Hong Kongers Drink More Wine Than Other Asians
Chinese wine consumption up by 104%
While we don’t drink as much wine as the famous French and Italians, Hong Kongers are certainly uncorking more bottles than any other country in Asia, according to the latest study by VINEXPO and the International Wine and Spirit Research (IWSR). To promote the upcoming VINEXPO in Bordeaux, a massive wines and spirits showcase, VINEXPO has launched press conferences in 18 major international capitals to present their findings on the global wine market.
This year, Hong Kong is deemed as Asia’s “most mature wine market,” and no wonder—with a per capita wine consumption of 4.5 litres a year, we drink more wine than anybody else in Asia, including the Japanese at 2.4 litres and Singaporeans at 2.1 litres per capita. 85% of the wines we drink are red. “Reds are probably more popular because the Chinese prefer the color red for cultural reasons,” says Mr. Robert Beynat, the Chief Executive of VINEXPO.
We also prefer French and Australian wines. While wine consumption in other countries has increased by mostly single digits, China and Hong Kong saw a 100%+ increase in wine consumption and a 393% growth in imported wines over the last four years—numbers that are enough to excite foreign wine producers.
What may be more surprising is that China comes in at No. 7 as one of the top 10 wine producing countries in the world, alongside with Argentina, Australia, and Chile. “The more wine a country produces, the more wine a country will drink and import. We are very happy that China is planting vines and that the French are investing in China,” says Mr. Beynat. Overall, world wine consumption is on the rise, and the trend is going toward better and more expensive wines. Wine consumption is forecasted to soar, especially in Hong Kong and China. “This is very positive for us because the VINEXPO was established to increase the consumption of wine and spirits for the trade,” Mr. Beynat concludes.
VINEXPO will take place in Bordeaux, France, between June 19-23 this year.
- By Jessica Young
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