The Wine Chronicle《品醇集》

CHANG BEER ANNOUNCED PLANS TO TOP SINGHA & LEO FOR MARKET LEADERSHIP IN THAILAND

NEWS 15-10-2024

Brewed by Thai Beverage, Chang Beer’s plan is highly ambitious as the current market leader Boon Rawd Brewery, owner of the Singha and Leo brands, has a market share of 62 to 63 percent.

CHINA’S NINGXIA WINE REGION BUZZING WITH TOURISTS DURING NATIONAL DAY HOLIDAY

NEWS 14-10-2024

China’s Ningxia wine region was buzzing with tourists during the seven-day national day holiday, the region's wine tourism attractions have received over 100,000 visitors during the holiday period.

SUNTORY RELEASES ITS OLDEST EVER BLENDED WHISKY THE HIBIKI 40YO

NEWS 10-10-2024

Japan’s Suntory has launched a limited edition of Hibiki 40YO using whiskies from Yamazaki, Hakushu and Chita distilleries, only 400 bottles will be sold on a global basis with RRP of USD35,000 per bottle.

CHINA MOVES TO IMPOSE ANTI-DUMPING MEASURES ON EU BRANDIES

NEWS 8-10-2024

China announced today that it will impose anti-dumping measures on EU brandies. From 11 October, EU brandy importers will have to put down security deposits ranging from 30.6 to 39 percent of import value.

法國葡萄酒產量創67年來新低     但政府仍堅持拔藤減產

FOCUS 7-10-2024

根據法國政府的農業統計數據，法國今年葡萄酒產量預計較去下降18%，較五年平均下降11%，極有可能會是自1957年以來最低，創出67年以來的最低記錄。雖然今年產量大幅減少，但法國政府上月仍然祭出1.2億歐元的拔藤計劃，以緩解葡萄酒供應過剩的問題。

TOKYO’S SHIBUYA WARD INTRODUCES PERMANENT NIGHT TIME ALCOHOL BAN IN PUBLIC AREAS

NEWS 3-10-2024

The ban is in effect daily from 6pm to 5am in areas surrounding JR and Keio Shibuya stations, it is an expansion from an existing measure aimed at curbing worsening littering and noise from large crowds.

WESTERN AUSTRALIA HOSTS 1st WINE BUYERS DELEGATION FROM CHINA SINCE END OF TARIFFS

NEWS 1-10-2024

The Western Australia state government is hosting a delegation representing 10 Chinese companies in a 9-day trade visit which will hopefully lead to orders of more premium wines from the wine regions in the state.

MAJOR S. KOREAN WINE RETAILERS PIVOT BACK TO PREMIUM MARKET AMID SLUGGISH SALES

NEWS 30-9-2024

South Korean wine retailers are struggling after a short-lived boom post COVID, many are pivoting back to selling premium wines to the niche market instead of expanding to the mass market.

HONG KONG WILL HOST LARGEST EVER WINE & DINE FESTIVAL 23-27 OCTOBER

NEWS 26-9-2024

The Hong Kong Wine & Dine Festival will return to Central Harbourfront from 23 to 27 October 2024, with its largest ever format featuring 300 booths showcasing wines and food from 35 countries.

CHRISTIE’S OPENED NEW ASIA PACIFIC HEADQUARTERS IN HONG KONG

NEWS 24-9-2024

International auction house Christie’s officially opened its new Asia Pacific headquarters in Hong Kong providing the company with in-house space to hold auctions throughout the year.

PROTESTING COGNAC WORKERS DEMAND EU TO DELAY TARIFF VOTE ON CHINESE EVs

NEWS 23-9-2024

Some 800 workers from France’s Cognac industry protested to demand the EU to delay the vote on imposing additional duties on Chinese electric vehicles, they are worried that China would retaliate with punitive tariffs on EU brandies.

PERNOD RICARD OVERTAKES DIAGEO TO BECOME LEADER IN INDIA’S ALCOHOL MARKET

NEWS 19-9-2024

French drinks giant Pernod Ricard has surpassed Diageo to become India’s biggest alcoholic drinks maker, thanks to popularity of its scotch brand 100 Pipers and Indian-made brands Blenders Pride and Royal Stag.

CADA: NUMBER OF WHISKY PRODUCERS IN MAINLAND CHINA IS 43 AND COUNTING

NEWS 17-9-2024

There are a total of 43 registered whisky producers in mainland China and the number is in steady increase, among them 24 are already in full production, one is in trial operation, 10 are under construction and 8 are still in planning stage.

勃艮第將拍賣退役產區名牌     收益撥捐 Vins de Bourgogne

FOCUS 16-9-2024

勃艮第產區將更換使用了約20年的地名標誌牌，區內的葡萄酒委員會想出了一個很好的處理退役標誌牌的方法，就是將它們公開拍賣，所得的收益將會撥捐勃艮第葡萄酒城，以協助進一步推廣該產區的葡萄酒。

SOUTH AUSTRALIA ADDS SHANGHAI-BASED SENIOR ADVISER TO BOOST WINE EXPORTS

NEWS 12-9-2024

The South Australian state government has appointed Emily Xu as its new senior wine export adviser based in Shanghai. Xu will act as an ambassador and help position South Australia as a leader in China’s imported wine market.

