The Wine Chronicle《品醇集》

ASIA’S NO.2 BAR JIGGER & PONY OF S’PORE TO OPEN COSMO PONY IN JAKARTA NEXT YEAR

NEWS 29-12-2023

Singapore-based cocktail bar Jigger & Pony, runner-up in Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2023, is to open a sister bar called Cosmo Pony in Jakarta Indonesia next year.

SCOTCH PRODUCER TO OPEN DISTILLERY IN CHINA WITH WORLD’S BIGGEST CAVE CELLAR

NEWS 28-12-2023

Angus Dundee Distillers of Scotland is building a distillery with the world’s largest cave whisky cellar in a scenic area in the Chinese coastal province of Zhejiang.

JAPAN: ASAHI TO HIKE PRICES OF ITS PREMIUM WHISKIES BY UP TO 62% NEXT APRIL

NEWS 21-12-2023

The hike will affect 68 labels across 17 Japanese as well as imported brands, the most affected are duty-free versions of Yoichi and Miyagikyo single malts, with a 62% increase.

FIRST IN UAE: ABU DHABI MICRO-BREWERY TO SERVE LOCALLY FERMENTED BEERS

NEWS 20-12-2023

A craft brewery will start selling locally made beers in Abu Dhabi this month, making it the first ever company to legally make and sell alcohol in United Arab Emirates.

TAX CUT ALLOWS S. KOREAN SOJU MAKERS TO REVERSE PRICE HIKES

NEWS 19-12-2023

South Korean major soju producers including Hitejinro and Lotte Chilsung will reverse price hikes for their soju brands after the government announced tax cuts for domestically produced alcoholic drinks.

CHINA LAUNCHED REVIEW THAT COULD END PUNITIVE TARIFFS ON AUSSIE WINES

NEWS 4-12-2023

China’s Ministry of Commerce has started a review into the anti-dumping and anti-subsidy measures on Australian wines, a step towards ending the punitive tariffs imposed 3 years ago.

CHILEAN WINE EXPORTS TO CHINA DECLINED 40% IN H1 2023

NEWS 1-12-2023

As a whole, Chile’s wine exports to the world decreased 24 percent in first half of 2023 due to the cost of living crisis faced by consumers in all major markets.

FIRST TRANCHE OF PIERRE CHEN’S 25,000-BOTTLE SALE ACHIEVED USD16.8M

NEWS 29-11-2023

His collection could be the most valuable ever seen in auction with estimated value of USD50 million. Three more auctions spanning three continents will be held in the next 12 monthhs.

SUNTORY TO HIKE PRICES OF ITS PREMIUM WHISKIES BY UP TO 125% NEXT APRIL

NEWS 27-11-2023

The most affected products are Hibiki 30 YO, Yamazaki 25 YO and Hakushu 25 YO, these labels will see the highest 125 percent increase next April.

SALES OF WHISKY IN SOUTH KOREA KEEPS RISING DRIVEN BY POPULARITY OF HIGHBALLS

NEWS 24-11-2023

Sales of whisky at major retailers in South Korea have outpaced imported beer, largely due to the rising popularity of the highballs cocktail.

JAPAN: IMPORT OF BEAUJOLAIS NOUVEAU INCREASED FOR 1st TIME IN 11 YEARS

NEWS 22-11-2023

The increase is due to to price falls caused by lower freight fees and the reduced impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

AN ADAMI MACALLAN 1926 JUST SOLD FOR £2.18M, LAST KNOWN SALES PRICE WAS £0.825M

NEWS 20-11-2023

One of the 40 bottles of Macallan 1926 60YO, dubbed “the holy grail of single malts”, set a world auction record of £2.18 million (USD2.7m) at a London auction over the weekend.

AN ENCOUNTER WITH LEGENDARY POET LI BAI & K-POP STARS IN CHANGI AIRPORT DUTY FREE

NEWS 17-11-2023

Lotte Duty Free has introduced immersive experiences featuring Tang Dynasty poet Li Bai and K-pop stars to its new wines & spirits store at Singapore Changi Airport Terminal 2.

SOUTH KOREAN SOJU GIANT HITEHINRO HIKED PRICES BY 7% TO REFLECT HIGHER COSTS

NEWS 15-11-2023

South Korea’s leading drinks producer Hitejinro has hiked prices of its soju and beer products by about 7 percent to reflect higher raw material and manufacturing costs.

