Vino Joy News
Posts
What's Next For ASC?

What's Next For ASC?

A Quieter Vinexpo Asia/ China's Evolving Bar Scene/ Master of Wine Calls India the Wine World’s Next Big Opportunity

Natalie Wang
June 09, 2025

A bold new era begins for ASC Fine Wines as the founding St. Pierre family officially takes back control from Suntory. What’s next for one of China’s most influential and closely watched importers? Big changes are already underway!

China’s bar scene is booming — but not where you'd expect. A major new report from the country’s top F&B research platform reveals that it’s not Beijing or Shanghai leading the charge, but lower-tier cities. Young drinkers are reshaping the night economy — and staying out later than ever. We break down the surprising findings in two parts. Be sure to check them out.

Xinrongji, China’s most decorated fine-dining chain, is now offering a 'poor man’s menu'. As luxury dining faces mounting pressure, will this move be enough to bring back customers — or is it a sign of deeper trouble in the premium F&B world?

Vinexpo Asia may have seen thinner crowds — but the real buzz was all about Southeast Asia. We were on the ground in Singapore hosting a packed panel on China’s market shift and what producers need to know now. Catch our event highlights and analysis here.

India’s wine market is … complicated — and suddenly, crucial. At Vinexpo, the country’s only Master of Wine Sonal Holland made a provocative case: even though a US$10 ex-cellar wine can retail for as much as US$100 in India, now is the time to enter. Why? Find out in our report.

A new alcohol ban is shaking up government receptions in China — but could it unlock new demand for home drinking and non-alcoholic wines? We asked the experts — and what they said might surprise you.

For more on the wine industry in China and Asia, be sure to subscribe to our website to read more subscriber-only content.

With Ownership Restored, ASC Fine Wines Unveils Bold Overhaul

China’s leading wine importer ASC Fine Wines has launched a sweeping strategic overhaul, introducing a direct-to-consumer membership club, custom brand solutions, and a dedicated logistics partnership, as the company returns to the control of its founding St. Pierre family following a completed share transfer from Japan’s Suntory Group.

China’s Bar Scene Expands into Lower-Tier Cities, Embraces Local Cuisine

China’s bar industry is undergoing a quiet transformation, expanding rapidly into lower-tier cities and localising its offerings to appeal to regional tastes, according to a new report.

China’s Bar Boom: $16.3 Billion Market Fueled by Night Owls and Young Drinkers

Despite a slowdown in corporate spending, China’s bar and pub industry continues to expand steadily, buoyed by resilient mass consumption. Both market size and venue numbers are climbing.

Can Budget Bites Save China’s Luxury Dining Scene?

But like many in China’s luxury dining sector, Xinrongji is facing a new reality. Economic uncertainty, tightened business entertainment budgets, and changing consumer behavior have led to falling demand for high-ticket meals.

A Quieter Vinexpo Asia Highlights Shifting Gravity Toward Southeast Asia

Vinexpo Asia 2025 closed with 8,998 attendees over its three-day run at Singapore’s Marina Bay Sands — a subdued figure below the organiser’s target of 11,000. The shortfall, compounded by the conspicuous absence of key buyers from mainland China and Hong Kong, casts a spotlight on shifting regional priorities and rising cost concerns surrounding the fair.

China’s Ningxia Region Expands Its Global Wine Footprint

Ningxia, a remote region in northwest China once better known for deserts than vineyards, is gaining traction in global markets with leading wineries reporting record exports.

Master of Wine Calls India the Wine World’s Next Big Opportunity

India is poised for a wine boom, driven by rising affluence, a young population and a shifting regulatory landscape. But success in the world’s third-largest alcohol market will depend on how well producers navigate high tariffs, fragmented state policies and complex labeling rules.

Public Servants Go Dry, But Will Private Drinking Surge?

A renewed government ban on alcohol at official functions is stirring anxiety in China’s liquor industry, with some fearing a further erosion of already diminished state-linked consumption, though others downplay the impact as largely symbolic.

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.