ALIBABA CO-FOUNDER JOE TSAI INVESTED IN BURGUNDY GRAND CRU CLIMATS

NEWS 10-9-2024

Chairman and co-founder of China e-commerce giant Alibaba, Joe Tsai, has invested in acquisition of grand cru climats in the Cote de Nuits area of Burgundy, according to Bloomberg news agency.

JAPAN’S SAKE PRODUCTION IN DOUBT AS THE GOV’T BATTLES SEVERE RICE SHORTAGE

NEWS 9-9-2024

The Japanese public is panic-buying rice as inventories dropped to the lowest level since data began in 1999, Japan's sake production is in doubt as neighbouring South Korea resorts to producing more rice wine to alleviate its rice glut.

SPIRITSEUROPE CALLS ON EU LEADERS TO NEGOTIATE WITH CHINA TO AVOID PUNITIVE TARIFFS

NEWS 5-9-2024

Trade Group SpiritsEurope calls on the European Commission to extend full support to European distillers by entering into immediate negotiations with China to ensure that punitive duties will never be slapped on them.

THE MACALLAN RELEASES "TIME:SPACE" WITH ITS OLDEST & LATEST WHISKIES TO MARK 200th ANNIVERSARY

NEWS 3-9-2024

Only 200 decanters of the Time:Space collection have been released. There are two parts to each decanter, one is an 84YO whisky, the oldest ever released by Macallan, the other is a 2018 vintage which is the first release from its new distillery.

GLOBAL WINE APP VIVINO TO OPEN ITS FIRST EVER PHYSICAL SHOP IN SINGAPORE

NEWS 2-9-2024

To be located in Raffles City, the official open day is 9 October after a soft-opening on 19 September. More than 100 wine labels rated 4.0 or higher in Vivino app, together with some of the top 1 percent, will be featured in the shop.

BEIJING FOUND EU BRANDY MAKERS GUILTY OF DUMPING BUT NO PUNITIVE TARIFFS FOR NOW

NEWS 29-8-2024

China said EU brandy makers had been selling their products at 30.6-39% below market price in China causing damages to its domestic industry. But it said no provisional measures will be taken before the probe's completion scheduled in January 2025.

SEOUL: PRODUCERS SHOULD MAKE MORE RICE WINES TO HELP SOLVE RICE GLUT ISSUE

NEWS 28-8-2024

South Korea’s minister of agriculture, Song Mi-ryeong, said in a press conference today that the downward spiral of rice prices has put great pressure on local farmers, prompting the government to find ways to boost demand.

THE RENOVATED HAKUSHU DISTILLERY WILL BE OPENED FOR VISITS ON 20 SEPTEMBER

NEWS 27-8-2024

Japan’s Suntory Spirits announced that the renovation project in Hakushu Distillery has finished with new malting and visitor facilities, a new restaurant will open on Sunday while new regular visitor tours will start from 20 September.

TIME OUT: MANILA TOPS NIGHTLIFE SCENE IN ASIA, SECOND ONLY TO RIO WORLDWIDE

NEWS 22-8-2024

Forget about Hong Kong and Bangkok, Manila is Asia’s best city for nightlife according to Time Out Magazine. Taipei and Singapore also made to the top 13 list of World's best cities for nightlife 2024, at 12th and 13th place respectively.

JAPAN’S SUNTORY PLANS TO CONQUER THE INDIAN MARKET WITH INDIAN-MADE WHISKIES

NEWS 20-8-2024

Japan’s Suntory Holdings opened an India office in the northern city of Gurgaon last month, the drinks giant has bigger plans than just selling more Japanese whiskies to the world’s most populous country.

EX-HONG KONG CHIEF: CHINESE PEOPLE SHOULD DRINK CHINESE WINES

NEWS 19-8-2024

Former Hong Kong chief Leung Chun-ying, who enjoys the status as a state leader of China, has called on the whole of China to only serve Chinese wines during national day celebrations on 1 October.

TAIWAN’S STARLUX AIRLINES WON BEST FIRST CLASS WINES ON THE WING AWARDS 2024

NEWS 15-8-2024

Taiwan’s Starlux Airlines has won Best International First Class Wines on the Wing 2024 awards, organised by Global Traveler magazine.

INDIA WILL BAN ALL FORMS OF SURROGATE ADS FOR LIQUORS

NEWS 13-8-2024

India, which already prohibits direct advertising of liquor, is poised to introduce stringent rules banning surrogate ads for alcoholic drinks.

HONG KONG: A PRIVATE DRC & BURGUNDY COLLECTION SOLD FOR HKD50M IN SOTHEBY’S AUCTION

NEWS 12-8-2024

A collection described as “one of the greatest private collections of Domaine de la Romanée-Conti (DRC) and Burgundy in the world” has achieved sales of HKD49.75 million (USD6.64m) in an auction hosted by Sotheby’s Hong Kong.

THIS JAPANESE WHISKY DISTILLERY ADOPTS A FARM-TO-BOTTLE APPROACH

NEWS 8-8-2024

One Japanese distillery is pioneering the evolution of whisky making with an innovative farm-to-bottle approach by growing its own barley.

