Interview: Chilean winemakers eye China's growing thirst: official

Chile's wine industry sees opportunities in the steady growth of the Chinese wine market, though the growing thirst is also sustained in part by China's own homegrown wine industry, said Julio Alonso, Asian director of Wines of Chile.

According to the company's statistics, China's per capita wine consumption is now at 3.4 liters a year, but is poised to reach at least 7 liters a year.

Though only 20 percent of the wine consumed in China is imported, "the consumption of imported wines is steadily on the rise," Alonso said.

"In other words, the (growth) potential is great and as a country we should make the most of it," he said.

"The biggest markets remain to be the United States and Europe, but the growth of Chilean wines lies in Asia," Alonso said.

Chile is the world's fourth-largest exporter of wine, shipping more than 70 percent of the country's production to more than 150 countries and regions worldwide.

As the largest association of winemakers in the South American country, Wines of Chile represents 90 percent of Chile's bottled wine exports through its 93 member wineries.

"Asian countries such as Japan, South Korea and China where the consumption of imported wine is steadily growing," in both volume and value, he said.

China cultivates nearly 800,000 hectares of wine grapes, overtaking France to become the second-largest grower of wine grapes in the world, said Alonso, adding "they are major global wine producers."

Chinese government's policy has played a key role in developing the national industry, he said.

"The Chinese government has been a good ally for the industry. In fact, it has backed wine consumption in contrast to other beverages, such as 'baijiu' (liquor in Mandarin) that is higher in alcohol and lacks the beneficial effects of wine, for example in blood circulation, the skin and longevity," said Alonso.

Producers in Chile and China are now exploring areas of cooperation, Alonso said, citing a recent accord between Chinese firm Perfect China and Chilean winemaker Undurraga as "a strategic partnership in which the Chinese are joining the business vertically."

In the medium term, Alonso said, Chilean producers have set their sights "on generating greater attention in China" and "positioning Chilean wine as the leading imported wine in the Chinese market." Endit