Wine Giant China
China has become the 5th largest wine market in the world (following the US, France, Italy and Germany and ahead of the UK, Argentina, Spain, Australia and Portugal). Annual wine consumption in China has reached 16.8 million hectoliters, compared with 29.2 million hectoliters in the US. China is in the top 10 group of wine consuming countries.
With less than a liter per year, the Chinese per capita consumption is dismal, but the number of consumers is huge. Thus, overall wine consumption is large. And, per capita consumption is on an upward trend. If the per capita consumption increases just by as much as – for example – the Australian per capita consumption increased between 2007 and 2013, China would become the largest wine market in the world, overtaking the US, France, Italy and Germany. China’s wine boom started less than 20 years ago. It is poised to become the largest wine consumer in the world in the not too distant future.
Around 80 % cent of the wine consumed in China is red. The color red is considered lucky in China and is also affiliated with the Communist government, while white is associated with death and is predominantly seen at funerals.
China's import wine market is dominated by the French. Over 50 percent of imported wine comes from France. Labels like Chateau Lafite or Mouton have a cult status among the country's nouveau-riche. German wines are much less glamorous. The recent austerity and anti-corruption drive of the Chinese President, Xi Jinping has led to a marked decline in conspicuous consumption and sales of high-end wine.
See also:
Emerging Wine Giant China: Top Wine China 2014, Beijing, China
The Riesling Revolution Tour
Against this background, 3 great Riesling producers – Domaine Hugel et Fils in Alsace, Weingut Dr. Loosen in the Mosel Valley and Jim Barry Estate in in the Clare Valley, Australia, teamed up to challenge the reign of red wine in the booming wine market of China. They visited Macao, Xiamen, Chengdu, Shanghai and Beijing with their Riesling Revolution Show.
I did not see them in action, but was told about the events when I visited Beijing a couple of weeks later. Summergate Fine Wines and Spirits organized the trip and produced a wonderful brochure entitled “Riesling Revolution”, of which I got a copy at Padoa Wine Store in Beijing.
Domaine Hugel et Fils in Alsace
See also:
In the Glass: Hugel et Fils wines at the cuisine des emotions de Jean Luc Brendel at Riquewihr in Alsace
In the world class white wine region Alsace
Weingut Dr. Loosen in the Mosel Valley
See also:
Riesling from Germany and Pinot Noir from Oregon: A Winemaker Dinner with Ernst Loosen, Weingut Dr. Loosen and J.Christopher Wines, at Black Salt in Washington DC.
Riesling, Pinot Noir and Indian Cuisine: A tête-à-tête Dinner with Winemaker Ernst Loosen, Weingut Dr. Loosen, at Rasika in Washington DC, USA
Ernst Loosen and Dr. L. Riesling - His Hugely Popular Entry-level Wine Sold Throughout the World;
The Doctor Made a House Call - A Tasting with Ernst Loosen, Weingut Dr. Loosen, at MacArthur Beverages in Washington DC, USA
A Riesling Guru and a Killer Guitarist cum Cult Winemaker: Ernst Loosen and Jay Somers and their J. Christopher Winery in Newberg, Oregon
Wine ratings: Two American/German wines - Eroica and Poet's Leap - on Top 100 Wines from Washington State list for 2009
German American Wines: (1) Pacific Rim Riesling (2) Eroica and (3) Woelffer's Schillerwein
The German Winemakers at the 4th Riesling Rendezvous in Seattle, USA
Jim Barry Estate in the Clare Valley, Australia
See also
Rieslings from the New World – More Traditional than Rieslings from the Old World? A Tasting at the 2nd International Riesling Symposium, led by Stuart Pigott, Germany
Etienne Hugel's Impressions
Here is Etienne Hugel’s account: A Riesling revolution has just swept across China! Peter Barry of Jim Barry Wines, Etienne Hugel of the Hugel family, and Ernst Loosen of Dr Loosen have joined forces with their importer and distributor Summergate, to challenge the reign of red wine in China. All through the week, the group conducted tastings, master classes, and media events across the region to celebrate the greatness of Riesling in all its many styles. The tour started in Macau, and moved on to the cities of Xiamen in Fujian province, and Chengdu in Sichuan province, followed by gala events in Shanghai, finally culminating in the capital city of Beijing on Saturday April 12th.
