Rising affluence is fuelling the demand for many luxury products and lifestyle options in urban China – from LV bags to yachts to boutique hotels. Fine wine is a particular favourite of the nation's nouveau riche, apparently – so much so that wine distributor ASC Fines Wines is claiming another "global superlative" for China.
"This year, we are the world's leading importer of Chateau Latour," said Don St. Pierre, Jr, Managing Partner of ASC Wines, at the launch of the company's sumptuous new Wine Residence, which features the independently owned Napa restaurant, in Shanghai. "We expect to import more than 500 cases of grand vin and 300 cases of the second label in 2007. This represents a 250 per cent rise on last year, and is being totally driven by demand from our wealthy private clients in China."
ASC was established in China in 1996 by Don St. Pierre, Sr.. His son,
Don St. Pierre, Jr, joined in 1998, and in the same year it received
financing from Gernot Langes Swarovski, of Swarovski Crystal fame. The
company was named the Finest Wine Distributor in China at the 2006
China International Wine Challenge, and has become the first provider
of the Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) wine courses in China.
Created in a renovated 1906 townhouse in downtown Shanghai, ASC’s new
Wine Residence features 180 temperature-controlled wine lockers for
private member clients located in a sealed part of the city’s network
of subterranean tunnels. The specialist cellar will also contain “up to
USD1.5 million of our own finest imported wines,” says St. Pierre, Jr.
Last update : Tuesday, 18 December 2007
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(0 vote)
Chateau Latour producers?
By: boyce (Guest) on 13-12-2007 00:27