Selling wine to China – the challenge

Brisket noodles (below) with an investment banker from Beijing last night put a couple of things into perspective. China has been the world’s largest wine consumer for the last three years. Per capita consumption may be only 500ml as opposed to 5l in the USA and 50l in France, but 1.4 billion Chinese have a great multiplier effect.

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Since wine duties were scrapped in Hong Kong, SA wine has gone backwards in the Special Administrative Region. A flying visit to the Flying Winemaker store in Central turned up Goats do Roam, Meerlust Rubicon and er, that’s it. France and Australia are making all the running and comparing the stands at VinExpo, it’s easy to see why. SA wine marketing has misplaced it’s Mojo. If it ever had it to begin with. Oh dear.