Singapore is relaxing its lockdown starting from this Monday, writes Ch'ng Poh Tiong. Read More
Markets
Here are the essential readings on China's wine industry this week: a Chinese official from the country's drinks association warned 2020 will the toughest year; April wine imports plummeted; and China's own wine rating system is starting to take shape. Read More
Frequent drinkers in China increased spending during the lockdown months in China, while occasional drinkers dialed back on alcohol consumption, a new report by consumer data giant Nielsen has found. Read More
Few had survived China's fast-changing and precarious wine market. Navigating government regulations and the country's notorious 'Ganbei' or 'bottoms up' culture at business dinners is not for the faint of heart or liver. Alberto Fernandez, managing partner of one of China's biggest wine importers, Torres China, is an exception. Read More
China's biggest and oldest winery, Changyu Pioneer Wine Company, is calling for the removal of consumer tax on wines to boost the country's domestic wine consumption. Read More
Hong Kong government is slashing exhibition prices for the November HKTDC International Wine & Spirits Fair by half to draw in wineries and visitors amid the city's dwindling tourists and economic downturn. Read More
Here are your essential readings on China's wine market this week: China extended international travel ban; wine merchants in Wuhan complained sales so far only recovered about 10-20%, and OurHours, a convenience store set up to sell wine and grocery, went bust. Read More
Japanese whisky still commands whisky auctions, and a rare lot of 'Ghost Series' achieved top price at Bonhams' latest online auction in Hong Kong. Read More
What Australian wineries and wine merchants in China are fearing the most is about to happen, as sources told Bloomberg that wine is among a list of potential agricultural products drawn up by Chinese officials to retaliate Australia over its push for coronavirus inquiry. Read More
Australian wine exports in the first four months of the year have been dented by the coronavirus pandemic, with China seeing the sharpest decline, and the future of wine trading between the two countries dogged by fears of escalating political tensions. Read More