In the 1980s, the Chinese government ranked China’s cities according to size and development priorities. Today, that ranking is a useful way of understanding the size and scale of markets in China. As Tier 1 cities – particularly Beijing and Shanghai – become saturated with wine, Tier 2 cities are emerging as important markets, as James Lawrence discovers from talking to market insiders.
There are significant legislative barriers to selling wine in US supermarkets, explains Jeff Siegel. But they have come down in two states, and there could be more to follow.
The world is now travelling on its stomach, according to speakers at the Business of Food and Wine Tourism conference. Felicity Carter went to hear more.
Mexico has been a wine-producing nation since the 1520s, when the Spanish brought grape vines with them. Although the country is best known for its tequila, the wine market is growing, both for domestic and imported wines, albeit off a small base. The population is mostly young and urban and, as elsewhere, there is a growing middle class. This group, estimated at 21m people, includes a highly educated younger generation that’s keen to explore food and wine. According to Wine Intelligence, wine consumption has increased by 40% in the past decade, and could hit 2 L per head by 2020. James Lawrence speaks to market insiders.
Tradition demands the participation of individuals who are dedicated to preserving it. For the Trentino winegrowers’ cooperative Mezzacorona, this involves safeguarding the indigenous grape varieties Teroldego and Marzemino, showcasing their qualities both as monovarietal wines and in blends.