BARCELONA, Spain, Feb. 4 (Xinhua) -- Spain's leading wineries are gathering this week in Barcelona with a strong focus on China, as the country's expanding base of wine consumers continues to attract exporters seeking growth in the Asian market.
Held from Feb. 2 to 4, Barcelona Wine Week (BWW) brings together more than 1,300 Spanish wineries, around one third of the national total, to showcase new products, expand distribution networks and connect with international buyers.
"The Chinese market is very interesting for us," said Salus Alvarez, president of the Regulatory Council of DOCa Priorat. He noted that Chinese consumers are becoming more knowledgeable and increasingly interested in wines with a strong identity, a trend that favors regions such as Priorat.
Priorat, located in northeastern Spain, is one of only two Spanish wine regions to hold DOCa status, the country's highest quality classification, alongside Rioja.
Jorge Rivero, commercial director of Rioja-based winery Marques del Atrio, said Chinese consumers show strong interest in Rioja wines, while tastes are also evolving. "There is growing demand for white and rose wines, which can serve as an entry point before consumers move on to stronger red wines," he said.
A recent report by Spain's foreign trade institute ICEX highlighted rising interest in China in organic, low-alcohol and non-alcoholic wines, prompting Spanish producers to diversify their offerings. Several wineries at BWW, including Marques del Atrio, said they are presenting low- and non-alcohol wines this year to attract new overseas consumers.
For established exporters, China is already a key market. "The Chinese market could become one of our ten most important markets," said Miguel A. Torres, president of Familia Torres, noting the company has been active in China since 1992 and now distributes nationwide.
Spain is the European Union's third-largest exporter of wine to China, behind France and Italy. In 2024, the EU exported nearly 17 billion euros (20 billion U.S. dollars) worth of wine to China, according to European Commission data. ■