SURVEY: 7 OUT OF 10 S. KOREAN CONSUMERS HAVE OPTED FOR NO & LOW

NEWS 6-8-2024

Seven out of ten South Korean consumers have opted for sugar-free or non-alcoholic beverages when they are out for a drink, a recent survey has revealed.

AUSSIE WINE EXPORTS SURGED 17% IN 2023-4 AS CHINA MARKET REOPENED

NEWS 5-8-2024

A surge in exports to China as the market reopened has driven Australian wine exports to increase 17 percent in value to AUD2.2 billion (USD1.43b) in 2023-4 financial year, according to Wine Australia.

TRADE FORUM: CHINESE BAIJIU NEEDS SOME MIXOLOGY CREATIVITY TO GO GLOBAL

NEWS 1-8-2024

Chinese baijiu makers will have to come up with creative cocktail recipes using the firey liquor as an ingredient in order for the Chinese national drink to go global, a senior executive of Campari China said in a trade forum held recently in Shanghai.

LVMH’S WINE & SPIRITS PROFIT SLUMPED 26% IN H1 DRAGGED BY POOR COGNAC SALES IN CHINA

NEWS 30-7-2024

The wine and spirits unit of Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton (LVMH) has seen a 26 percent slump in net profit to €777 million (USD715m) in the first half of this year, mainly dragged by poor Cognac sales in China and sluggish Champagne demand worldwide.

PERNOD RICARD INDIA LOST BID TO RESUME TRADING IN NEW DELHI

NEWS 29-7-2024

French drinks giant Pernod Ricard has lost its latest bid to resume trading in the capital city of India, the company said it is assessing its next possible steps.

INDIA’ S SULA VINEYARDS REPORTED HIGHEST-EVER QUARTERLY REVENUE

NEWS 25-7-2024

Sula Vineyards, India’s largest wine producer, announces highest-ever revenue in the second quarter of 2024 and plans operational expansion in Maharashtra with a new bottling facility.

MAJOR COGNAC MAKERS ATTENDED HEARING IN BJ TO DEFEND DUMPING ALLEGATIONS

NEWS 23-7-2024

Executives from major Cognac makers and European Union officials recently attended a hearing in Beijing, which was the first opportunity for them to defend themselves against China's dumping allegations.

HONG KONG & SINGAPORE BIGGEST WINNERS IN ASIA’S 50 BEST BARS AWARDS 2024

NEWS 22-7-2024

Hong Kong and Singapore are the two biggest winners in Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2024 Awards. Hong Kong’s Bar Leone tops this year’s chart, while Singapore has 11 bars making to the top 50.

VIETNAM GOV’T PLANS 100% LIQUOR EXCISE TAX TO DETER OVER-CONSUMPTION

NEWS 18-7-2024

The Vietnamese government is planning to increase excise tax on liquors by up to 100 percent in six years in a view to lower alcohol consumption by its consumers.

REPORT: INDIAN WHISKY WILL BE FASTEST GROWING AS GLOBAL SALES OF SPIRITS TRUMP WINES

NEWS 16-7-2024

According to a report by World Spirits Alliance, Indian whisky will be the fastest growing spirit category between 2022 and 2027, growing by 50 million cases, as global consumption of spirits overtakes that of wines.

S. KOREAN CELEBRITY’S LIQUOR BRAND SUSPENDED FOR LIBELLING ISSUES

NEWS 15-7-2024

South Korean ballad singer Sung Si-kyung's newly launched Korean rice wine, Kyungtakju, has been suspended from production by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety due to inadequate labelling.

RE-DEVELOPMENT OF CHATEAU DE GRISSAC BY INDONESIA’S VASANTA GROUP IN FULL SWING

NEWS 11-7-2024

Indonesian property and tourism group Vasanta forges ahead with its investment in Château de Grissac in AOC Côtes de Bourg, a four-star hotel with a gourmet bistro-style restaurant is scheduled to open next June.

SUNTORY TO OPEN POP-UP BARS AROUND THE WORLD TO PROMOTE ITS PREMIUM MALT’S BEER

NEWS 9-7-2024

Japanese drinks giant Suntory is to open pop-up beer bars called The Premium Malt’s House in selected cities around the world over a two-month period starting from July.

KING CHARLES SERVED JAPAN EMPEROR NEW ZEALAND CHARDONNAY ALONG WITH FRENCH FINE WINES

NEWS 8-7-2024

Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako of Japan were offered a New Zealand chardonnay along with fine wines from France during the state banquet hosted by King Charles and Queen Camilla at Buckingham Palace during their recent state visit.

WINES FROM SERBIA SHINED IN CHINA-EURASIA EXPO HELD IN XINJIANG

NEWS 4-7-2024

Balkan country Serbia participated in the China-Eurasia Expo for the first time this year, its wines attracted a lot of attention as the new China-Serbia free trade agreement allows for zero tariffs on Serbian wines within five years.

S. KOREA: DIAGEO TO RAISE PRICES BY 18% AMID A SLUGGISH MARKET

NEWS 2-7-2024

Global drinks giant Diageo will raise prices of several lines of its spirit products in South Korea by 18 percent from July despite a slump in demand.

INDIAN ARM OF SUNTORY HOLDINGS STARTS OPERATION THIS MONTH

NEWS 1-7-2024

Japan’s Suntory Holdings has announced the creation of a new division in India to boost growth in the world’s most populous country, the new company will commence operations in July.

TWE TO HIKE PRICES IN JULY AS IT PROJECTS LONG TERM MARGINS OF 45% DRIVEN BY CHINESE MARKET

NEWS 27-6-2024

Australia’s Treasury Wine Estates, owner of the Penfold’s brand, is projecting double digit profits growth with long term margins of 45 percent on its products’ popularity in the re-opened Chinese market.

KWEICHOW MOUTAI LOOKS SET TO LOSE MOST VALUABLE CHINESE COMPANY STATUS

NEWS 25-6-2024

Leading Chinese baijiu brand Kweichow Moutai looks set to lose its crown as China’s most valuable company after suffering a 13 percent slump in share prices this year.

INDIA’S ALLIED BLENDERS & DISTILLERS TO RAISE USD180M THROUGH IPO

NEWS 24-6-2024

India’s Allied Blenders & Distillers, owner of the popular Officer’s Choice and Sterling Reserve Indian whisky brands, has filed for an initial public offering to raise a total of INR15bn (USD180mn).

GERMAN WINE EXPORTS TO CHINA GREW 47% IN Q1 2024

NEWS 20-6-2024

German wines exports to China grew 47 percent by value and 39 percent by volume in the first quarter of 2024, latest data from German Wine Institute showed.

WINE TRADE DELEGATIONS FROM JAPAN, S.KOREA & VIETNAM VISITED OZ WINE REGIONS

NEWS 18-6-2024

Wine Australia has recently received delegations from Japan, South Korea and Vietnam on winery tours to gain first hand experience of Australian wine regions and the diversity of their wines.

THE MACALLAN OPENED NEW RETAIL SPACE IN HK AS IT CELEBRATES 200th ANNIVERSARY

NEWS 17-6-2024

Leading Scotch brand The Macallan has opened a new retail space in Hong Kong called The Macallan House as the company celebrates its 200th anniversary.

OZ NSW STATE GOV’T ROLLED OUT WINE EXPORT PROGRAM TARGETING ASIA MARKETS

NEWS 13-6-2024

In an attempt to boost wine sales, the New South Wales (NSW) state government of Australia has formulated a 12-month program to promote wines in major Asian markets and to bring international buyers to the state.

WORLD’S BIGGEST SAKE EVENT ALL JAPAN SAKE FAIR WILL RETURN 5-6 JULY

NEWS 11-6-2024

The 16th edition of All Japan Sake Fair, the world's largest Sake event, will return on 5 to 6 July. This year’s event will feature over 1,000 brands of Sake from over 400 brewers from all over Japan.

BANGKOK WINS BIG IN WORLD’S 50 BEST RESTAURANTS AWARDS 2024

NEWS 10-6-2024

A total of eleven restaurants in Asia have made to the World’s 50 Best Restaurants Awards 2024. Bangkok is the biggest winning Asian city, having bagged four spots on the top 50, including the highest ranking Asia restaurant Gaggang at no.9.

SAKE FESTIVAL SINGAPORE WILL RETURN ON 15 JUNE SHOWCASING 300 LABELS

NEWS 6-6-2024

This year’s event will feature some 300 labels of sake sourced from prefectures all across Japan, available for tasting across the various booths.

TIME OUT: FIVE OF WORLD’S TOP TEN CITIES FOR FOOD ARE IN ASIA

NEWS 4-6-2024

Five Asian cities made to the top ten in Time Out magazine’s inaugural World Best Cities For Food, they are Ho Chi Minh City, Beijing, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur and Mumbai. Naples took the top spot, followed by Johannesburg and Lima.

SUCCESS OF VINEXPO HK 2024 SHOWS VITALITY OF ASIA & CHINA WINE MARKETS

NEWS 3-6-2024

The successful conclusion of Vinexpo Asia in Hong Kong last week has proved that the Asia and China markets are still a big draw to international wine producers despite the economic and geopolitical challenges.

ITALIAN WINES ROADSHOW WILL RETURN TO VIETNAM ON 3 JUNE

NEWS 30-5-2024

Top Italian Wines Roadshow 2024 will return to Vietnam on 3 June at the Rex Hotel in Ho Chi Minh City, some 200 premium winea from Italy will be showcased.

S. KOREAN CONSUMERS HIT BY STEEP LIQUOR PRICE HIKES DUE TO WEAK CURRENCY

NEWS 28-5-2024

South Korean consumers are facing price hikes as high as 18 percent on imported liquors due to the low exchange rate of the Korean currency Won to the US dollar.

THIS PRODUCER IS SELLING NEW YORK-MADE SAKE TO JAPAN

NEWS 27-5-2024

When Japanese sake producers are struggle to sell sake in their domestic market, Asahi Shuzo Co. has launched New York-made Dassai Blue in Japan.

VINIPORTUGAL: WINE EXPORTS TO CHINA INCREASED 12% IN Q1 2024

NEWS 23-5-2024

After several years of decline, Portuguese wine exports to China saw a double-digit increase in the first quarter of 2024, according to wine association ViniPortugal.

S. KOREA: HITEJINRO FINED FOR INADEQUATE HYGIENE & RECALLS 1.24M CANS OF BEER PRODUCTS

NEWS 21-5-2024

South Korea drinks giant Hitejinro has recalled 1.24 million cans of its beer brand, FiLite Fresh, after food safety authorities concluded that poor facility hygiene led to contamination of the products.