SINGAPORE APPEAL COURT RULES THAT ITALY CAN REGISTER PROSECCO FOR G.I. PROTECTION

NEWS 13-11-2023

Singapore’s highest court overturned an earlier High Court decision which ruled that “Prosecco” is the name of a grape variety as suggested by Australian Grape and Wine Incorporated.

BREWDOG EYES MAJOR CHINA EXPANSION AFTER OPENING BAR IN HK WITH BUDWEISER CHINA

NEWS 10-11-2023

Scottish craft brewer BrewDog is eyeing further expansion into China and Asia after opening its first bar in Hong Kong under a joint venture with Budweiser China.

SUNTORY: EXPANDED FACILITIES CAN BOOST SUPPLY OF YAMAZAKI & HAKUSHU BY 2027

NEWS 8-11-2023

Suntory’s President Nobuhiro Torii said they can expect whisky shipment to increase in 2027 when their expanded facilities will be able to release more supply to meet global demands.

KWEICHOW MOUTAI’S 20% PRICE HIKE TARGETS DISTRIBUTORS NOT CONSUMERS

NEWS 6-11-2023

China’s leading baijiu brand Kweichow Moutai raised distributor price for the first time in six years, the hike will not affect the product's recommended retail price.

THIS WHISKY MUSEUM IN S'PORE HOLDS WORLD'S MOST VALUABLE WHISKY BOTTLE & COLLECTION

NEWS 3-11-2023

According to Guinness World Records, the Grande Whisky Museum in Singapore is the keeper of world’s most valuable bottle of whisky and most valuable whisky collection.

AUSSIE WINE EXPORT VALUE DECLINED 11% IN PAST YEAR DRAGGED BY WESTERN MARKETS

NEWS 1-11-2023

Value of Australian wine exports declined to AUD1.79 billion in the past year due to slumps in USA, UK and Canada. Growth in Asian markets, particularly in Hong Kong, offset some of the declines.

假酒大王Dr Conti再次活躍     在新加坡展示勾兌假酒工藝

FOCUS 30-10-2023

假酒大王Rudy Kurniawan(又稱Dr Conti)，在美國刑滿驅逐出境後，沉寂了一段時間，近日再次活躍酒圈，在新加坡出席了一個特殊晚宴，宴會上他展示了自己配製的頂級假冒葡萄酒，讓出席的客人與真品進行比較。

NEW TREND: JAPANESE SAKE MAKER OPENS BREWERY OVERSEAS USING LOCAL INGREDIENTS

NEWS 27-10-2023

It is unusual for Japanese sake maker to extend production overseas due to consideration of terroir, but the Dassai brand owner Asahi Shuzo has just opened a New York brewery using local water and ingredients.

LVMH CHANDON DEBUTS MADE-IN-INDIA STILL RED LABEL AURA

NEWS 25-10-2023

Aura is the first still red label launched by Chandon India made from Shiraz grapes grown in the Nashik region. The wine is available in Mumbai and Nashik at INR4,250 (USD51).

ALBANESE: AUSSIE WINES COULD SOON RETURN TO CHINA TARIFF FREE

NEWS 23-10-2023

Ahead of his state visit to China early next month, Australian Prime Minister said negotiation breakthrough will soon allow Aussie wines to return to China tariff free.

CHANGI AIRPORT’S WOWS 2.0 BOASTS OVER 100 PREMIUM & RARE BOTTLES

NEWS 18-10-2023

Singapore’s Changi Airport Group has launched the second edition of the World of Wines and Spirits (WOWS) featuring more than 100 rare and premium liquor and wines.

TEN BARS IN ASIA MADE TO THE LIST OF WORLD’S 50 BEST BARS 2023

NEWS 18-10-2023

Ten bars in Asia have made to the list of World’s 50 Best Bars 2023 announced yesterday, Bangkok's BKK Social Club is the highest ranking in 13th place.

S. KOREAN SOJU GIANT HITEJINRO PICKED VIETNAM TO BUILD ITS 1st OVERSEAS PLANT

NEWS 16-10-2023

South Korean soju giant HiteJinro is to build the company's first overseas manufacturing plant in Vietnam, as a bridgehead for HiteJinro’s globalisation effort.

JAPANESE-OWNED BEAM SUNTORY TO SET UP FRENCH ARM NEXT YEAR

NEWS 13-10-2023

With brands including Yamazaki, Bowmore and Jim Beam, the new French arm represents a significant expansion of Beam Suntory's footprint in Europe.

