China seen great potential in wine markets

International Conference on Grapevine Breeding and Genetics opens in Beijing on July 29, 2014. [Photo: gb.cri.cn]

Delegates attending an International Conference on Grapevine Breeding and Genetics currently underway in Beijing are suggesting there is a lot of growth potential for the Chinese wine market.

Some 300 wineries and brands are attending the global conference, the first to be held in an Asian country.

Miguel Garcia is with Spanish wine maker Torres.

"China has its own locally-made wines. So people would prefer to buy local brands. But with tasting new types of wine, people would understand more about wine from other countries and are more likely to trust them."

China is the world's fourth largest wine consumer, and largest in Asia.

Jean-Marie Aurand is the Director General of the International Organization of Vine and Wine.

"In the old days, Chinese people preferred stronger liquor like China's traditional rice wine. As the economy develops in the country, more Chinese will like to taste wine. Though the consumption in China is still limited, more new consumers will join in the world of wine. I believe the number of Chinese wine consumers will keep growing in the next decade."

The wine market here in China has grown by around 40-percent over the past decade.