INDIAN WINE MAKERS CALLED FOR UNIFORM WINE TAX ACROSS THE COUNTRY

NEWS 20-5-2024

The All India Wine Producers’ Association (AIWPA) has called on India’s federal government to implement a uniform taxation system for the wine industry across all states in the country.

FRENCH COURT CONFISCATED 9 BORDEAUX CHATEAUX FROM HAICHANG GROUP BOSS QU NAIJIE

NEWS 16-5-2024

A French court ruled yesterday to confiscate 9 Bordeaux chateaux from the Dalian businessman for having used embezzled funds in the purchase of the properties. He was also sentenced to a suspended three-year jail term and fined €1 million.

CHEF’S PENCIL: COPENHAGEN, HONG KONG & MACAU PRICIEST FOR MICHELIN DINING

NEWS 15-5-2024

Copenhagen, Hong Kong and Macau are the most expensive cities to dine in Michelin-starred restaurants, while Chengdu and Vancouver are the most affordable, research by food magazine Chef’s Pencil showed.

HIGH MAINTENANCE: HALF YEAR UPKEEP OF FORFEITED ASSETS COSTS S’PORE S$650,000

NEWS 13-5-2024

Seized in a high profile money laundering case last August, these assets worth $S3 bilion include thousands of bottles of fine wine and spirits, properties, branded bags, watches, trophy cars, gold bars and cash.

TIM FORD: TWE TO EXPAND CHINA TEAM BY 2/3 TO REBUILD BRAND PRESENCE

NEWS 9-5-2024

TWE CEO Tim Ford said in the Macquarie Australia Conference earlier this week that the company is planning to expand its Chinese team from about 120 staff to around 200 by as early as July and August to navigate its re-entry into the Chinese market.

MACRON CHARMED XI WITH TOP COGNACS & SPARED PRODUCERS FROM INTERIM TARIFFS

NEWS 7-5-2024

Macron presented two bottles of Cognacs as state gifts, visiting Chinese president Xi was believed to have promised that no interim duties will be imposed on Cognacs during anti-dumping probe.

蘇格蘭大學建立烈酒數據庫     有助更快識別假冒產品

FOCUS 6-5-2024

蘇格蘭Heriot-Watt大學的研究人員，正在建立一個資料庫，將可以提供數百款品牌烈酒的化學特徵數據，成為確定產品真偽的資訊來源，可以協助更快速地檢測出假酒。

WINE AUSTRALIA REPORTED FIRST CHINA EXPORT UPLIFT SINCE 2020 UP 21% IN PAST 12 MONTHS

NEWS 2-5-2024

Exports of Australian wine to Mainland China experienced the first uplift since 2020, growing 21 percent by value to AUD13 million in the 12 months to March 2024.

EARLY BIRD MEMBERSHIP FOR 67 PALL MALL MELBOURNE AT AUD2,300 A YEAR

NEWS 30-4-2024

Scheduled to be opened mid-2025, membership application is already open with early bird rate starts from AUD2,300 a year, normal membership is AUD3500 per person.

GUESTBOOKS SIGNED BY CELEBRITIES TRUMPED BURGUNDIES TO BECOME TOP LOT IN LE GAVROCHE AUCTION

NEWS 29-4-2024

Guestbooks signed by the likes of Charlie Chaplin and Freddie Mercury sold for £37,800 in Le Gavroche auction concluded last week, beating performance of top Burgundy wines.

VINEXPO ASIA WILL RETURN TO HONG KONG 28 - 30 MAY AFTER 6 YEARS

NEWS 25-4-2024

Vinexpo Asia is returning to Hong Kong from 28 to 30 May after a six-year absence in the Asian financial hub since 2018.

SUNTORY LAUNCHED KIMONO EDITION OF YAMAZAKI & HAKUSHU EXCLUSIVE FOR TRAVEL RETAIL

NEWS 23-4-2024

The collection is a limited edition and are available at RRP of USD205 per bottle at selected airports. The packaging are inspired by traditional Japanese costume the Kimono.

HONG KONG CONSUMER WATCHDOG CALLED FOR STRICTER BEER LABELLING RULES

NEWS 22-4-2024

Hong Kong's Consumer Council found that 6 of the 30 beer brands tested have a considerable discrepancy between their advertised alcohol content and their actual levels.

WHISKYSTATS: JAPANESE BRANDS TOPPED VALUE-LOSING CHART AS WHISKY MARKET SHIFTS

NEWS 18-4-2024

Netherlands-based whisky data analysis company, Whiskystats, said in a recent report that the global whisky market is shifting and Japanese whiskies are quickly losing their values in auction market.

市場疲弱加庫存豐富    2023年波爾多期酒價格恐下調三成

FOCUS 17-4-2024

波爾多2023年份期酒品嚐活動展開之際，已經有評論認為，今年的期酒發布價格不太可能有明顯升幅，原因是眼下的二手市場非常疲弱，市場上有充裕的波爾多庫存，買家選擇很多，更有酒商認為價格應低於去年約三成。

FIRST TRANCHE OF PIERRE CHEN’S WINE SALES TOPPED SOTHEBY’S WINE & SPIRITS AUCTIONS IN 2023

NEWS 16-4-2024

Asia was the leading market for Sotheby’s wine and spirits auctions, holding 42 percent of buyers, led by Hong Kong, which contributed USD22m.