SOTHEBY’S TO SELL PIERRE CHEN’S 25,000 BOTTLES IN 5 AUCTIONS ACROSS 3 CONTINENTS

NEWS 11-10-2023

Sotheby’s is planning to hold an auction marathon across three continents spanning over one year to sell Taiwanese businessman Pierre Chen’s fine wine collection.

MICHELIN GUIDE TO START RATING HOTELS BY HANDING OUT MICHELIN KEYS

NEWS 6-10-2023

The first batch of awarded hotels will be announced in the first half of 2024, Micheline keys will ne handed out based on criteria including architecture, service, comfort and price.

LVMH-OWNED DFS TO OPEN “7-STAR” DUTY-FREE SHOPPING HUB IN SANYA OF HAINAN

NEWS 6-10-2023

Scheduled to open in 2026, the luxury retail and entertainment complex will help DFS Group tap the duty-free policy of Hainan island.

KWEICHOW MOUTAI TO OPEN PARIS OFFICE IN LATEST INTERNATIONALISATION PUSH

NEWS 4-10-2023

Leading Chinese baijiu brand Kweichow Moutai will soon open an office in Paris as a launch pad for expansion into international markets.

BOSS OF HAICHANG GROUP CHARGED IN FRANCE FOR IRREGULARITIES IN CHAUTEAX PURCHASES

NEWS 2-10-2023

French prosecutors have charged Dalian-based Qu Naijie of mony laundering, tax fraud and embezzlement of public funds in his purchases of 25 Bordeaux vineyards between 2010 and 2013.

HONG KONG PLANS WINE & DINE EXTRAVAGANZA THIS AUTUMN TO WOO VISITORS

NEWS 28-9-2023

Hong Kong welcomes food and wine lovers from around the world in October and November to experience the Wine & Dine Festival and the month-long Taste Around Town event.

WULIANGYE & CAMPARI JOINTLY LAUNCHED “WUGRONI” COCKTAIL

NEWS 26-9-2023

"Wugroni" is created to be a baijiu version of the world famous cocktail Negroni, replacing gin with Wuliangye baijiu in the recipe.

AUSTRALIA REJECTS CHINA'S STEEL & WIND PRODUCTS FOR WINES PROPOSAL

NEWS 25-9-2023

Australia has initially rejected China's demand for better terms on Chinese wind towers, railway wheels and stainless steel sinks in exchange for lifting tariffs on Aussie wines.

馬克龍以頂級勃艮第、波爾多及香檳款待英王查爾斯

FOCUS 21-9-2023

今年五月正式登位的英國國王查爾斯，連同皇后卡米拉正在法國進行三天的國是訪問，法國總統馬克龍昨晚在凡爾賽宮舉行國宴歡迎，據法國傳媒報道，席間採用的葡萄酒均來自法國頂級産區，包括勃艮第、波爾多及香檳酒。

SUNTORY ADDS HIBIKI 21YO & HIBIKI HARMONY DESIGN BOTTLE TO ITS CENTENNIAL LINEUP

NEWS 20-9-2023

Japan’s Suntory has added limited editions of Hibiki 21YO and a bottle design of Hibiki Japanese Harmony to mark the 100th anniversary of Yamazaki distillery’s inception.

CHINA MADE WHISKY HAS MADE INROADS INTO OVERSEAS MARKETS

NEWS 15-9-2023

A range of whiskies produced by China’s Goalong distillery is now available in the United Kingdom, in what is claimed to be a first-of-its-kind export deal.

VIETNAMESE COLLECTOR ACQUIRED WORLD’S BIGGEST BOTTLED WHISKY

NEWS 13-9-2023

Vietnamese businessman Viet Nguyen Dinh Tuan, owner of the world’s most valuable whisky and cognac collections, was the anonymous bidder for the Intrepid at Edinburgh auction last year.

GLEN GRANT 70YO IN HAND-CRAFTED DECANTERS AVAILABLE IN 4 ASIAN MARKETS

NEWS 11-9-2023

Only seven decanters of Glen Grant Devotion 70YO will be available, six will be allocated to China, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, UK and USA respectively, and one for auction through Sotheby's.

INDIA-UK FREE TRADE DEAL NOT GUARANTEED WHEN MODI & SUNAK MEET IN G20

NEWS 8-9-2023

UK's Sunak administration has reportedly refused the idea of an early harvest deal, tariffs of UK alcoholic drinks to India will remain at 150% for now.

