Azerbaijan keen on supplying more wine to China

By Azernews

By Amina Nazarli

Azerbaijan, taking credit for being one of the world’s oldest wine growing countries, intends to expand the export of wine to China, the world's second-largest economy.        

The issue was the key topic of talks between local winemakers and the trade representative of Azerbaijan in China, Teymur Nadiroglu.

Nadiroglu informed entrepreneurs about the Chinese wine market, noting that the potential of Azerbaijani wine supplies to China is very high.

Last year, Azerbaijani companies agreed to deliver 500,000 bottles of wine to the country. The agreement was reached within the framework of participation of Azerbaijani entrepreneurs in international exhibitions in Hong Kong and Guangzhou.

Foreign wine has been pleasing in Chinese market, as almost one out of five bottles opened in China is now imported from elsewhere around the world. China’s wine import figures had been showing rapid growth in both volume and value since 2015.

Nearly 10 wineries and vineyards are engaged in wine production in Azerbaijan and more and more countries such as China are showing interest in the national brandy.

Five major wine-growing regions of the country are Shamakhi, Ismayilli, Gabala, Ganja, Tovuz. Local grape varieties in Azerbaijan include White Shani, Derbendi, Nail, Bayanshire, Gamashara, Ganja Pink, Bendi, Madrasa, Black Shani, Zeynabi, Misgali, Khindogni, Agdam Kechiemdzheyi, Tebrizi, and Marandi.

Among the grape sorts used to produce Azerbaijani wine are Pinot Noir, Rkatsiteli, Pinot Blanc, Aligote, Matrassa, Podarok Magaracha, Pervenets Magaracha, Ranni Magaracha, Doina, Viorica, and Kishmish Moldavski.

The government has devoted considerable effort to creating the Caspian Coast wine trademark and has invested heavily in advertising the brand outside Azerbaijan. The ministries of agriculture and economy are working to develop a wine culture program.

The trade with China in January-July 2017 amounted to $775.9 million, some $340.64 million of which were export to this country, according to the State Customs Committee.