以上: 柯睿诗特葡萄酒公司的 Wee Lee 先生.

When we come to think of wines, one familiar brand, Crystal Wines does ring a tune with local wine shoppers and drinkers. Tucked along River Valley Road in Singapore, with a new outlet in Hongqiao Road in Shanghai, 10 year old Crystal Wine is the remarkable brainchild of Mr. Tan Wee Han, 41 and his brother, Mr. Tan Wee Lee, 34 as seen in the above picture.

酒 gathers some insights, as we speak to Mr. Tan Wee Lee, a Singapore wine retail veteran who has been in business for at least a decade.

酒: Tell us about Crystal Wines. How it came about and your philosophy in wine?

We pride ourselves as one of Singapore’s major player in sourcing and supplying quality wines from the major wine regions of the world, both locally and in the region.

Crystal first started off in October 1998 together with Derrick Lee (whom left later to form Grand Vin), and Wee Han. Back then while we were at the old Paragon, our focus had been on brand management and catering to trade and private customers. In 2001, we entered into the spirits and beer distribution business, when we took over 10 year old, London-based Allied Domecq. It was only in 2004; with the onset and vast potential we see in the wine business, besides passion in wine, we decided to exit the spirits and beer business to refocus on wines. Since then, we grew from a 4-man team, to now 30 plus people.

Our businesses include the distribution of wines to the island’s hotels, restaurants, bars and clubs, besides the 1,000 labels to private wine buyers at our retail shop while storing them in temperature controlled climate.

We want to be the best, the largest and be known as one of the great wine & wine solutions companies in Asia.

酒: What was the first wine that made you realize you loved wine?

Wines are a mystery; it didn’t take a “particular” sip to make me realize my passion for wines. It was over a period of discovery, of learning, understanding and of course, tasting that made me realized that wines could be so different with so much personalities, just like a human personality. Why does a Shiraz from a warm climate taste so differently from a Syrah from a cool climate Syrah? What’s oaked Chardonnay and what’s not? How does terrior affect wine making? Wine appreciation is an art and is the fascination for a journey of discovery that makes me love wine. You never know what wine you will taste!

酒: So what makes Crystal wine a unique place to shop and explore about wine?

Unlike other wine shops that tend to give a more serious and monotonous look, we wanted to make learning and buying of wine at Crystal Wine fun. Hence, our 2,000 square feet retail outlet at Valley Point is draped in carpeted floor and wooden wine crates to lend that modern and stylish vibe.

Our retail shop is equipped with wireless Internet access and has a lifestyle corner for public and members to discover fine wines through related wine books and magazines. There is also a wine tasting corner where we organize wine tasting sessions for members.

酒: So surely you are in business to make money?

If we were to compare the business environment now and 10 years ago, what was a niche and small business then has now turn into a highly competitive market with many players with similar offerings as us.

The world is drinking more and more, and the world is drinking better. This is especially true in Asia whereby it is one of the fastest growing wine consumer centers in the world. So I think it would only be honest to say that we are in the moneymaking business to support our passion.

酒: Who are your customers and what do you notice about their wine habits?

60% of our customers are aged 25 to 40, while 40% 41 to 60 who are mainly PMEBs, doctors, lawyers and entrepreneurs who have tertiary education. Interestingly, we also notice an increasing number of female wine drinkers.

The first group is what we call enjoyment- or image- oriented wine drinkers. They have the strongest purchasing power and lead the wine consumption trend. To them, sampling wine is a lifestyle preference. Drinking wine is no longer just for celebratory occasion but a reflection of their wealth and status. Also, their wine consumption is based largely on price, taste, and variety and branding.

The second group is known as conservative and knowledgeable wine enthusiasts.  This group of people tend to use wine related information to purchase wine, such as region of origins, wine maker, vintage and specific vineyard location. They are usually loyal to certain brands and some even buy their favorite wine as investments.

酒: You’re particularly renowned for your mix of French and Australian premium and fine wines. What makes these regions so special?

France (法國)
French wines have long been the benchmark for winemaking in most wine-producing countries in the world. In fact, France has always been the most influential country in the wine world and French wine plays an enormously important role in French identity and pride.

Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc and Syrah, are some of France’s famous grape varieties, as well as the names of many French wine regions such as Bordeaux, Burgundy and Champagne are also well-known throughout the world.

What makes France so special is because it has been dedicated to the art of wine making for longer than any other country with its earliest history going back to Roman times. Hence, France has more experience in fine wine making and grape growing. In addition, France has the perfect geographical location for growing grapes; having the perfect soil conditions, having the best climate - a combination of cold winds and a relentless sun, and being in close proximity to bodies of water mean the grapes produced under these conditions are very full bodied with very rich taste, resulting in some of the world’s best wine vintages.

Australia (澳洲)
Australia is the fourth-largest wine exporter in the world, exporting over 400 million liters a year to large international markets that include “Old World” wine-producing countries such as France, Italy and Spain. The wine industry is a significant contributor to the Australian economy through production, employment, export and tourism.

Australian wine is taking the world by storm, due to the quality of the grape stock combined with the skill and experience of its winemakers. With a huge land mass, a diverse climate from cold to cool to warm, and a wide variety of soil types, including the famous Coonawarra terra rossa, it is with no wonder Australian can create delicious wines of stunning quality, diversity and uniqueness, especially its famous Shiraz and Shiraz-Cabernet blends such as Penfolds Grange.

Interestingly, Australian wineries like to come up with the quirkiest names for their wine labels. Unlike Old World wineries, where most wines are labeled according to the vineyard’s name, vintage and grape varietals, Australian wines tend to have more attention-grabbing names.

酒: Coming back to Bordeaux, do you have a favorite appellation? Which is the most overrated? And the most underrated?

I have a soft spot for right bank wines; St Emilion & Pomerols work for me.  However, it will be unfair for me to judge on the overrated and underrated wines as this requires a vast tasting experience with Bordeaux wines and are much dependent on personal preferences.  I’m still experimenting!

酒: For some, Bordeaux has too often been “Bore”-deaux. Who and what make a Bordeaux wine an exciting wine for you?

The name of Bordeaux is worldly known as an exceptional brand image of great wines and it is also the largest fine wine-producing vineyard in the world. There are a couple of reasons why Bordeaux has too often been “Bore”-deaux, especially among the younger drinkers: The name itself conjures up images of old, dusty bottles and decanters. In addition, it is most famous for the most agreeable, as well as most pricey red wines of the world. Hence, older drinkers are more likely to be attracted to Bordeaux than younger drinkers.

