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Inside China’s Largest Wine and Spirits Fair and End of On-premise Wine Sales in China

Inside China’s Largest Wine and Spirits Fair and End of On-premise Wine Sales in China

Your essential reading on China's wine market

Natalie Wang
March 26, 2024

Hello everyone, this is Natalie from Vino Joy News.

This week, we have brought to you our on-the-ground report from Chengdu to gauge the market mood from the country’s biggest wine and spirits trade fair.

For years, wineries take pride in getting listed on presitigous wine lists and Michelin-starred restaurants across the globe. In China, it looks like there’s a shift or at least that’s not how it will work in the market any more, according to one the country’s biggest wine companies. Wajiu China, the ambitioius wine company that has acquired and merged two leading importers, Summergate and Torres China, downplayed the significance of on-premise channels in driving wine sales in the country.

Here are the must-read stories.

Inside China’s Largest Wine and Spirits Fair: the Mood on the Ground

Over the past four years, China’s wine industry has witnessed significant transformations, marked by market reshuffling and a noticeable dip in consumption. As Australian wine stands on the cusp of a grand return, the mood within the industry has palpably shifted. How are these changes reflected in the sentiments of wine importers and merchants? Find out in our on-the-ground reporting from Chengdu, at the heart of the country’s largest wine and spirits fair.

Wakefield poised for China reopening with strategic Hong Kong move

Wakefield Taylors Family Wines, one of South Australia’s premier wineries, has forged a new distribution partnership with Jebsen Wines & Spirits to bolster its foothold in Hong Kong and Macau, laying the ground work for eventual and fast acess to the Chinese market once China reopens within days.

Italian actress Sophia Loren’s first international restaurant comes to Hong Kong

Hong Kong is set to welcome its first international outpost of the Sophia Loren House, a dining and entertainment venue that promises to bring a slice of Italian glamour to the heart of Wan Chai.

Wajiu China: Future of Wine Sales is Not On-premise

Wajiu China, arguably the fastest-rising and most ambitious wine importer in the country, emphasized that the future of the nation’s wine sales no longer lies in what the company calls the “highly contested” traditional on-premise channels, according to its general manager.

Christie’s to Open New Asia Pacific Headquarters in Hong Kong

Auction house Christie’s has announced it will be relocating its Asia Pacific headquarters to The Henderson, a modern architectural feat in Central Hong Kong, designed by the renowned Zaha Hadid Architects this September.