HOUSE OF SUNTORY TOOK THE LEAD IN HONOURING NEW JAPANESE WHISKY STANDARDS

NEWS 10-4-2024

The owner of Yamazaki and Hakushu distilleries announced that all of their exported whiskies are 100% compliant with the new standards as they officially took effect on 1 April.

SULA VINEYARDS ACQUIRES ND WINES TO EXPAND WINE TOURISM FOOTPRINT

NEWS 9-4-2024

The Rs140 million (USD1.7m) acquisition is expected to be completed by the end of this month, CEO Rajeev Samant said ND Wines presents a great opportunity for Sula to expand wine tourism footprint.

CHATEAU MERCIAN & CONCHA Y TORO COLLABORATED IN WINEMAKING & DISTRIBUTION

NEWS 8-4-2024

The first wine developed by the two companies, Iwade Koshu Amicis 2023, was launched in Japan last week. Château Mercian plans to sell this wine to Singapore through Concha Y Toro's distribution network.

HITEJINRO RECLAIMED KOREA TOP BEER SELLER POSITION WITH KELLY AND TERRA BRANDS

NEWS 4-4-2024

Kelly has exceeded 360 million bottles in sales within one year of its release while Terra achieved sales of 3.6 billion bottles four years after launch.

PENFOLDS PRICE HIKES AND ORDER RETURNS, IMMEDIATE IMPACTS AS CHINA TARIFF ENDS

NEWS 3-4-2024

Leading Australian producer Treasury Wine Estates announced price increase for Penfolds from 1 July, while Randall Wine Group has received an order for 156,000 bottles just hours after tariffs were lifted.

SPARKLING SAKE RECALLED IN ASIA FOR RED YEAST RICE WHICH CAUSED 5 DEATHS IN JAPAN

NEWS 2-4-2024

Mio Sparkling Sake Premium Rosé has been recalled in Japan, Singapore and Macau because it contains red yeast rice which has caused at least 5 deaths and 157 hospitalisations in Japan.

CHINA TO LIFT PUNITIVE TARIFFS ON AUSSIE WINES EFFECTIVE FROM TOMORROW

NEWS 28-3-2024

Australian prime minister Anthony Albanese welcomed this long awaited decision from China and said it will benefit the country's wine industry at this critical time.

TOKYO RESTAURANTS CLAIMED TOP 2 SPOTS IN ASIA’S 50 BEST RESTAURANTS AWARDS 2024

NEWS 27-3-2024

Tokyo restaurants Sézanne and Floriege, both serve French cuisine, were named top and second best restaurants in the whole of Asia in a ceremony held in Seoul last night.

S. KOREAN HOSPITALITY GOT LEGAL PERMISSION TO SERVE LIQUOR BY THE GLASS

NEWS 25-3-2024

Restaurants in South Korea will be legally allowed to serve liquor by the glass starting next month in a significant shift in alcohol sales regulations.

DIAGEO REOPENED LEGENDARY GHOST DISTILLERY PORT ELLEN ON ISLAND OF ISLAY

NEWS 21-3-2024

Global drinks giant Diageo has announced that Port Ellen Distillery on the island of Islay in Scotland has reopened more than 40 years after its doors were closed.

CHINA FM: WINE DISPUTE WITH AUSTRALIA “RESOLVED”, FINAL RULING AT END OF MONTH

NEWS 20-3-2024

Wang Yi has given the most affirmative comment so far, he said the wine dispute with Australia has been "appropriately resolved" and announcement will be made at end of this month.

史無前例的太空用餐體驗     入場費49.5萬美元

FOCUS 19-3-2024

美國SpaceVIP及Space Perspective公司，將連同丹麥哥本哈根Alchemist餐廳的主廚Rasmus Munk，在浩瀚的太空中打造豪華的用餐體驗。這次太空旅程預計2025年底成行，座位只有6個，入場券49.5萬美元。

MOUTAI LAUNCHED SPARKLING RANGE WITH NO BAIJIU TO WOO YOUNG CONSUMERS

NEWS 18-3-2024

Branded as UMEET Blueberry Sparkling, the bubbly does not contain any baijiu, instead its 6 percent alcohol came from a spirit distilled from a base wine fermented from blueberries.

S. KOREAN YOUNG CONSUMERS EMBRACED TEQUILA AS WHISKY FALLS OUT OF FAVOUR

NEWS 15-3-2024

South Korea’s tequila imports increased 96.2% in 2022 and 10.4% in 2023 as young consumers diversified their choice of cocktails.

INDIA: FREE TRADE DEAL WITH EFTA WILL HELP BOOST DOMESTIC WINE INDUSTRY

NEWS 12-3-2024

India's alcoholic drinks industry believed that the newly concluded free trade deal with European Free Trade Association will help boost India’s domestic wine industry.