Being made of a blend of grape varietals, you never know what you will taste and being the most unpredictable vintages in the world, it is therefore difficult to understand and appreciate without doing much reading beforehand

Compared to other wines, Bordeaux wines lacks creativity in terms of its wine techniques innovation, packaging and marketing.

However, by all economic yardsticks, Bordeaux is still the world’s leading wine region. People still pay through the nose at auctions and in futures markets to get their coveted bottles, and critics and wine buyers still descend on Bordeaux en masse each spring to assess the new vintage by subjecting themselves to hundreds of barrel samples.

In fact, Bordeaux developed the wine trade and spread wine consumption all over the world. Bordeaux influenced the production of wines all over the world. The most ambitious wineries in these regions have emulated Bordeaux be it in their viticulture, winemaking or business model. Even leading wine critics like Hugh Johnson, Jancis Robinson, Robert M. Parker Jr., Stephen Tanzer, Michael Broadbent, Wine Spectator all embrace Bordeaux as the world’s leading wine.

What makes Bordeaux exciting for me is that you never know what the final taste of Bordeaux is. Despite the fact that young Bordeaux wines are constantly changing during their evolution and aging process in the barrels, some wines that ultimately turn out to be good to very good may be unimpressive or just dumb when tasted in their youth from the cask. Once good Bordeaux is tasted, particularly if it’s an old one, you know what the hubbub is all about.

酒: As with recent wine appreciation and movements, is wines in general becoming somewhat more expensive and challenging to upkeep?

Where do you see the wine scene heading in Singapore as a whole? Beside Singapore, in the light of Hong Kong scrapping their excise duties, what do you see in this region?

In the last twenty years, the worldwide wine industry has become increasingly internationalized, sophisticated, multi-lingual, operating in multi currencies, and information-intensive.

Given the quality and range of wines that consumer can find end enjoy, I see Singapore as a mature market which means the wine scene in Singapore will grow and be more vibrant in the days to come. In the past, Singaporeans associated wines as luxury item for the rich and famous. Things are changing to become more lifestyle driven, where drinking a glass of wine in a restaurant or at home are common.

Although Hong Kong recently abolished their taxes of wine and beer, reducing the prices of some wines by as much as 31%, I still see Asia, especially China having a huge potential in the wine industry.

This is so as Chinese economy is developing which will improve the wine industry. Its entry into WTO and the upcoming hosting of Olympic games mean there will be demand for wines and the wine market will expand.  In addition, China’s booming economy has a mix of wealthy expatriates, high-flying executives on business and nouveau riche Chinese who are attracted to high-end wines. With the reduction in imported tax; the competition between imported and domestic wine will be fiercer. Many foreign countries like America, Australia and France will continue to explore and expand into the Chinese wine markets.

酒: How do you find competition from the other players in this market?

If we were to compare based on scale of operations, there are only 3-4 competitors and they are mainly from aboard. Nevertheless, there are actually quite many small wine importers given Singapore as a tiny market. Due to their size, these small wine companies can afford to sell wines at a much lower cost and provide more personalized services to the customers.  Given such highly competitive environment plus the fact that Singaporeans appreciate and pursuit wine drinking culture more means we must continuously keep ourselves in the lead by providing excellent services and wide complete wine range at reasonable prices.

酒: What’s your newest find for under $40?

I highly recommend Kaiken’s Malbec from Argentina. Though not exactly new, but this is my all-time favorite!  Dark violet in color, it packs plenty of richness and purity of flavors including blueberry, cassis, mint, semisweet chocolate coffee while maintaining its focus on the fruits. Ripe tannins, excellent structure and ends off with an amazingly long and lingering after taste, this wine delivers awesome as well as absolutely value for money!

酒: Last but not least. Tell us what your company has in store for both your clients and consumers.

Backed with the strong support and positive revenue growth in Singapore, Crystal Wines has established its first retail shop in Shanghai. The sprawling two-storey retail shop, located at HongQiao Road, XiJiao Guest House, Garden Villa (East) has the mezzanine allocated for regular wine tasting sessions and alfresco settings for private customers to appreciate fine wines under clear skies.

Modeled after Crystal Wines Singapore retail outlet, the shop is draped in laminated wooden floor and wooden wine crates to lend that modern and stylish vibe. It is also coupled with a lifestyle corner for public and members to discover fine wines through related wine books and magazines in a convivial setting.

Mainly servicing private customers in the thriving Chinese market, Crystal Wines Shanghai provides a good range of top Bordeaux and French wines plus fantastic value-for-money everyday table wine to cater to different levels of wine enthusiasts. Moreover, Crystal Wines Shanghai also welcomes trade orders.

Back to Singapore, we will in the midst of expanding to bring more wines at affordable prices to our customers. We are also improving our services by introducing this new service which we termed as – Wine Safe. Wine lovers who are faced with limited storage space for their wine collection, can now store their wines in our high standard and large capacity bank, so that they can enjoy their wines in their best conditions anytime.

以上: Crystal Wines at Valley Point, in Singapore. 柯睿诗特葡萄酒贸易（新加坡).

以上: Crystal Wines at Hongqiao Road, in Shanghai. 柯睿诗特葡萄酒贸易 (上海).

For more information about Crystal Wines, please visit here.

Hong Kong wine officials want to bring the Bordeaux Wine Festival to the island.

The three-day Bordeaux Fête le Vin attracted 450,000 visitors last week, and trade representatives in Hong Kong see it as a good way of developing the region’s burgeoning interest in wine.

‘We want to facilitate exchange between institutions, clubs, restaurants, hotels and we want to fill in the gaps in terms of the wine education courses that already exist in Hong Kong,’ said Yvonne Choi, Hong Kong secretary for economic development.

‘We need wine education for frontline staff, as well as for business people,’ said Choi, who was in Bordeaux last week for talks with the Bordeaux Chamber of Commerce. She also visited the Fête le Vin.

‘We would need to adapt it a bit, add more of a gourmet food element, and make it a joint Hong Kong Bordeaux festival, maybe along the harbour, but the target would be visitors from mainland China and the rest of Asia,’ Choi told decanter.com.

There are 7m people in Hong Kong, which earlier this year dropped tax on imported wines to zero, boosting imports by about 150% to date.

The island was ranked the 13th largest importer of Bordeaux by volume in 2007, and it is keen to become the wine trade hub of Asia. Trade representatives are also eyeing China and its population of 1.3bn people who, they say, are starting to open up to wine imports.

Source & Credits: Decanter (UK).

Above: Joseph Filippi Winery. Images Supplied.

The Chinese straying from tea as their beverage of choice shouldn’t be hard to believe.

It didn’t take long after the red curtain was raised in the late 1970s for China to embrace Coca-Cola.

And when the Germans settled into the eastern port town of Tsingtao, beer quickly reached the lips of those used to rice wine.

But a goblet of cabernet to go with the kung pao?

It seems like an odd pairing, but a burgeoning middle and upper class in China has spawned a new appreciation for wine, and wineries like the Joseph Filippi Winery in Rancho Cucamonga want to tap into that market.

This past week, the winery sent 200 cases of bottled wines and 2,700 gallons of wine not yet bottled to Tianjin, China, where it will be sold to different stores and restaurants. Winery owner Joe Filippi said his client in China is planning on opening a tasting room where most of the wines will be from the Cucamonga Valley.

According to Filippi, California wineries may be shipping large quantities to China, but countries like Australia and Chile are also getting their foot in the door.

“As their middle class grows, they want the American lifestyle and part of that is wine,” Filippi said. “We have to take advantage of that because if we don’t, other countries are going to catch up to us.”

Wine isn’t new to China, but for decades, the wine has been of low quality. A surge in imports has changed that, leading to connoisseurs with deep pockets and discerning tongues.

Wine imports surged 52 percent in the first nine months of 2007 from a year earlier to 27 million gallons, according to an Associated Press article.

The climate is especially ripe for American wineries to export owing to the weak dollar abroad.

But wineries aren’t the only ones eyeing this lucrative market.

Marc Curtis started the Redlands-based China Wine Tours, which will have its first group tour in October bringing American wine enthusiasts to visit the wineries in China. Curtis said the wine scene has changed dramatically, and small boutique wineries are popping up in the provinces of Shandong, Shanxi and Xinjiang.

“Right now, China is the sixth-largest wine producing country in the world and experts say by 2058, they’ll be No. 1,” Curtis said. “I think it’s going to be sooner than that.”

If that’s the case, Chateau China doesn’t seem so odd after all and as the country develops a generation of wine snobs, Cucamonga wines could play a role.

This week’s shipment by the Filippi winery included zinfandel, syrah, cabernet franc and a ginseng-laced red table wine. Some production took place at Galleano Winery, which has also shipped its wines to China in past years.

“These days if you go to a store, it’s difficult to find things that aren’t made in China,” said winery owner Don Galleano. “It’s been very much one way as far as trade goes so it’s good to see other areas get products made in the United States.”

Source & Credits: San Bernardino County Sun (US)

2002年份 Domaine Gros Frére et Soeur Echezeaux (依瑟索)
France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits / 法國勃艮第夜坡紅酒

Domaine Gros Frère et Soeur began in 1963. Since 1984, it is managed by Bernard Gros, who is the son of the well-known Burgundian Jean Gros and brother of Michel Gros, who made wine under the Jean Gros label until it ceased to exist in 1996. From this property, we see wines bottled as Hautes Côtes de Nuits, Vosne Romanée, Clos Vougeot, Grands Echezeaux, and Richebourg. The wines are vinified in cement vats and are then matured in oak casks (100% new for the Grand Crus, and 50% for the Premier Crus). The wines tend to be deeply colored, richly aromatic on the nose and full-bodied on the palate. Its wines remain affordable and are priced within reach to the average wine consumer.

14.0%. 100% Pinot Noir. A full-bodied wine with spice, cherry, slight floral undertone and density. Tight and dry with a streak of alcoholic feel, this wine will reward with several more years in bottle. Drink between 2010 to 2015.

週六2008年6月28日. 酒精度: 14.0%. 酒的种类: 100% 黑比诺. 品酒记录: 健全等的酒体, 與香料，紅色櫻桃的芳香，稍微花香和密度。口感覺得緊絀和酒精的乾燥, 這紅酒將會獎勵您如果您保持更長的時間. 建議品嚐葡萄酒：從2010年至2015年.

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1995年份 Mongeard-Mugneret Clos Vougeot (伏旧园)
France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits / 法國勃艮第夜坡紅酒

Started off in 1945, Domaine Mongeard-Mugneret, based in Vosne-Romanee, owns some 30 hectares spread over 33 different appellations of the Cote d’Or from Marsannay to Puligny-Montrachet. Since 1985, Vincent has been managing this estate, which makes recommended wines like superb Clos Vougeot, decent Ruchottes-Chambertin, and spicy Vosne-Romanée. Its wines are sturdy, concentrated, well-proportioned wines and when aged, are more elegant and refined. They are priced variedly and remain within reach to the average wine consumer.

13.5%. 100% Pinot Noir. A medium-bodied wine, aromatic, caramel, and an unparalleled Sauternes like sweetness, floral and a touch of forest floor. Elegant and light, with a superb length. A good wine, which is enjoyable now. Drink from 2008 to 2016.

週六2008年6月28日 酒精度: 13.5%. 酒的种类: 100% 黑比诺. 品酒记录: 一個中等健全的酒，芳香，與焦糖，幾乎味道像索特尔尼一樣的甜度，插花及接觸的森林地上。優雅和輕，擁有一支優秀的長度。一個良好的葡萄酒，這是个愉快和完善的紅酒. 建議品嚐葡萄酒：從2008年至2016年.

酒 Jiuwine.com met up with Mr. John Kapon, a casual and unassuming fellow who is also the co-owner and President of Acker Merrall & Condit during his visit to Hong Kong for Asia’s largest ever auction of fine wines in Hong Kong this week, betting on Chinese consumers who over the last few years who had developed a fine taste and nose for this beverage as Hong Kong aspires to be the wine hub of the East.John from what we understand oversees the auction for the traditional New York market and Acker dates back to the 18th century, which is regarded as America’s oldest wine shop.

Above: Acker’s dynamo and wine warrior, John Kapon @ the Hyatt in Hong Kong.

酒 Jiuwine.com: Why come to Hong Kong?

The timing could not be better for us to come to the growing marketplace in Asia, which is displaying stronger interest and demand for top quality wines. The full exemption of wine duty proposed by John Tsang Chun-wah, Financial Secretary of Hong Kong, in his recent 2008-09-budget speech, will give a further boost to the local wine market.Hong Kong is ready to run on the fast track to becoming a global wine hub, alongside New York and London, and we are committed to facilitating Hong Kong’s vision in achieving this as America’s oldest and finest wine merchant.”

