New York Wines Going East

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Imported wines have become luxury commodities in China ever since the market pulls its ties closer with the international wineries in the past 20 years. A lot of vineyards around the world – be it the Italian, Spanish, Argentina, or Chili – all want to be a player in the expanding market. So does the U.S. wines. People’s Daily Online USA reporters visited the Long Island Wineries in New York and interviewed two vineyards about their views on the potential market in and from China. 

Chinese Consumers

Located just 90 miles outside of the New York City, the Long Island wineries are seeing more and more Chinese visiting in the recent years.

James Silver, General Manager of Peconic Bay Winery, has seen more Chinese visiting in the last 8 years. Photo by Jianmin Ren/ People's Daily Online

“I have been chasing the Chinese customers for eight years and it’s been difficult. But now the market is different,” said James Silver, General Manager of Peconic Bay Winery. “We have seen more Chinese visiting us in the last 8 years.”

Most of the Chinese customers are from Shanghai, Hong Kong, and Macau. Mr. Silver observed that they now have better knowledge and awareness on wines than 24 years ago, when he first entered the wine industries. China, back then, was never on his radar.

“It’s difficult to sell something to you when you do not really know what I am selling to you. But I think the gap is narrowing very slowly over the year. The more you know the better consumer you are. The gap is getting very small. And it’s not going to stop closing,” he said.

Hal Ginsburg, Managing Partner of Clovis Point, is also seeing an increase in Chinese customers. “I think we’ve started to get a certain amount of Chinese customers who are clearly wine diners. And they know what they like; they already have their taste set, so it’s very different than it was. Years ago, you could tell they were learning about wine, somewhat interested, but didn’t have a set taste. Now they are coming.”

Hal Ginsburg, Managing Partner of Clovis Point, said Chinese customers would spend more than the average customers. Photo by Jianmin Ren/ People's Daily Online

The average Chinese customers would spend more than the average customers, Mr. Ginsburg said. They usually have a very clear mind of what they like. If the winery can fulfill their demands, the Chinese customers would spend a lot at one time. “They are not going to just buy one bottle, since they are not going to come here very often, so they will usually buy a case,” he said. “It’s a great market for us if we can get them to come.”