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Rethinking Wine in China

Rethinking Wine in China

What Aldi's Best Selling Wines Tell Us About Consumers Today?/ Chinese Wines' Export Surge/ Thailand's New Import Map

Natalie Wang
February 06, 2026

When Old Demand Disappears: Rethinking Wine in China

It’s easy to look at China’s wine import data and conclude the market is in decline. In this piece, Don St. Pierre, CEO of ASC Fine Wines, argues that this conclusion is wrong.

What Do ALDI’s Best-Selling Wines in China Look Like?

ALDI’s best-selling wines in China are cheap, unflashy and relentlessly practical. Based on the retailer’s own repurchase data, the ranking reveals how far price—not provenance or prestige—now shapes wine buying, and why bulk imports, sweet styles and under-RMB 100 bottles dominate the list.

Vines Pulled, Breweries Closed: China’s Drinks Industry Hits the Brakes

What began as a slowdown in drinking is now showing up in hard, physical ways: fewer vines in the ground, fewer tanks in operation, and fewer factories running at capacity.

China’s Wine Exports Surge as Hong Kong and Singapore Lead Growth

China’s wine exports posted a sharp increase in 2025, bucking a broader decline in imports as producers looked overseas for growth amid pressure in the domestic market, customs data showed.

Brandy Slumps While Whisky Rises in China’s Spirits Imports

Over the course of a single year, China’s brandy import value fell by more than US$500 million, while whisky import volume rose by more than 6.65 million litres — equivalent to nearly nine million additional 750-ml bottles.

Viña Concha y Toro Buys France’s Maison Mirabeau

Chilean wine group Viña Concha y Toro has agreed to acquire Maison Mirabeau, a leading rosé wine brand from France’s Provence region, marking its first acquisition in France as it deepens its push into premium wines.

China to Cut Whisky Import Tariff From 10% to 5%

China is slashing whisky tariff down to 5%, which is expected to generate £250 million in economic benefits for the UK over the next five years.

JancisRobinson.com Expands in Asia With Japanese-Language Platform

JancisRobinson.com, the world’s leading independent wine platform founded by renowned Master of Wine Jancis Robinson, has announced the launch of its Japanese-language website, bringing 25 years of accumulated wine expertise to the Japanese wine market.

67 Pall Mall Opens Entries for Third Global Wine Communicator Awards

67 Pall Mall has announced the launch of the third edition of the Global Wine Communicator Awards, with entries for the 2026 awards now officially open.

Thailand’s Zero-Tariff Wine Policy Is Rewriting the Import Map

Thailand’s wine imports rose for a second consecutive year in 2025, defying a global slowdown in wine consumption. But the more consequential story behind the growth is not volume alone — it is how a zero-tariff regime has quietly reshaped which producers are winning.

Air India Upgrades Inflight Beverage Menus on International Routes

Air India has upgraded its inflight beverage offerings on international routes, expanding its selection of wines, sparkling wines and premium spirits as global airlines intensify competition for long-haul passengers and higher-yield premium cabins.

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.