Portuguese wines gaining ground in China

Lisbon, Portugal, 19 May – Portugal exported US$1.6 million in wine to China in 2008, a figure that is expected to rise to US$2 million this year, the brand manager for ViniPortugal, the association for Portuguese wine promotion, said Monday in Lisbon.

According to Márcio Ferreira, for 2009 “prospects are excellent,” for Portuguese sales to Hong Kong, Macau and Shanghai.

A delegation from the Portuguese winemaking sector, including ViniPortugal and 20 producers is currently in Shanghai taking part in one of the world’s most important wine and food fairs, SIAL, after presenting its wines in Hong Kong.

ViniPortugal, an inter-professional association for the promotion of Portuguese wines, in 2009 has a budget of around 200,000 euros for activities to promote Portuguese wines in that area.

Ferreira said that Portuguese wine exports to Macau had seen growth of 90 percent by value, to US$3.5 million, recovering from a fall in 2007.

The producers that are part of the delegation include Sogrape, Aliança, Quinta da Aveleda and Dão Sul. (macauhub)

[Article Source] -- MacauHub