Who would have guessed it? China is now the biggest consumer of red wine surpassing France and Italy.
In 2013 the Chinese market, which includes Hong Kong, consumed 1.865 billion bottles of red wine. Why red wine? Possibly because red is a very positive color in the Chinese culture representing wealth, power and good luck. It is also considered a healthy alternative to rice based spirits.
Eighty percent plus of all wine consumed is produced in China which is now the world’s fifth largest producer. However imports are gaining popularity and account for nearly 19 percent of the market.
Cheers or Gan bei!
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