澳洲成立專責組處理葡萄酒供應過剩     有分析稱須拔藤兩萬公頃

FOCUS 11-3-2024

受全球市場對葡萄酒需求減少，以及2020年中國對澳洲葡萄酒實行反傾銷懲罰性關稅的影響，澳洲葡萄酒過剩問題日益嚴重，葡萄酒業面對嚴重的財政壓力，澳洲農業部在3月8宣布成立特別工作小組，專責處理此次危機。

KWEICHOW MOUTAI & WULIANGYE MOST VALUABLE OF ALL CHINESE BRANDS IN 2023

NEWS 7-3-2024

Chinese baijiu brands Kweichow Moutai and Wuliangye were named the top two most valuable of all brands in China in 2023.

JAPAN PUBLISHED FIRST EVER GUIDANCE FOR HEALTHY DRINKING

NEWS 5-3-2024

Issued by the Ministry of health, labour and welfare, the guidance recommended a daily limit of 40g of alcohol for men and 20g for women.

S. KOREA: SHINSEGAE & LOTTE SUSPENDED WHISKY DISTILLERY PLANS AMID PLUMMETING DEMAND

NEWS 4-3-2024

South Korean retail giants Shinsegae and Lotte have halted their plans to build whisky distilleries locally as demand for whisky slowed substantially after soaring for three years.

THE MACALLAN LAUNCHED COLOUR COLLECTION AT GLOBAL AIRPORTS

NEWS 29-2-2024

The Macallan has launched the Colour Collection globally in travel retail locations, recommended retail price ranges from USD80 to 4,455 per bottle depending on the expression.

AUSSIE TRADE MINISTER EXPECTED WINE DISPUTE WITH CHINA TO END IN A FEW WEEKS

NEWS 27-2-2024

Don Farrell said he has spoken with his Chinese counterpart yesterday and the two sides were close to an agreement, raising hopes the punitive tariffs will end in “a few weeks’ time”.

PERNOD RICARD TO BUILD €200M DISTILLERY IN INDIA’S MAHARASHTRA STATE

NEWS 26-2-2024

Details of the project are still to be released, Pernod Ricard claimed it will be one of the largest distilleries in India, with a daily capacity of 60,000 litres of malt spirit.

西班牙酒莊6萬升葡萄酒被惡意傾瀉     損失估計200萬歐元

FOCUS 22-2-2024

西班牙Valladolid地區本月18日發生一宗案件，當日清晨時份，一名男子闖入位於Castillo de Duero小産區的Cepa 21酒莊，清空了三個裝有優質葡萄酒的發酵酒缸，容量超過6萬公升，陳年後零售價值約為200萬歐元。

WINE CELLAR & MEMORABILIA OF LE GAVROCHE UNDER THE HAMMER IN APRIL AUCTION

NEWS 20-2-2024

Top Burgundy, Bordeaux, vintage Champagne and more from the now closed legendary London restaurant will be up for grabs in an online auction by Christie's from 10 to 24 April.

DUTY FREE SALES IN HAINAN ISLAND HIT NEW RECORD DURING CHINESE NEW YEAR HOLIDAY

NEWS 19-2-2024

Shoppers visiting China's Hainan island spent a record RMB2.49 billion (USD346.2m) on duty free goods during the Chinese New Year holiday, representing a 60% increase over last year.

ASIA PAC & TURKIYE ONLY BRIGHT SPOTS FOR SCOTCH AMID GLOBAL MARKETS SLUMP LAST YEAR

NEWS 16-2-2024

Exports of Scotch whisky has declined 9.5% by value and 19% by volume in 2023, dragged by declines in almost all regional markets except Asia Pacific and Turkiye.

FRENCH WINE & SPIRIT EXPORTS SLUMPED 22% IN USA & 6% IN CHINA LAST YEAR

NEWS 14-2-2024

France saw a 6 percent decline in the total value of wine and spirit exports in 2023 dragged by a 22 percent slump in export value to the USA and a 6 percent drop to China.

S'PORE PRIVATE WINE CLUB SHUT DOWN AMID TIGHT MONEY-LAUNDERING CONTROLS

NEWS 13-2-2024

A private wine club in Singapore popular with ultra-rich residents from China has quietly shut down as rich people in the city-state opted to avoid displays of wealth.

S. KOREA ANNOUNCED PLANS TO NURTURE 100 MICHELIN-STARRED K-FOOD VENUES WORLDWIDE

NEWS 8-2-2024

Seoul wants to boost global market value of Korean food to USD227 billion by 2027 and wants to see K-food leads global gastronomic mega-trends like K-pop did.

FREE TRADE TALKS: INDIA ALCOHOL INDUSTRY REQUESTED UK TO LOWER WHISKY MATURATION STANDARD

NEWS 7-2-2024

India's alcohol industry is prepared to accept further tariff concessions to Scotch whisky imported in barrels but requested the UK to remove the minimum requirement of 3 years maturation for whisky.

DFS OPENS 1st WINES & SPIRITS MULTI-BOUTIQUE IN MACAU FEATURING 140 BRANDS

NEWS 6-2-2024

The wines & spirits multi-boutique is a new concept featuring more than 140 brands including The Macallan, The Dalmore, Hennessy and Penfolds.

HONG KONG DEFIES GRAVITY IMPORTED 74% MORE AUSSIE WINES IN 2023

NEWS 5-2-2024

Hong Kong was the only major export market to have seen meaningful growth in 2023, import value grew 74 percent, amid an overall decline of 2 percent in Australian wines' export value.