MOUTAI JOINED LUCKIN TO LAUNCH BAIJIU COFFEE TO WOO YOUNG CONSUMERS

NEWS 6-9-2023

Luckin Coffee said more than 5 million of the liquor infused coffee worth over RMB100m were sold on the first day of launch.

NEW DELHI RESIDENTS RUSH TO STOCK UP LIQUORS AHEAD OF G20 "LOCKDOWN"

NEWS 4-9-2023

Long queues can be seen outside liquor shops in New Delhi after police announced sweeping closures during the G20 summit to be held in the coming weekend.

JAPANESE LENDER TAKES CASKS OF MATURING WHISKY AS COLLATERAL FOR LONG-TERM LOAN

NEWS 31-8-2023

Japanese whisky has become so sought-after that distilleries can now use casks of maturing whisky as collateral to get long-term loans from financial institutions.

SALES OF TRADITIONAL KOREAN LIQUORS TRIPLED IN 5 YEARS WITH GEN Z SUPPORT

NEWS 30-8-2023

Young drinkers in South Korea are falling in love with traditional Korean liquors including makgeolli and cheongju, leading to sales tripling in five years.

HK GOV'T BANKS ON NIGHTLIFE SECTOR TO REVIVE THE CITY'S VIBE

NEWS 29-8-2023

As tourists are not returning, the Hong Kong government is hoping that free alcohol and longer shopping hours can revive the city’s night economy and help boost recovery.

TAIWAN BEER HIKES RETAIL PRICE FOR FIRST TIME IN 20 YEARS

NEWS 25-8-2023

The government-controlled Taiwan Beer raised retail price for the first time in 20 years due to rising raw material and production costs.

TWE IS MAKING PREPARATIONS TO RE-ALLOCATE AUSSIE-MADE PENFOLDS TO CHINESE MARKET

NEWS 23-8-2023

TWE chief executive Tim Ford told Australian media that they are delaying decisions on allocations of high-end Penfolds for a few months as the prospect of China reopening improves.

HONG KONG AWARDED TRADEMARK PROTECTION TO SCOTCH WHISKY

NEWS 22-8-2023

This means that the term “Scotch whisky” can only be used in Hong Kong on whisky products made in Scotland in accordance with strict production and labelling requirements.

S. KOREA: GEORGIA WILL BE COUNTRY OF HONOUR IN DAEJEON WINE EXPO 2023

NEWS 21-8-2023

Georgia will be the Country of Honour in the Daejeon International Wine Expo 2023, scheduled to open from 3 to10 September in the central South Korean city of Daejeon.

ASIA-PAC SAVED SCOTCH EXPORTS AMID CRASH IN AMERICAS, S’PORE UP 59% & CHINA UP 39.5%

NEWS 18-8-2023

Growth in exports to Asia Pacific has helped sales of Scotch whisky hold steady in H1 2023 amid severe drop in exports to the Americas, Scotch Whisky Association data showed.

供應短缺加環保考慮　    起泡酒經典鋁質酒帽將成絕唱

FOCUS 16-8-2023

因為供應及環保原因，歐盟早前宣布，在區內生產的起泡葡萄酒包括香檳在內，可以在瓶頸處沒有鋁箔帽包裝的情況下銷售。其中香檳産區更將率先改用紙質的酒帽，大家一向在開香檳時必須先要打開的那頂鋁箔帽，可能會逐漸消失。

WORLD'S BIGGEST BRANDY MAKER MANILA'S EMPERADOR DOUBLES DOWN ON ITS WHISKY SWITCH

NEWS 14-8-2023

Emperador said the extension at Invergordon Distillery is underway, allowing storage of an additional 1.5 million casks of maturing whisky.

KNIGHT FRANK: RARE WHISKY IS WORST PERFOMING LUXURY ASSET IN PAST YEAR

NEWS 11-8-2023

The latest Knight Frank Luxury Investment Index showed that rare whisky value has dropped 4%, The Macallan has even seen losses of almost 12%.

S. KOREAN GOV’T ALLOWS RETAILERS TO SELL ALCOHOL AT BELOW SUPPLY PRICE

NEWS 9-8-2023

South Korean government allows retailers to sell alcoholic drinks at prices lower than supply price in a desperate attempt to alleviate soaring retail prices.

