Importers toast the future of South African wines (2)

Wang Yuan, its vice-general manager, said that though South African wine is a latecomer to the Chinese market, it has been enjoying better growth rates than wines from the old world such as France and Italy in recent months, and he expects that momentum to be maintained.

"Its wines have a very special fruity taste that is preferred by many Chinese.

"And as most South African wines are priced reasonably, they have an excellent chance of making inroads into China," Wang said.

South Africa exported about 360 million liters of wine during 2011, produced mainly in its Western Cape province, with Europe being its largest export market. That figure represents about 43 percent of its wine production, according to the South Africa Wine Industry Information and Systems.

The recession in many economies across Europe, however, means that many are now looking to other markets, as orders from the continent fall, and China represents massive potential to make up for those lost orders.

Chinese wine drinkers consume 300 million bottles of wine a year and the country is the fifth-largest market in the world in terms of consumption, ahead of the UK.

A recent Vinexpo study has forecast a further 54 percent increase in consumption between 2011 and 2015.

Hein Koegelenberg, CEO of La Motte and Leopard's Leap Wines in South Africa, told US news website GlobalPost recently that he believes the country's wines have a better chance of succeeding in China than many others because of the varieties available, which can be matched with all kinds of Chinese food and culture.

We recommend:
Mainland, Taiwan airlines sign co-op contract	Great changes in Zhengzhou railway station	Wanda Group ventures onto the global stage
Sports car makers look to mainland market	Top Ten Economic Events in 2012	'Gold road' laid with gold bars