THE MACALLAN RELEASED 344 DECANTERS OF 1949 WHISKY TO MARK 200th ANNIVERSARY

NEWS 1-2-2024

Called Tales of The Macallan Volume II with a price tag of £77,391 each, the Lalique decanter is secreted in an 852-page book depicting Macallan founder Alexander Reid’s journey.

JAPANESE BEERS REGAINED POPULARITY IN S. KOREA AFTER YEARS OF BOYCOTT

NEWS 30-1-2024

Korean customs data showed that USD55.5 million worth of Japanese beers was imported in 2023, almost ten times the value achieved in 2020 at the height of the boycott.

巴黎傳奇血鴨餐廳名酒失竊     損失超過150萬歐元

FOCUS 29-1-2024

以法國名菜血鴨（Canard au sang） 聞名的巴黎 La Tour d’Argent 餐廳，近日在例行庫存檢查中，發現酒窖內30萬瓶藏酒中，有數十瓶離奇消失，包括名貴的勃艮第Domaine de la Romanée-Conti，總價值超過150萬歐元。

REPORT: SAUDI ARABIA TO OPEN FIRST EVER ALCOHOL SHOP FOR NON-MUSLIM DIPLOMATS

NEWS 25-1-2024

Reports said the ground-breaking alcohol store is expected to open in the coming weeks in Riyadh's Diplomatic Quarter, and will serve exclusively non-Muslim diplomats.

67 PALL MALL OFFERS EN PRIMEUR MEMBERSHIP STARTING FROM HONG KONG

NEWS 24-1-2024

Priced at HKD15,000 (USD2,000) a year, the new membership category allows access to 67 Pall Mall’s six venues worldwide as well as exclusive local wine events.

THAI RESTAURANTEURS LOBBIED PM TO SCRAP AFTERNOON ALCOHOL BAN ALTOGETHER

NEWS 23-1-2024

Thailand restauranteurs have written to Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin to propose lifting the 5-decade-long alcohol sales ban in the afternoon altogether to help tourism.

MOUTAI & LUCKIN COLLABORATED AGAIN TO LAUNCH LIQUOR CHOCOLATE DRINK

NEWS 22-1-2024

The alcoholic beverage is to mark the arrival of the Year of the Dragon next month. It is priced at RMB38, discounted to RMB18 today on first day of sales.

HARRODS' PRIVATE MEMBERS' CLUB IN SHANGHAI OFFERS RANGE OF PREMIUM SPIRITS

NEWS 18-1-2024

Costs RMB150,0000 a year, Harrods' first ever exclusive club offers premium spirits, exclusive dinning experience in Gordon Ramsay's only restaurant in China and many more.

A BOTTLE OF IRISH WHISKEY WAS SOLD FOR USD2.8M, BEATING RECORD SET BY MACALLAN 1926

NEWS 16-1-2024

A bottle of The Emerald Isle whiskey was reported to have been sold for USD2.8m, surpassing the USD2.7m achieved by a bottle of Macallan 1926 sold last November in an auction.

HONG KONG BUSTED USD63M RECORD HAUL OF LIQUID COCAINE DISGUISED AS WHITE WINE

NEWS 15-1-2024

Weighing 444kg and hidden inside a cargo declared to be wine and grape juice, the bust is the largest in both value and weight recorded in Hong Kong over two decades.

CLOTHING BRAND SUPERDRY SUED MAN CITY FOR ASAHI SUPER "DRY" LOGO ON TRAINING KIT

NEWS 11-1-2024

The law firm acting on behalf of Superdry claimed that the public may confuse the branding on Manchester City's training kit as something created by Superdry.

COCA-COLA ENTERS INDIA'S ALCOHOLIC DRINKS MARKET WITH A JAPANESE SHOCHU COCKTAIL

NEWS 10-1-2024

Soft drinks giant Coca-Cola is making an entry into the alcoholic beverage market in India by introducing Lemon-Dou, a Japanese Chuhai which is a shochu cocktail.

WYNN MACAU TO HOST AWARDS FOR CHINESE WINES FEATURING INTERNATIONAL JUDGES

NEWS 9-1-2024

Chinese wineries entering the competition will compete for the Wynn Signature Best Wine of China Trophy and 27 other categories championing the excellence of major varietal and regional expressions.

VISITORS BEWARE: S. KOREA STARTED ALCOHOL BAN IN DESIGNATED ZONES

NEWS 8-1-2024

Many local authorities in South Korea started banning alcohol consumption in designated public areas from New Year’s day, with fines of up to WON100,000 (USD76).

INDIA: NASHIK WINE REGION ATTRACTED 25% MORE TOURISTS OVER THE FESTIVE SEASON

NEWS 4-1-2024

Some 100,000 tourists visited India’s Nashik wine region in the last two months of 2023, representing an increase of 25 percent compared to the same period in 2022.

CHINA: NINGXIA WINE REGION'S OUTPUT VALUE REACHED RMB40B LAST YEAR

NEWS 3-1-2024

China’s Ningxia wine region has produced 140 million bottles of wines worth RMB40 billion (USD563.4 million) in 2023, according to latest government data.

NEW YEAR RESOLUTION: THAILAND CUTS ALCOHOL TAX TO BOOST TOURISM

NEWS 2-1-2024