酒 Jiuwine.com: Could you tell us more about yourself? How and what changes or challenges have you seen at the hem?

I am a third generation wine merchant who has seen pretty much everything possible in the wine world. It has been a long, hard road to get to this point, and keeping up with all the growth has been challenging!

酒 Jiuwine.com: Describe the philosophy of fine wine collecting.

Seeking out the best producers year in and year out, aging the best years and holding wines for many years … grinning.

酒 Jiuwine.com: They say wine auctions are glamour wine sales where money, enthusiasm and craziness mix. What are your views on this?

Sometimes that is the case, but those that follow the market regularly know that there are often lots of good buys at every auction.

酒 Jiuwine.com: So are we in a bull market scenario where Asian; especially money seem to be the magnet for today’s fine wines?

The market is strong in a global sense, but the brands are limited as far as where the bull really runs free. As you can see this is our first auction in Asia. We’ll see.

酒 Jiuwine.com: How about the Russian or/and Middle East factor?

None for us so far.

酒 Jiuwine.com: How do you view the Hong Kong fine wine market?

The Hong Kong fine wine market is one that will be growing and robust for many years to come, with the potential to replace New York as the world capital for auctions much like New York replaced London … it will certainly be the hub for Asia.

酒 Jiuwine.com: With regard to fraud, which wines seem to be of greatest concern?

Wines like Petrus and older, wines of the century type, pre-1961 Bordeaux in large formats.

酒 Jiuwine.com: Are the auction houses doing enough to verify their authenticity?

I believe auction houses are doing more than ever, but there is stillroom for improvement, and even we are still looking into how we can improve our systems over the summer.

酒 Jiuwine.com: Bordeaux has traditionally been the focal point, but younger collectors today seem interested in burgundy.

All roads lead to Burgundy for those that truly love and seek the best wines in the world.

酒 Jiuwine.com: What are the most sought after wines from Burgundy?

DRC, Rousseau, Roumier, Vogue, Ponsot, Leflaive, and Coche-Dury.

酒 Jiuwine.com: Are collectors today more inclined actually to consume their wines than previous generations? In your opinion, are we more drinkers than collectors? What are your views on this matter?

I think there is also more consumption worldwide today due to the fact that there are far many more collectors than in previous generations. I have seen an enormous amount of wine drunk in the past year that might have been many years’ worth only five years ago!

酒 Jiuwine.com: What accounts for the different attitude of today’s collectors?

I think that there are more younger wine collectors with money that want to spend it and show it off in today’s market than a decade ago.

酒 Jiuwine.com: So where are the values in this market right now?

Young wines 1995-2004 from top producers from Bordeaux and Burgundy, given prices of 2005s, these are undervalued in the market now.

酒 Jiuwine.com: What are your plans for the next couple of years?

Two auctions a year in Hong Kong in addition to monthly live and internet auctions in the US.. We’ll see if we can do more than that!

Related reading:

Hong Kong’s Glamorous Wine SaleAcker Merrall & Condit Asia’s US$8.2M wine auction

Picture: The Hong Kong dollar with its city as a destination for wine trade, shines with a string of wine auctions, and events lining up in this year.

Picture: Auction in progress with John Kapon at the stand. Image supplied.

Rivaling London and New York, Hong Kong with its recent push on tax waiver is the hottest destination for wine related initiatives and a haven to some of Asia’s fine wine collectors, especially those from Bordeaux and Burgundy.

The auction, held at the Shangri-La, came just days after Vinexpo Asia 2008, where producers from across the world came to Hong Kong to try and tap into the booming regional market for wine, which exhibition organizers said is expected to grow at 8 percent a year until 2011, compared to 1 percent growth worldwide.

A total of HK$64M (or US$8.2M, China Yuan Renminbi $56.43M, Malaysia Ringgit $26.69M, Singapore Dollars $11.17M) was realized as reported in a statement released earlier. In general the prices achieved including commission were within 10% of London’s retail pricing. As for the results from this auction, John Kapon says: “We are thrilled with the result, which is a testament to the strength of the wine market in Asia and Hong Kong’s leading role as a regional hub of fine and rare wines.”

Cecilia Piacitelli whose former banker husband, Christian Roger sits on some 1,700 bottles of DRC took a case of 1945 Chateau Mouton Rothschild for US$155,000 while the highest bid went to Singapore resident and Indonesian buyer, Singgih Gunawan, with 12 bottles of 1990 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti which went for US$242,308.

Peter Chang, a fine wine collector commented; “While many of us refrained from bidding because the pricing pre-commission went easily 15-20% above what we could get in London, some of the lots did go for reasonable prices. Lots like 1990 DRC Assortment is cheaper then what I have seen in London. There was also very strong interest in Californian wines – Screaming Eagle, Harlan, Bryan in large formats.”

As noted, Chinese buyers, including those from Hong Kong took 30% of the top 20 lots. As follows is the summary of the top 12 lots mentioned in this article:

464 - 6 magnums 1945 Mouton Rothschild Pauillac, for US$163,350, HK$1,306,800.
463 - 12 bottles 1945 Mouton Rothschild Pauillac, for US$151,250, HK$1,210,000.
563 - 12 bottles 1982 Chateau Le Pin Pomerol, US - $102,850.00 , HK - $822,800.00
362 - 1 double magnum 1945 Mouton Rothschild Pauillac, for US$96,800, HK$774,400.
562B - 1 magnum each of 1976, 1973, 1966 Dom Perignon Oenotheque, for US$90,750, HK$726,000.
639 - 3 magnums 1996 Romanee Conti DRC, for US$72,600, HK$580,800.
567 - 12 bottles 1989 Chateau Petrus Pomerol, for US$66,550, HK$532,400.
572 - 12 bottles 1990 La Tache DRC, US$66,550, HK$532,400.
577 - 1 Methuselah 1998 Romanee Conti DRC, for US$66,550, HK$532,400.
570 - 12 bottles 1971 DRC Assortment, for US$60,500, HK$484,000.
370 - 6 magnums 1989 Chateau Petrus Pomerol , US$57,475 HK$459,800.
65 - 12 bottles 1990 Chateau Petrus Pomerol , US - $54,450.00 , HK - $435,600.00

After Bonhams US$1.5M auction in April, other global auction players, Christie, Sotheby will be considering bringing their glamorous wine sales to Asia with eyes on Hong Kong. All this attention suggests there’s money to be made in the Far East markets as both the USA and London will loses some shine to Chinese super buyers and thirsty collectors. This is where, all the money, enthusiasm and sometimes, crazy motion is set to be.

