Global wine consumption dip in 2020
Global wine consumption in the pandemic year reached the lowest recorded level of consumption since 2002, and China is the key driver for the downward trend, says OIV.
Category: Asia
Rudy Kurniawan deported to Indonesia
The notorious wine fraudster Rudy Kurniawan, aka Mr Conti, has been deported to his native country Indonesia last week from the US after spending seven years in jail for defrauding wine collectors millions of dollars.
Breaking: Fine wine merchant Sarment is closing business across Asia
Fine wine merchant, Sarment, is shutting down its business in mainland China, Hong Kong, Singapore and Japan, less than two years after it was sold to Paolo Bulgari.
Winners announced for Japan’s Sakura Awards
The winners for Japan’s biggest wine competition, Sakura Awards, are announced. Despite Covid, the competition received the highest number of entries.
Asian buyers account for 65% of global wine & spirits sales
Deep-pocketed Asian buyers now make up the majority of global wine and spirits buyers at auctions for top brands from DRC to Macallan.
Japan introduces new regulation to define ‘Japanese whisky’
Not all Japanese whisky is really Japanese whisky. For the first time, Japan introduced new regulations to clearly define the sought-after spirit. Mari Yasuda details the new changes and charts the history of Japanese whisky.
Virtual shochu tours thrive during Covid in Japan
While Covid-19 is confining people at home, virtual tour taking visitors to experience sake and shochu production is booming in Japan, writes Mari Yasuda.
Inaugural ‘Napa Valley Library Wine Auction’ launched
Some superlative lots including five vintages of 100-point Harlan magnums, Screaming Eagle magnums and a collection of 6-liter imperials from Opus One will go under hammer at the inaugural ‘Direct from the Cellar: Napa Valley Library Wine Auction’.
Wine bottles filled with liquid cocaine seized in Macau
Two men were arrested in Macau for trafficking over US$3 million worth of liquid cocaine in eight wine bottles, the first case of its kind busted in the gambling city.
Japan’s wine imports down 7% in 2020
Japan’s wine imports in 2020 dropped by 7% in volume in 2020 compared with the previous year, as stay-at-home requests during the pandemic reduced wine consumption at restaurants and bars.