"We are championing Riesling as a spearhead of the white wine revolution in China. There is no better way to break China's red obsession than our Riesling Revolution tour with this trio of Riesling magicians" said Summergate founder and General Manager Ian Ford. "I expect our sales of Riesling to much more than double in the months and years ahead" said Ford.
China has been known for years as a red wine market, highlighted in the recent film "Red Obsession". The IWSR recently stated that China is now the largest red wine consuming nation on earth, at an estimated 1.86 billion bottles including domestic production.
"Summergate together with these three great producers are the first to take a huge step forward in promoting and celebrating Riesling and white wine, on a large scale, across this country" said Ford.
The "Riesling Revolution" tour climaxed in Beijing on Saturday April 12th, highlighted by a Riesling tasting review from all three producers, and a gala dinner with the Capital's top wine enthusiasts.
For the Hugel family, a solid presence in Asia dates back to the 1950's and now covers virtually every country in the region. Mainland China is clearly now the latest challenge.
The Wines they Presented
Dr. Loosen Dr. L Riesling 2012
Hugel et Fils Classic Riesling 2012
Jim Barry The Lodge Hill Dry Riesling 2012
Jim Barry The Florita Riesling 2012
Jim Barry The Florita Riesling 2005
Hugel et Fils Jubilee Riesling 2005
Hugel et Fils Jubilee Riesling 2007
Dr. Loosen Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Kabinett 2012
Dr. Loosen Ürziger Würzgarten Riesling Spätlese 2012
Hugel et Fils Vendage Tardive Riesling 2009
Thanks
Thanks Ernie for letting me use your pictures. Photos are either from the Weingut Dr. Loosen website or my own.
schiller-wine: Related Postings
Emerging Wine Giant China: Top Wine China 2014, Beijing, China
Germany at TopWine China 2014 in Beijing, China
With the German Wine Princess Sabine Wagner in Beijing, China
Riesling Weeks 2014 in China - A Celebration at the German Embassy in Beijing, China
Western Food and Chinese Wine in a Hutong: Dinner at Chi Restaurant in Beijing, China
China's Wine Boom: Is Jeannie Cho Lee the New Robert Parker?
The Forbes List of Rich People and Wine
The Emerging Wine Giant China - Mouton Cadet Bar Opening
Trends in the global wine market: old world, new world, emerging wine countries
A Global View: Who Makes and who Drinks Wine?
Wine Consumption by Country: Total and Per Capita
Global Wine Consumption and Production
In the Glass: Hugel et Fils wines at the cuisine des emotions de Jean Luc Brendel at Riquewihr in Alsace
In the world class white wine region Alsace
Riesling from Germany and Pinot Noir from Oregon: A Winemaker Dinner with Ernst Loosen, Weingut Dr. Loosen and J.Christopher Wines, at Black Salt in Washington DC.
Riesling, Pinot Noir and Indian Cuisine: A tête-à-tête Dinner with Winemaker Ernst Loosen, Weingut Dr. Loosen, at Rasika in Washington DC, USA
Ernst Loosen and Dr. L. Riesling - His Hugely Popular Entry-level Wine Sold Throughout the World
The Doctor Made a House Call - A Tasting with Ernst Loosen, Weingut Dr. Loosen, at MacArthur Beverages in Washington DC, USA
A Riesling Guru and a Killer Guitarist cum Cult Winemaker: Ernst Loosen and Jay Somers and their J. Christopher Winery in Newberg, Oregon
Wine ratings: Two American/German wines - Eroica and Poet's Leap - on Top 100 Wines from Washington State list for 2009
German American Wines: (1) Pacific Rim Riesling (2) Eroica and (3) Woelffer's Schillerwein
The German Winemakers at the 4th Riesling Rendezvous in Seattle, USA
Rieslings from the New World – More Traditional than Rieslings from the Old World? A Tasting at the 2nd International Riesling Symposium, led by Stuart Pigott, Germany