WINE COULD BE NEXT AS BEIJING LIFTS PUNITIVE TARIFFS ON AUSSIE BARLEY

NEWS 7-8-2023

China's hefty tariffs on Australian wine imports could be the next to go after Beijing lifted punitive tariffs on Australian barley last Friday.

AUSSIE WINE EXPORTS DECLINED 10% IN VALUE DRIVEN BY USA & UK

NEWS 4-8-2023

Australian wine exports declined by 10 percent in value to AUD1.87 billion (USD1.25b) and 1 percent in volume to 621 million litres in the year ended June 2023.

KYODO: EXPORTS OF ALCOHOLIC DRINKS SUBJECT TO RADIATION TESTING BY CHINESE AUTHORITY

NEWS 2-8-2023

Kyodo News reported that Japanese alcoholic drinks exports are facing delays in Chinese customs possibly subject to radiation testing.

CHINA'S CHANGYU ALMOST BEAT MOET CHANDON TO BECOME WORLD'S MOST VALUABLE WINE BRAND

NEWS 31-7-2023

France’s Moët & Chandon marginally stays on as most valuable wine brand, China’s Changyu is a close second and is rated world’s strongest brand by Brand Finance.

JAPAN’S CHATEAU MERICAN MARIKO IS THE ONLY ASIAN WINERY NAMED 50 BEST VINEYARDS 2023

NEWS 28-7-2023

Japan’s Château Mercian Mariko is the only winery in Asia to have made to the World’s 50 Best Vineyards 2023.

S. KOREA: WHISKY IMPORTS HIT HISTORIC HIGH WHILE WINE IMPORTS DECLINED

NEWS 26-7-2023

Whisky imports in South Korea surged by 50.9 percent to historic high in the first half of this year, while wine imports contracted 10.8 percent.

HONG KONG'S COA NAMED ASIA'S BEST BAR 3rd TIME IN A ROW

NEWS 24-7-2023

Coa of Hong Kong has been named the best bar in Asia for the third year in a row by Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2023 in a live ceremony held in Hong Kong.

SUNTORY RELEASED 4 LIMITED-EDITION WHISKIES TO MARK 100th ANNIVERSARY

NEWS 21-7-2023

Japan’s Suntory has announced the launch of limited-edition Yamazaki and Hakushu expressions in celebration of its 100th anniversary.

CHINA’S YANGHE DISTILLERY PROMOTED BAIJIU CULTURE IN FRANCE

NEWS 19-7-2023

China’s Yanghe Distillery, one of the leading baijiu producers, has recently taken a cultural trip to France to promote China’s baijiu culture.

FOREIGN JUDGES RETURNED TO JUDGE IN THE JAPAN WINE COMPETITION

NEWS 17-7-2023

Foreign judges have returned to judge in the Japan Wine Competition this year, after having been absent for four years due to the pandemic.

CARLSBERG CAUGHT IN DISPUTE WITH FORMER DISTRIBUTOR IN SOUTH KOREA

NEWS 14-7-2023

South Korea media reported that local distributor GoldenBlue has filed a complaint to fair trade authority against Carlsberg for unilaterally ending their contract.

WINE TOURISM TAKES OFF IN CHINA’S XINJIANG REGION

NEWS 12-7-2023

Wine cellars in China’s Xinjiang region are becoming popular tourist destinations as local authorities recently added them to recommended travel routes.

SAKURAO DISTILLERY TO RELEASE BLENDED WHISKIES FULLY COMPLIANT OF NEW REGULATIONS

NEWS 10-7-2023

The Sakurao Distillery in Hiroshima will release their inaugural blended whiskies from September which are made in compliance with the new Japanese whisky regulations.

CHIANTI WINE CONSORTIUM TOURED FOUR ASIAN COUNTRIES LAST MONTH

NEWS 7-7-2023

The Chianti Wine Consortium completed a multi-country tour in Asia last month, having visited Japan, South Korea, Vietnam and Thailand.

JAPAN'S WINE IMPORTS REACHED HISTORIC HIGHS IN BOTH VALUE & VOLUME IN 2022

NEWS 5-7-2023

Japan saw a 31.1 percent increase in the value of imported wines and an 8.9 percent rise in volume in 2022, setting new historic highs in both volume and value.

INDIA: PASSENGERS CAN NOW CARRY 2 BOTTLES OF ALCOHOL ON DELHI METRO

NEWS 3-7-2023