that allegedly used fake Bordeaux deals to lure investors. Read the full story.

For more news and insights into China and Asia’s fast-evolving wine market—including exclusive interviews, trade data analysis, news and intelligence— sign up for our subscription here.

China’s Latest Alcohol Ban Rattles Liquor Industry

On May 18, the Chineese government issued a sweeping update to its Regulations on Practicing Thrift and Opposing Waste in Party and Government Organs, banning alcohol, high-end dishes, and cigarettes from all official working meals. The rules also bar government agencies from disguising hospitality expenses under meetings or training budgets.

But unlike the 2012 “Eight-Point Regulation” that once gutted the sector, industry veterans say this round of restrictions is unlikely to leave lasting scars.

From Cork To Screwcap: Laroche’s Chablis Reinvention

When one of France’s most famous producers, Michel Laroche, of Domaine Laroche in Chablis uncorked 90 bottles of his award-winning Grand Cru Blanchot at a tasting in New York more than two decades ago, he expected to showcase the pinnacle of Chablis winemaking. What he didn’t expect was sabotage—by cork.

UK Man to Be Extradited in US$99M Wine Fraud Case

Andrew Fuller, 58, allegedly used the alias James Wellesley while co-running a company called Bordeaux Cellars with co-defendant Stephen Burton. U.S. prosecutors say the two men operated a scheme between June 2017 and February 2019 that defrauded dozens of investors by falsely promising to broker loans secured by fine wine collections.

Vinexpo Asia 2025 Preview: The Top Panels and Seminars Driving Conversation

Vinexpo Academy, the educational arm of the event, will feature more than 30 sessions focusing on consumer behavior, market trends, and technological innovation. The program aims to give professionals tools to adapt to a fast-evolving marketplace and capture new growth opportunities.

California Wine Institute Names First Sommelier Ambassadors in North Asia

The California Wine Institute has appointed its first-ever North Asia sommelier ambassadors following a four-day bootcamp held in Tokyo and the Izu Peninsula from May 12 to 15.

Australian Vintage To Acquire MadFish

Australian Vintage Ltd. announced today that it has signed a conditional agreement to acquire international ownership of the MadFish Wines brand from Burch Family Wines for an undisclosed sum.

As US Tariffs Loom, Bordeaux Turns to China—But Caution Prevails

While the campaign is still underway, Bordeaux negociants have begun approaching Chinese buyers in hopes that aggressive pricing will revive sales in one of their most important export markets.

Moutai Price Falls to Four-Year Low as Business Gifting Declines

The decline, while not abrupt, has been steady — and symbolic. In a country where alcohol consumption is tightly bound to business culture, Moutai’s downturn is seen as a barometer of broader economic unease.

China’s Top 100 Importers

The 237-page report offers an in-depth analysis of regional dynamics and market opportunities across North China, Northeast China, East China, South Central, Southwest, and Northwest China. It identifies the top 100 wine importers currently operating in mainland China. This regional breakdown provides a clear picture of where market influence is concentrated—and how each part of the country is shaping the growth and transformation of wine consumption in China.

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