On thing for sure, Acker will return to Hong Kong for the next auction on 22nd November 2008. This auction will enlarge bids by accepting from buyers’ bids real time, plus welcoming any offers and participation from Hong Kong fine wine collectors who are considering parting their fine wine collection.

Read 酒 Jiuwine.com’s interview with John Kapon, co-owner and President of New York based Acker Merrall & Condit.

Picture: A wine shop in a train station.

Based on market statistics for 2007, it is possible to cast predictions for forthcoming trends in the Japanese market during 2008 and beyond.

France
Imported volume of still wine from France in 2007 declined by 4.5% to 5.95m cases. Volume of bottled wine showed a comparatively larger decline to 5.78m cases. Clearly, French imports in 2007 are far below imports of one-year prior chiefly due to a steep decline in Beaujolais Nouveau.

Export volume of Vin de Pays and Vin de Table fell by 3.7%, largely due to price hikes. Anecdotal evidence suggests, despite stereotypes to the contrary, price rather than quality forces the wallet of the average Japanese consumer in the case of French wine. This is evidenced by the continual support of generic Bordeaux AC in both the on and off-trades at large.

Bordeaux AC and Bordeaux Superieur AC were mainly responsible for the 1.8% increase in 2007 of imported Bordeaux to Japanese shores. This exceeds the total imported volume of Chilean wine. While such lowly categories are increasingly unsaleable elsewhere (as the demand for, and divide between Bordeaux`s finest and many poor quality generic examples becomes wider), they continue to grow due to the impregnable name of Bordeaux in Japan

Local trade journal WANDS reports that while supermarket buyers have realised that better cost-performance items exist, and that reasonably priced wines from the New World for example, have begun to erode Bordeaux’s aura of indispensability; the average consumer still champions Bordeaux’s image as the must-have-wine, irrespective of taste or quality.

AC Bordeaux retailing at the relatively high price range of JPY 1,480-2,500 ($13/$23) is mainly sold at department stores and high-end supermarkets. Meanwhile, convenience stores such as Lawson handle Ginestet retailing at less than JPY 1,000. At regional supermarkets and family-run liquor stores, demand remains focused on low-end Bordeaux.

Most startling however, is the penetration that these generic categories have in the on-trade. Lower priced Bordeaux is often consumed at wedding parties and banquets, and remains as a by-the-glass staple at restaurant chains. Given little variance in quality among this category, importers are making strenuous efforts to add value by way of tweaking labels to display pictures of a chateau, awards etc.

Conversely, and optimistically, 2005 Burgundy sold extremely well despite high prices. Still, overall sales declined due to small allocations.

French dominance will continue to be eroded through 2008.

Italy
Imported volume of Italian wine in 2007 remained almost unchanged, with 0.4% growth to 2.6m cases. This is the second consecutive year of small, but significant increases given the economic climate.

The greatest volume of Italian wine is sold at the ubiquitous price-point of JPY 1,000 ($9.30). Thus, vast quantities of Sicilian wine, generic Soave and Montepulciano d`Abruzzo, for example, are sold. Wines in 3-liter bottles that are exponentially less expensive per unit, are also selling well, while a change of many wines at this price-point to screwcaps has been accepted without fuss.

As with imports from other countries, the skillful use of words like “biologic”, or “distinctive artisanal wine”, empowers higher priced items sold directly to restaurants.

Some Italian wine importers plan to raise their shipping prices which, together with a 10% decrease in yields for all regions aside from Friuli and the Veneto, will likely see Italian FOB prices increase by 20%. Such price hikes are likely to cause Italian sales to fall through 2008.

US
The imported volume of still wine from the US declined by 5.8% in 2007, yet the volume of wine sold remained virtually the same as 2006 at 2.1m cases.

While imports of wine in large containers such as BIB exceeded 2006, those in regular bottles declined by 10.3%. This decline was largely due to the temporary demise of Carlo Rossi, Japan`s former single best selling wine. Carlo Rossi`s sales suffered due to bottling line issues at the beginning of 2007. Moreover, once the bottling situation was rectified, Suntory took over imports from Gallo Japan. However, sales of premium US wine have maintained momentum. Specialist importers of such wines indicate a remarkable 30-40% growth in their annual sales. WANDS attributes this to the influence of Parker, and the fact that Japanese demand for such wines subsequently exceeds supply.

Pinot Noir remains the variety most in demand from the US, while online shops have begun to play an important role in the sale of expensive American wine. In the on-premise sector, the surge in luxury hotel development fuelled by foreign capital has seen an increase for highly rated American wines. This status has trickled down to listings in fusion restaurants, outlets serving ‘Californian cuisine’, and even contemporary Japanese establishments.

This reporter believes that among New World imports to Japan, only US wine and Californian wine in particular, can be perceived as almost the equal of Old World wines steeped in heritage. This trend bucks the belief elsewhere, that American wine is too expensive for the quality. The success of US wine in Japan is due to a number of reasons including the all-pervasive nature of US culture in Japan. However, credit must be given to the tireless work of importers such as Orca International and Hotei, and the tenacious by-the-glass promotions conducted over many years.

Furthermore, the value of the yen against the weak US dollar has created a fertile market for further success. Soaring growth of the US category in Japan can be expected through 2008.

Chile
Imported volume of Chilean wine grew substantially for the first time in many years, with a 31.4% increase to 1.17m cases in 2007. Moreover, imports in 2007 broke the record of 1.01m cases established in 2001. Chile`s growing stature may indicate that the Japanese market has become aware of its improving wines and their value for money. Sales outlets have so far been limited to supermarkets and discount stores. However, Chilean wines is being rolled out online, and in wine bars.

This being said, 92% of Chilean wine is accounted for by items retailing at less than JPY 1,500 ($13.30). To put this statistic in perspective, in the case of Spanish or Australian wine whose respective imported volumes are less than that of Chile; the market share of wines retailing at more than JPY 1,500 is 12%.

Despite recent success however, importers report that residual stock is likely to hamper imports in 2008.

