FRESH REPORT FROM HONG KONG… Guest Blogpost from Amy Hanson

"In China and Hong Kong, general consumer knowledge of wine, especially Californian, has much room to grow. While the days of mixing wine with soft drinks to combat a perceived bitter taste are all but gone, the average consumer still gravitates toward European wines because of prestige and reputation. "



"I’ve been to Hong Kong many times over the last 15 years, and it was interesting to view it this time through the lens of the wine market. Hong Kong is, as anyone who has visited knows, a very international city: while I was there, I attended a tasting of Italian wines at The China Club hosted by the Berkeley Alumni Association!

The Hong Kong government has made a goal to be Asia’s wine hub and made the market duty-free in 2008; a U.S. Commercial Service officer in Hong Kong told me that U.S. wine exports to Hong Kong increased by over 250% in the last year.

I met with some very impressive wine experts during my trip. Iin Hong Kong there is a small but growing population of more adventurous and educated wine drinkers who seek out boutique, high-value, quality wines – a great sign for companies like ours!"


ABOUT AMY HANSON, Guest Blogger


Amy just returned from a trip to Hong Kong in her new role as VP of Marketing for California Grapes International, a value-added distributor of boutique California wines in Hong Kong. She has been a high-tech consultant for much of her time since graduating from Harvard in 1992. More Reports to Come in the Future!



You can read more about Amy at Barbara Keck's new website, Harvard-in-Wine.blogspot



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