Editor’s Note: A few month’s ago, Edward Ragg of Dragon Phoenix Fine Wine Consulting in Beijing contacted us through Catavino to simply say “hello”, a gesture we always appreciate! With a little back and forth through emails over the course of a month, we slowly built a relationship, eventually asking Edward if he wouldn’t mind covering the Vinoexpo Asia event for us on Catavino. Lucky for us, he agreed and has provided us with two posts on the event, which I trust you’ll enjoy. Hopefully this does not end, and we look forward to more input from Edward as we move forward. For more detailed information on Edward, please check out our “about” page. If you want to be a Catavino correspondent we are still looking for individuals in the UK, and USA, who want to help round out the Catavino team. Just email us at: write{at}catavino{dot}net.ll

There was certainly a buzz in the humid Hong Kong air when some 700 wineries, trade bodies and other interested parties set up stall for this year’s Vinexpo Asia, held from 27th-29th May in Hong Kong’s massive Wan Chai Convention Center.

This bi-annual event, first started in 2006, was, of course, boosted this year with the news that the Hong Kong government has slashed import duty on wine. Some merchants have already adjusted prices on their stock, but we shouldn’t expect significant price changes until new wines arrive and not everyone will lower their prices commensurately.

Some commentators think Macau and even mainland China will follow suit. But mainland China is a totally different market from that of Hong Kong, Macau or, for that matter, Taiwan. Imported wine is only growing slowly, if steadily, in mainland China. Despite …