Spain
Imports of still wine from Spain increased 17.2% to 950,000 cases, closing in on the one million mark. Spain remains the only country whose volumes to Japan have shown steady growth every year since 2000. While Spain exports a number of BIB offerings to Japan, market penetration is stifled by American competition and the weak US dollar. Thus, further increases will depend on nurturing a perception of value for quality wines.

Among the category leaders of JPY 1,000 or more are Torres and Marques de Riscal, while in contrast, an increase of small specialist importers has seen availability of niche wines such as Roda, reflective of the contemporary and dynamic Spanish landscape. Larger importers offer little but the conventional portfolio of Cava, Sherry and Rioja despite the on-going Spanish food boom.

As it stands, there is very little Spanish wine retailing for JPY 3,000 or more and as WANDS notes, Spanish wine is perceived as cheap. As a counterfoil, the Economic and Commercial Office of the Spanish Embassy in Tokyo recently announced by-the-glass campaigns for the first time as integral to their promotions throughout 2008 and beyond.

Australia
The imported volume of Australian wine in 2007 showed 18% growth to 890,000 cases. The trend reversed the downward spiral of 2006, although it did not recover to the record levels of 2005. Imported volumes of Australian wine for the last several years have been erratic, reflecting launches of major brands such as Yellowtail, and importer changes.

All four leading brands—Yellowtail Eagle Hawk, Banrock Station and Jacob`s Creek—enjoyed increases in volume exceeding the 100,000 cases mark. Other major brands include Penfolds, De Bortoli and Yalumba. A major catalyst for recent success appears to be the backing of screw caps by the Australian industry as a whole. Even premium producers such as Leeuwin Estate and Shaw and Smith have rolled their entire production, including red wines, into screw cap. The Japanese catchphrase, “Australian wine is with screwcap”, appears to be catching on.

Another noticeable trend in the expansion of Australian influence in the Japanese market is increasing Australian wine in the on-trade. According to WANDS, Australian wine has managed to transcend the Japanese notion that cuisine should be served with wine from the same origin, and is increasingly appearing in orthodox French restaurants in addition to, as with American wines, the slew of recent luxury hotels and restaurants within. WANDS magazine notes that many restaurants are switching from American glass wines to Australian wines, due to superior value for money.

Other wines
German imports dropped by a staggering 27.7% to 405,500 cases in 2007, where New Zealand’s grew 5.1%, having shown steady increases since 2002, with the ‘green’ PR campaign working wonders. Austrian wines rose by 4.1% yet could not achieve the 10,000 case mark.

Meanwhile, Argentine wine boasted a strong 15.5% increase to 154,000 cases. While superlative quality is to celebrate in many cases, the popularity of Argentine wine is also due, many taste-makers believe, to an aesthetic and flavour-profile akin to dense, polished styles from the likes of California that are already popular in Japan. Either way, the future for Argentine wine is clearly bright for 2008 and beyond.

Source & Credits: Meininger’s Wine Business International (US).

Picture: Partial view of Bordeaux’s Haut Brion’ wine storehouse.

Picture: A woman tastes wine at the prestigious Haut Brion’ winehouse, in Pessac, Bordeaux.

With the majority of chateaux owners refusing to cut prices by any significant amount and as demand remains soft, the 2007 Bordeaux wine “primeurs,” or futures, campaign is being seen as a washout.

“People are turning their backs on the 2007 vintage,” said Jeffrey Davies, a Bordeaux wine merchant.

“We have had some emails bordering on nasty from the UK, and the silence from America is deafening,” he said of the two main primeur markets.

“In fact, without sales to French supermarkets this campaign would have been nothing short of a disaster,” he said.

So-called Bordeaux “primeurs” are sold while the wine is still maturing in oak barrels, about eight months after the grape harvest and two years before bottling and commercial availability. They are essentially wine futures bought by both wine lovers and investors.

The essential element of primeur pricing is that by paying two years early, prices are lower than the eventual in-bottle, retail tag.

This year, however, for reasons including meagre price cuts, generally between zero and 17 percent, and the strength of the euro against the dollar and sterling, many buyers are not interested, betting that most 2007 wines will be the same price in two years time.

This, combined with the overall weak quality of the 2007 vintage — seen at best as light, fruity-style wines, to be drunk young rather than stored — has dramatically punctured sales.

“We have known from the beginning this was a drinker’s vintage, not a collector’s,” Davies said. “Everyone felt that if the wines were priced reasonably, close to the 2004s we could have made a lot of people very happy, and brought people back into the fold or even found new clients. Instead the reverse is true,” he said.

“Why pay today for wines that will be the same price in 2009?” asked Jean Luc Thunevin, another wine merchant based in St. Emilion. “A price cut of seven percent is sadly not a cut,” he said.

Both Thunevin and Davies, agree however, that Japanese, Swiss and Belgian markets have been stronger than expected, and that French supermarket buyers have also weighed in. But all these cannot replace Britain and the United States.

“I am even more concerned about the long term,” Davies said. His view is that overall 2007 prices are projecting an image of “avarice and arrogance” around the world, which will, in long run, mean further loss of market share for Bordeaux, to Spain, other parts of France such as the Rhone, and the new world in general.

For their part chateaux owners excuse their prices saying the wet 2007 vintage was expensive, due to increased costs for chemical treatments against disease, and more manual labour costs.

There are also those who argue that because they didn’t raise prices too high for the 2005 and 2006 vintages, they don’t need to come down that much.

But ultimately, whether a particular wine sells or not is always down to a combination of factors, and where there is perceived value, says Davies, people are buying.

Of the limited number of 2007 success stories, three mentioned by merchants are Pavie Macquin, Larcis Ducasse and Chateau Beychevelle.

The first two came down by about 10 percent on their 2006 prices, but more importantly says Davies, they are good wines that are priced so that everyone in the chain makes a profit.

Plus, they show producers are actually taking the trouble to listen to the market and responding accordingly. Same for Beychevelle, which only came down by five per cent on 2006 but is also selling.

“It is not magic,” said Laurent Ehrmann, managing director of Barriere Freres wine merchants.

“Beychevelle is a good quality wine, they haven’t been yanking their prices up and down, and they price so that negociants (traders), importers, wholesalers and retailers all make a profit,” he said.

According to Ehrmann, it’s even sold to Britain and the United States, and Davies says the same of Pavie Macquin and Larcis Ducasse.

Bordeaux primeurs normally represent about five percent of Bordeaux’s overall production, but in a bad year like 2007 that can fall to two percent.

