China emerges as major force in the world of wine

China is already on the way to becoming a major wine nation, and the future of wine production in China will be "bright and extremely dynamic", according to Jean-Guillaume Prats, CEO of the major French wine estate Chateau Lafite Rothschild.

Prats said: "The world of wine is a village, and China is with no doubt already a major producer and market of consumption for fine wines."

His comment came as a team of three Chinese mainland students, from Sichuan International Studies University, beat rivals from the world's top universities, including Cambridge, to win for the first time the Left Bank Bordeaux Cup, a prestigious international wine tasting contest for college students.

The Left Bank Bordeaux Cup was introduced in 2002 by the Commanderie du Bontemps, one of the oldest and biggest French wine appreciation guilds. It was a national event for wine societies in France before it was opened up to the world in 2011.

Each year, after qualifying rounds on different continents, the final brings together eight teams to compete in the prestigious cellars of Chateau Lafite Rothschild, and this year, due to the pandemic, it took place virtually.

Emmanuel Cruse, the world grandmaster of the Commanderie du Bontemps who led the judging team, said: "From a commercial point of view, China is already a master wine country, and since a few years ago, it has become a major, or even the most important market, for Bordeaux wines in the world.

"The younger Chinese generation is really enthusiastic about wine history and are curious about wine," he added.