Best of the bunch

A new wave of premium wine producers from across China are rising to the fore as the market demands more quality. Jim Boyce picks his favorite five from the crop.

Sometimes it's difficult to translate success into sales. Take the new wave of quality-focused wineries across China. They have earned a cellar full of trophies, medals and accolades at home and abroad over the past half-dozen years - but making that achievement profitable is proving more difficult.

For one thing, many consumers associate local wines with a few big brands that have placed marketing over quality. For another, these consumers have access to a sea of inexpensive easy-to-buy imports. On top of that, the best local wines tend to be pricey and hard to find.