While the majority of the roughly 200 Bordeaux wines available as primeurs have now released their prices, only two big names, Chateau Margaux and Chateau Palmer, have issued theirs.

Margaux, one of the top five premier cru classe wines, sees a comparatively dramatic cut of 25 percent, down from 270 euros, ex-chateau to the Bordeaux trade, for the 2006 vintage, to 200 euros for the 2007.

Palmer however, which refused to give its ex-chateau price, only reduced its price by nine percent meaning the wine will sell from Bordeaux merchants to retailers at 114 euros, compared to 125 euros for 2006.

The move is hoped to be a signal that the top brands, for which demand generally exceeds supply no matter what the vintage, are taking the fragile state of the market into account.

Other big names such as Lafite, Latour on the left bank of the Garonne river, or Ausone, Le Pin and Cheval Blanc on the right bank, are expected to follow soon.

Source & Credits: AFP.com (Agence France-Presse).

Chateau d’Yquem and Cheval Blanc are on the market with mixed messages from the trade as to their saleability.

Yquem was released yesterday at €330 euro ex-chateau, up about 9% on the €300 ex-chateau price for 2006.

Cheval Blanc 2007, released earlier this week at €320 ex-chateau, was down about 25% from €400 for the 2006, with no recommended resale price.

‘Yquem is the best wine of 2007. I have sold out, and if I had another 1,000 bottles of Pétrus I would sell those too,’ said negociant Jean-Luc Thunevin, adding that demand for Yquem was mainly from Europe.

Prices for Pétrus are not widely available to merchants, but Thunevin estimated it was selling for about €330 to merchants, and about €700 to clients, a probable decrease of 30% on 2006.

While Thunevin is upbeat, other professionals are not so sanguine, with some reporting Yquem was only selling below its recommended resale price of €390.

Bordeaux based negociant Jeffrey Davies, who works closely with the US market, said Yquem was a tricky sell. ‘In the US Yquem will be upwards of US$700 per bottle, for something that they won’t get for three years and shouldn’t drink for 20,’ he said.

‘Demand for Yquem started well yesterday morning but then tailed off, as it seemed other negociants were offering it at €360 or €365,’ said Philippe Larché of Vintexnégociants.

A merchant, who did not wish to be named, claimed that people were already selling Yquem at the ex-château price, so as not to get landed with stocks.

Another senior source who also did not wish to be named described Yquem and Cheval Blanc as ‘a horrible sell.’

‘This may be the first time that a first growth many not be able to allocate all its wine.’

Decanter gave Cheval Blanc 17/20, while Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate awarded it 88-91 points - relatively mediocre considering the price tag.

Decanter gave Yquem 19/20, and Wine Advocate gave it one of the highest scores of the vintage: 96-98 points.

As follows is a capture of what the foreign reviewers wrote about the above 2 trophy labels, published for the benefit of non-subscribers and our readers.

Source & Credits: Decanter (UK).

2007 Château d’Yquem
France, Bordeaux, Sauternes

Neal Martin Wine Advocate Issue #176 April 2008 (96-98): A sample blend excluding the 7th passage (80% of the blending). The Yquem ‘07 was cropped at 18hl/ha, reportedly similar to the 1967 in the middle of the harvest and 188 towards the later picking. This has a very concentrated nose although it is less showy at the moment. But there is tremendous power here, touches of marmalade, honey, peach and orange zest. Superb delineation. The palate is striking but its sense of urgency and nervosité, real vibrancy in the mouth even at this early stage. Pure clear honey, a touch of spice, orange cut marmalade and supreme focus on the almost Zen-like finish that will be bolstered with the later tries are added. Lovely touch of quince paste and dried lychee on the finish, which has 130gms/L residual. Superb Yquem, though not in the class of the ‘01. Drink 2012-2050.

James Suckling Wine Spectator (97-100): This is amazing. Full of spicy botrytis character, with smoke and piecrust underneath. Full and rich, yet not cloying or too dense. It’s lively and long, finishing with intensity and powerl. A unnerving combination of wild ripe fruit and intense botrytis, with lively acidity. Really powerful. Should be a perfect wine.

Jancis Robinson (19): Deep golden with an orange tinge. Very tangy. And thick. At the same time. Massive weight! Extraordinary fullness. An edge of something a bit corrective - almost bitter. Very big and hits you between eyeballs. Citrus pith. Needs to settle down and become more gentle. Big and round. Almost over the top. So rich!!!!! But definite bitterness on the finish. Winemaker Sandrine Garbay, who has been there an incredible 14 years, thinks the 2001 has more finesse. I agree.

David Peppercorn MW Decanter (19): Very aromatic and unctuous with a lovely point of freshness coming through at the end. On the palate there is a great concentration and richness (130g residual sugar in this sample). Very unctuous yet complex and fresh. A touch of alcohol shows through on the finish but these are early days and this is only a marker for the finished article. This will be one of the great Yquem vintages, though on the day Climens was even more impressive.

2007 Château Cheval Blanc
France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru

Neal Martin May 2008 Wine Journal (93-95): The Cheval Blanc has a deep garnet/purple colour. The nose is reticent at first, it definitely needs time so wait 3 minutes and it unfurls some attractive earthy aromas with tobacco becoming ever-stronger with time. The palate is very intense, superb acidity and what I really like about this year’s Cheval is the tension in the wine (a while since I mentioned that at en primeur.) This Cheval Blanc has a sense of urgency that I adore. Very well defined on the finish – masculine, almost Cabernet Sauvignon in quality but I think this is one of the few 2007’s with long-term potential. Great wine.

James Suckling Wine Spectator (99-93): Has gorgeous aromas already, with plum, sweet tobacco, violet and a little coffee. Medium-bodied, with ultrafine tannins and a long finish. This is 30 percent of the harvest. 60 percent Cabernet Franc and 40 percent Merlot.

Jancis Robinson (18): 55% Cabernet Franc, 45% Merlot. Selection of the grand vin was limited by the amount of good Merlot available. They made only one third of the usual volume. Quite a long harvest. They usually pick early but had to wait to get full ripeness. More complex than Petit Cheval and lovely freshness and minerality but the difference between Petit Cheval and Cheval Blanc seems much less than in some more dramatically successful years. Cool and calm. Malted milk. Maybe not really really dramatic. Quality of the fruit of 2004 but with softer tannins. So mellow! From 1998, Cheval have made significant amounts of a third wine which they bottle and sell within LVMH companies. I’d like to taste it. Drink 2013-21.

James Lawther MW Decanter (19): The trademark elegance is there in the bouquet which shows a poise and freshness of fruit (55% Cabernet Franc in the blend). The palate also shows smoothness and suavity of texture with a crisp tannic edge but the finish is just a little less polished than the rest. Drink 2013-2020.

Picture: Singaporean, Singgih Gunawan is seen after buying a case containing 12 bottles of Romanee-Conti, vintage 1990, at a fine wine auction in a hotel in Hong Kong on May 31, 2008. The case was sold to Gunawan for a total of 1.8876 million HKD (242,000 USD). The auction house, Acker Merrall and Condit, donated the buyers premium, which equals 21 percent of the auctioned price, which totalled 327 600 HKD (42 000 USD) to ‘Habitat for Humanity’ a charity helping to rebuild housing for the quake victims in China.

Acker Merrall & Condit Co., the world’s largest wine auctioneer, sold HK$64 million ($8.2 million) of the beverage in Asia’s biggest wine sale in Hong Kong after the city abolished tax on the drink.

The top lot, 12 bottles of 1990 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti fetched HK$1.89 million, the high end of an estimated range and an auction record for a case of Romanée-Conti. The buyer is a Singaporean collector, said Singgih Gunawan, whose second bid of HK$1.56 million won the lot. The final price includes a 21 percent buyer’s premium that Acker gave toward helping victims of the deadly May 12 earthquake in China’s Sichuan province.

The item is one of about 900 lots Acker had expected would fetch a total of $6 million. About 92 percent of lots offered sold. Acker will return for a second auction in November to offer about 1,000 lots, President John Kapon said.

“It’s a very impressive auction; a lot of enthusiasm and strong prices,” said Ahmed Lindenberg, a Hong Kong-based vintner.

The Hong Kong government abolished duties on wine in February to capture a slice of the market for trading, storing and shipping wine. Most Asian wine investors currently buy and store rare wines in London.

A lot of three magnums of Dom Perignon from 1966, 1973 and 1976 sold for HK$726,000, an auction record for champagne. The second- and third-most expensive lots — a case and a 6-bottle set of 1945 Chateau Mouton Rothschild, respectively — were bought by Italian Cecilia Piacitelli for a European investment fund she declined to identify. The wine smells of black fruits, coffee, tobacco, mocha and spices.

`Piece of a Story’

“This wine is a piece of story so I always buy when I can,” said Piacitelli, in an interview.

About 200 people packed the salesroom at Hong Kong’s Island Shangri-la Hotel. Bidding was as vigorous as it was jocular and sporting. No one complained when the organizers had to give up the hall for a local wedding and move the sale to a different room. The crowd cheered when waiters later came down the aisle and served glasses of the rare Dom Perignon 1995 champagne.

“There’s a lot of good energy in the room,” said Kapon, 36, noting that Chinese buyers, who kept low profiles at the auction, probably bought 30 percent of the top 20 lots.

Asian wine consumption rose 60 percent to $7.4 billion from 2002 to 2007, according to Hong Kong’s trade development board. In the same period, U.S. demand increased by a quarter to $18.5 billion while Europe’s fell to $58 billion from $61 billion.

Hong Kong’s move to scrap the wine tax is spurring trade in the beverage. About 8,000 people visited Vinexpo Asia-Pacific, a record for the region’s biggest wine and spirits exhibition.

To contact the writer of this story: Le-Min Lim in Hong Kong at lmlim@bloomberg.net

Source & Credits: Bloomberg (US).

香港葡萄酒拍賣的拍賣紀錄，港幣6400萬美元， acker說
由樂民林
上次更新時間： 2008年5月31日美國東部時間9時44分

5月31日: Acker Merrall＆康迪特公司，世界上最大的葡萄酒拍賣，賣出港幣6 400萬美元（ 8 20萬美元）飲料在亞洲最大的葡萄酒在香港出售後，市取消稅對酒後。

頂端不少， 12瓶1990年的領域內德香格里拉羅馬-連續牽強港元一百八十九萬美元，高端估計的範圍和拍賣紀錄，為案件羅馬- 』 。買方是新加坡的收藏家說， singgih古納萬，其第二次出價港幣一五六○○○○韓元該地段。最後的價格，包括21 ％ ，買方的溢價acker了對受害者的幫助致命的5月12日的地震在中國的四川省。

該項目是一個約900地段acker曾預計將市值總額達600萬元。約92 ％的土地，提供出售。 acker將返回為第二個拍賣在11月提供約1000地段，前總統約翰卡蓬說。

他這是一個非常令人印象深刻的拍賣;了很多的熱情和強烈的價格，說艾哈邁德林登貝格，總部設在香港的vintner 。

香港政府取消了對葡萄酒的職責，在2月捕獲切片市場交易，儲存和航運的葡萄酒。大多數亞洲葡萄酒的投資者，目前購買和儲存難得的葡萄酒在倫敦。

很多3 magnums的DOM的perignon從1966年， 1973年至1976年賣出港幣七二六○○○美元，拍賣紀錄香檳。第二和第三最昂貴的地段-病例和6瓶一套1 945年的木桐酒莊R othschild的，分別為-購買由意大利塞西莉亞皮亞奇泰利為歐洲投資基金，她拒絕透露。葡萄酒的氣味，黑色水果，咖啡，煙草，摩卡和香料。

`一塊一個故事’

他這酒是一塊的故事，所以我總是買的時候，我可以說皮亞奇泰利，在接受記者採訪。

約200人擠滿了該salesroom在香港的港島香格里拉酒店舉行。招投標是作為有力的，因為這是jocular及運動。沒有人抱怨時，組織者不得不放棄大廳，為當地的婚禮和動議出售給不同的房間。人群歡呼時，侍應生後來大幅降價和服務眼鏡的稀有的DOM perignon 1995年的香檳。

他有很多的好能源，在房間內，卡蓬說， 36歲，注意到中國買家，誰低的配置文件保存在拍賣，大概買了30 ％的前20手。

亞洲葡萄酒的消費量上升60 ％ ，以74億美元從2002年到2007年，根據香港的貿易發展局。在同一期間，美國的需求增加，由上季的185億美元，而歐洲的下跌至580億美元，從610億美元。

香港的動議取消葡萄酒稅是促進貿易的飲料。約8000人參觀vinexpo亞洲-太平洋，創下該地區最大的葡萄酒及烈酒展覽會。