Good Food Blog

Cheers China!

Posted at 1:02PM, 23 July 2008 by Abbie Dobson - News journalist

So China's economic growth is slowing, but they're still on target to be the world's third largest economy, knocking Germany off the podium. When it comes to wine, though, the experts say they're the dark horse waiting in the wings. In the not too distant future (half a century or so), wine will be pouring its way to us from China on an unprecedented scale.

Now, I don't pretend to know a great deal about wine, despite having slaved over many paltry servings of Riesling and Pinot Noir during countless Monday nights at a local wine course. Sadly I still play it safe at the supermarket, sticking to the big three of Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay (unoaked, of course!) and Pinot Grigio. But if China is indeed set to knock the socks off the wine world, would you be tempted to taste the tiger economy next time you're hanging out in aisle 13?

Open quotationGlobal warming is set to change the landscape of wine productionClose quotation

In fifty years' time, China is set to become the biggest bulk supplier of wine in the world. The reason being that global warming is set to change the landscape of wine production, sidelining countries like Australia. China is already the fourth largest player in terms of vineyards alone. And the big boys in wine production are anxious and eager to give them the benefit of their substantial wine-making expertise.

However, this seems a perverse logic. Dinner parties up and down middle England are engaging in the same conversation: 'How are you enjoying our home-grown homemade gazpacho, Roger? No food air miles in this house... another glass of New Zealand Cabernet Sauvignon?'

In some respects, fans of English wine may be pleased to learn that production here will be greatly increased by global warming, with some predicting that the amount of wine produced in fifty years' time will rival France. But isn't this all really rather worrying?

How we buy our wine will also change. According to wine merchants Berry Bros. & Rudd, the traditional bottle looks set to be replaced by reinforced cardboard or plastic. How does a carton of your finest Chinese wine sound next time you pop into Oddbins?

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Comments

  • Binder photo michael
    23 July, 2:27PM

    michael

    Open QuoteLove the idea of the Germans beign relegated but not so keen on the idea of chinese wine in a box. Global warming is going to change a few things but I will be drinking as much french as I can manage in the meantime. This article could well have been written 30 years ago about how antipodean and south american wines were going t become so prominent. What's chinese for down the hatch? Michael

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  • Binder photo James
    23 July, 5:47PM

    James

    Open Quote'would you be tempted to taste the tiger economy next time you're hanging out in aisle 13?' Not for me thanks. Last week I realised I was only a few miles from three choirs in Newent, Glos. Having tasted their cuvee in the past and being amazed I found they did red too so picked up a couple of bottles of 'Four Oaks'. Hadn't tasted something so good since I met a NZ wine importer - which just goes to show you. It's their pinot noir next..... it's amazing what you can find when you look. Elgar wines too - crisp, fruity, distinctve - perfect for summer drinking. It's the words 'bulk supplier' that you use when that it all goes wrong. Does bulk = good?

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  • Binder photo Nunnington
    24 July, 3:59PM

    Nunnington

    Open QuoteI'd be interested to see what side of China we're going to get in wine terms. Will it reflect some of the fantastic food we see there, rare, unusual, fantastic and subtle flavours, totally unique? Or will we end up with plastic mass-produced soulless grog that ends up ruining the market by pricing out bespoke winemakers in Europe and the New World? If its the former then I'm all for it, but let's hope we don't end up seeing centuries of wine heritage washed away by a tidal wave of commerce...

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  • Binder photo Simon
    25 July, 2:38PM

    Simon

    Open QuoteWhen I first encountered the 'plastic cork' i must admit i did raise an eyebrow but i'm used to it now. I'm also at one with the screw top. If Aisle 13 is stocking my kind of wine in cardboard or plastic containers, I'm sure I will embrace that too. I think the line has to be drawn somewhere. Having the sommelier show me a nice Tetra Pak before flipping the plastic lid might be just the wrong side of it.

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