The COVID-19 crisis has exacted a huge toll on the world but it has also meant opportunity for some, including China’s wine producers. I wrote this article for Wine-Searcher in September about the topic, noting how the local wine industry has been struggling despite having the seeming advantages of rapidly rising quality, a mountain of medals from major contests, a major wine education bureaucracy, and an increasingly sophisticated consumer base with rising disposable income.

The COVID-19 era has seen that industry given a boost in terms of tougher entry for importers, whether due to heavy tariffs or rising shipping costs and congestion. To home-court advantage for wine tourism, as people unable to go overseas are increasingly turning to local wine regions and producers for visits. And to rising overall pride in domestic brands. It also helps that there is strong government backing, including by the central authorities for plans in Ningxia to triple vineyard coverage, wine production and revenue.

Check out these factors and more at the original Wine-Searcher article.

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