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Chinese Buyer Pays Record €400,000 for Top Lot at Hospices de Beaune

Western Australia’s First China Showcase Draws 400/ Police Seize 4,300 Fake Penfolds/ Thailand U-Turns on Alcohol Curbs

Author

Natalie Wang
November 28, 2025

Hope everyone had a wonderful November — it’s hard to believe we’re already stepping into the final month of the year. For us, the standout moment was the debut of the Western Australia Fine Wine Showcase, which drew nearly 400 high-quality wine buyers.

You can find our full post-event report here. It has also been an eventful few weeks across the region. In the trade landscape, one of Greater China’s leading importers, Links Concept, has been acquired by Coterie Group, signalling further consolidation in the market.

Meanwhile, counterfeit wine made headlines again in China. Police uncovered more than 4,300 bottles of fake Penfolds, produced by a repeat offender previously jailed in 2018 who quickly resumed operations upon release. In a separate incident, restaurant staff were caught replacing diners’ genuine Moutai with counterfeits — a reminder of the persistent challenges facing the premium spirits category.

Meanwhile, a Chinese entrepreneur secured the winning bid for the Hospices de Beaune President’s Barrel, prompting widespread curiosity about the buyer behind one of Burgundy’s most symbolic lots. And in Thailand, policymakers have sent mixed signals: after proposing controversial penalties for afternoon drinking, authorities have since walked back the plan and are now considering lifting the afternoon alcohol sales ban altogether as early as next month.

To round out this issue, don’t miss our conversation with Edward Ragg MW, newly appointed Regional Chair for Asia at the Decanter World Wine Awards. How did alcoholic beverages perform during the massive Singles Day promotion, we have all the numbers here.

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Western Australia’s First China Showcase Draws 400 Trade Professionals

Despite China’s prolonged slump in wine consumption, Western Australia’s debut showcase in Shanghai told a very different story: nearly 400 buyers, importers and retailers packed into two days of tastings and briefings, signalling that trade enthusiasm for quality wines remains far stronger than the headlines suggest.

Police Seize 4,300 Bottles in Fake Penfolds Operation

Chinese authorities arrested three suspects and seized more than 4,300 bottles of finished and semi-finished fake Penfolds in Hubei province.

Links Concept Sold to UK’s Coterie Group

Links Concept Family Wine Merchants, one of Hong Kong’s leading wine importers, has been acquired by the United Kingdom–based Coterie Holdings, becoming part of the company’s expanding global portfolio spanning wine sales, storage and superyacht supply services.

China’s Singles Day Alcohol Sales: Who’s Growing, Who’s Falling Behind?

Headline figures appear strong, but beneath the month-long sales blitz, the real story of the drinks sector is more nuanced. Drawing on public data and platform releases, Vino Joy News reviews what this year’s Singles Day reveals about China’s alcohol business.

For Decanter’s New Asia Chair, Judging Wine Is a Conversation, Not a Verdict

Edward Ragg MW — educator, critic, judge and poet — reflects on the collaborative work behind one of the world’s largest wine competitions, and why fairness depends on many palates rather than one.

If you are looking for importers in China, reach out to us at [email protected]

Chinese Buyer Pays Record €400,000 for Top Lot at Hospices de Beaune

A Chinese entrepreneur set a new record at the annual Hospices de Beaune wine auction after paying €400,000 for the Pièce des Présidents, the event’s headline charity barrel.

Château de Pommard Targets Younger Drinkers With New Affordable Pommard Release

Château de Pommard has launched a new cuvée aimed squarely at budget-conscious drinkers and younger consumers who have been turning away from wine.

Thailand U-Turns on Alcohol Curbs, Easing Rules Amid Tourism Fury

Thailand has walked back part of its newly tightened alcohol regulations after fierce backlash from the tourism and hospitality sectors, a sudden reversal that has left businesses and consumers confused.

China’s Pioneer Wine Bar to Close Shanghai Flagship as Market Shifts

Wine Universe By Little Somms — often described as the pioneer of China’s modern wine-bar scene — has announced it will close its Shanghai flagship next month.

China’s Pioneer Wine Bar to Close Shanghai Flagship as Market Shifts

Two restaurant employees in Shanghai have been sentenced to jail after repeatedly swapping customers’ genuine bottles of Moutai with counterfeits, exposing a new vulnerability in a practice many diners once considered the safest way to avoid fake liquor.

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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