Issue link: http://winesandvines.uberflip.com/i/437909
110 Wines&Vines January 2015 sales & marketing C hina's imported wine market grew at an average rate of 60% each year from 2003 to 2013, expanding from 600,000 cases per year to 31 million cases per year. However, market growth de- clined for the first time in 2014. While China offers good opportunity for wine sales, recent changes in government policy and the economy also present new challenges. This was the mes- sage from Don St. Pierre Jr., co-founder of ASC Fine Wines, the largest importer and distributer of premium imported wines in China, when he discussed the history, challenges and future of China's wine market during a lecture at the University of California, Davis, on Nov. 6. St. Pierre spoke as part of the Walt Klenz Lectureship Series, sponsored by Treasury Wine Estates, and named in honor of former Beringer Blass CEO Walt Klenz. The series started in 2006 and is presented by the UC Davis Robert Mondavi Institute and the Department of Viti- culture & Enology to have wine business leaders share insights and experiences with students, faculty and industry attendees. During his introduction, Klenz recalled how St. Pierre and his father came to Beringer in Challenges and Opportunities in China's Wine Market Wine importer St. Pierre delivers Walt Klenz Lecture at the University of California, Davis By Ted Rieger KEY POINTs ASC Fine Wines' Don St. Pierre Jr. spoke about business opportunities in China during the Walt Klenz Lectureship Series. Pierre says Chinese wine consumption started picking up in the 1980s, with Bordeaux making up 50% of all imports. Recent government reforms threaten spending on imported fine wines. ASC fine wineS