Taste Georgian wine at China Food and Drinks Fair

Ten Georgian wineries are showcasing their products to the Chinese market at the 29th China Food and Drinks Fair, being held from March 26-28 in Chengdu, China’s southwest Sichuan province.

The demand of Georgian wine is on the rise in China, said chairman of Georgia’s National Wine Agency Giorgi Samanishvili.

"In China the interest towards Georgian wine is very high. After negotiations with Chinese importers, we found out that the number of Georgian wine importers in China will be increased,” he said.

"China and the whole Asian market are considered one of the strategic markets for exporting Georgian wine. Accordingly Georgia’s National Wine Agency has been conducting a very active marketing campaign in China,” he added.

Latest data revealed China was the fourth largest importer of Georgian wine in February 2015.

A total of 217,000 bottles of Georgian wine was exported to China in the first two months of the year, which was 64 percent more compared to the same period of 2014.

Reflecting this, 34 percent more Georgian wine was sold in 2014 than in 2013. Last year more than 1.2 million bottles of Georgian wine was exported to China.

This year the Fair will host Georgian wines from Kakhuri Wine Cellar, Shalvino, Bagrationi 1882, Chateau Mukhrani, Armazi, Vaziani, Sarajishvili, Winery Khareba, Batono and Kindzmarauli Winery.

Guests will be able to taste Georgian wines and other products, as a variety of master-classes and degustation will be held at the Fair.

The event is expected to host 3,000 exhibitors and attract 300,000 local and overseas visitors and generate an estimated total turnover of 20 billion RMB ($32 billion USD).

With domestic demand on the rise in Asia, trade fairs and events taking place in the region are become more international. Last year, some 20 percent of shipments to China Food and Drinks Fair came from overseas markets.

The China Food and Drinks Fair is one of China's oldest and most prestigious exhibitions, having begun in 1955.

The Fair is an exotic event featuring food and food products, spices, industry equipment, drinks, international spirits, liquor and wines, and more.