Sales of port wine soar in China

 Sales of port wine soar in the lead-up to Christmas and Chinese new

            year, with companies reporting more than half of their annual sales

            at this time.

 

            Winemaker Jorge Nunes is based in Hong Kong as Asia market manager

            for Symington Family Estates in Portugal. The brands the company

            owns and represents make up about 40 per cent of the premium port

            market in Hong Kong. Brands include Graham's, Cockburn's, Dow's and

            Warre's.

 

            Nunes noted a definite boost in sales because of the tradition of

            port at Christmas and the potential of the wine as a new year gift.

 

            "Port is starting to be better understood and known by Asian

            consumers," he said. "Pairing with Chinese food like hairy crab or

            roasted pork belly means ports are gaining a reputation in Hong Kong

            and mainland China."

 

            Tersina Shieh runs the Vintage Port Academy in Hong. Its role is to

            promote the appreciation and knowledge of vintage port among wine

            professionals and consumers.

 

            "The academy has been hosting annual seminars and workshops in Hong

            Kong for three years and we are glad to see the increasing interest

            in port of the younger generation of wine lovers."

 

            Sophia Bergqvist is the owner of Quinta de la Rosa and Christian

            Seely is managing director and part owner of Quinta da Romaneira in

            Portugal, two of the country's most prestigious port producers.

            While in Hong Kong they spoke with reporter Stephen Quinn.