Many of China's leading winemakers are expanding rapidly and investing heavily in imported technology to raise standards.
Zhong Wei Ming, general manager, COFCO Great Wall Winery, said, "Grape wine which used to be consumed only by the minority is fast entering the dining rooms of Chinese people and being consumed by a large number of people. I believe that China will soon become the biggest wine consumer as well as the biggest wine producer in Asia."
Chinese wine used to sell for about five US dollars a bottle, but leading brands like Changyu and Great Wall are now producing wines that cost hundreds of dollars.
With a huge consumer base and a growing number of wine producers, China is no doubt the market of the future. But experts agree it will take many more years for China's wine market to fully mature.
(CCTV July 24, 2008)
