Spanish wines take great leap forward in China

Grape-wine consumption in China plateaued in 2013 after spectacular growth between 2008 and 2012, but you won't be hearing Spanish wine producers singing the blues. Spanish wine is up, up, up-the country has passed the United States, Italy and Chile since 2008 in export volume to China, moving into third place in 2012, according to a recently released study by Vinexpo and International Wine and Spirit Research. That's about 200 percent growth in the past year, and 517 percent since 2008. Spain shipped 3.27 million 9-liter cases to China in 2012, trailing only Australia (4.48 million) and France (15.46 million).

Wines from the Rioja region were out in force to keep up the momentum this week, with invitation-only tastings drawing big crowds to hotel ballrooms in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou. At least 74 wineries participated.

Meanwhile, the economic and commercial office of the Spanish embassy in Beijing hosted a seminar on the history and process of making sherry-followed by a tasting-with the Jerez Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday.