A total of 44 Portuguese wine producers took part last week in the Hong Kong International Wine and Spirits Fair. The European nation participated in the event under the status of a guest country.

The Consul-General of Portugal in Macao and Hong Kong, Mr Vítor Sereno, took part in the opening ceremony, which was presided over by Hong Kong’s Financial Secretary, Mr John Tsang Chun Wah.

“Portugal… [has] a visibility and is being given an opportunity it never experienced before,” said Luís Herédia, Vice-President of The Wine Society of Macau, as quoted by newspaper Jornal Tribuna de Macau, commenting on the event.

Mr Herédia added it would help promote Portuguese wine in China. “In Macao, we already have some importance, but we need to work on [the] Hong Kong and [Mainland] China [markets]. There are signs of growth, but there is still a long way to go,” he added.

The Fair’s programme included 12 information sessions on Portuguese wines, Portuguese news agency Lusa reported.

Data from the Portuguese industry association ViniPortugal – quoted by Lusa – showed that in 2013 the value of Portugal’s wine exports to China increased to 14 million euros (US$15.1 million) from 1.8 million euros in 2008.

The number of Portuguese wine companies with an office or representative in China has also been increasing, said ViniPortugal’s Marketing Director, Nuno Vale. “They are certainly more than 10 [now],” he added, quoted by the Portuguese news agency.