Wine market shrugs off slump as consumers raise their glasses

A woman tastes a 2013 vintage red wine at the Palais de la Bourse in Bordeaux, southeastern France. Bordeaux's exports to China rebounded recently, after the region adjusted the structure of its supplies.CHINA DAILY

In value terms, 2015 sales reached $1.87 billion, up 37 percent year-on-year, according to data of China Customs.

Leading the pack of foreign wines in China are the French varieties, followed by some New World wines, particularly those from Australia, Chile, South Africa and Argentina, which are fast grabbing market shares from popular brands.

Market researchers said Chinese consumers are also buying more and more of relatively expensive wines imported from New Zealand. Varieties such as Blanc Sauvignon from Marlborough are gaining in popularity, despite their average price being among the highest in imported wines, according to a latest research note by Rabobank, the Netherlands-based provider of food- and agriculture-related financing and research services.

Wine trade experts said this trend is natural as individual consumers prefer more diversified and differentiated products than corporate clients.