Napa Valley wine
By Wine Atlas, Wednesday 7 December 2005 :: Wine - United-States :: #94 :: rss
Napa Valley wine trade mission to China: Planting some seeds
By Alan Goldfarb, WINE EDITOR
When Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and a contingent of about 70 people from California visited China on a trade mission recently, there were a quartet of Napa Valley wine people among the group. They were there to introduce the region's wines to the people of China.
Because, as Todd Zapolski of Girard Winery explained, as much as we think our wines are known throughout the world, the wines of France, for instance, may be more familiar in China.
"The Australians now have very attractive price points in China. The Chileans are being very aggressive, and the French offer status and immediate recognition," explained Zapolski.
Along with the Girard executive, also on the trip was Leslie Rudd, the owner of Rudd Estate and his winemaker Charles Thomas; and Mary O'Neil, who represented Silver Oak. Also on the mission was a spokesperson from the Washington, D.C. office of the Wine Institute.
Wine shops in Beijing
"We went there to see if there was an opportunity to get Napa Valley wines into the country because it's growing for world products and for its consumption and interest in wine," Zapolski said. "ŠWine is something a select population is aspiring to know about and try as consumers. It's permeating among more affluent individuals, restaurants, hotels, and there are even now wine shops opening up in Bejing.
"People are seeing wine as a quality of life, a higher level of culture. It's becoming a lifestyle to aspire to."
Zapolski pointed out that there are approximately one million cases exported to China each year, with only about 10 percent coming from California. That, according to him, opens a huge window for the Napa Valley.
"China is one of those places where we have to plant some seeds," he said. "It (wine) is something for people to appreciate, understand and desire. It's important to be there now, when it's changing so quickly.
Wine consumption up 35%
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