A greater number of Bordeaux chateaux are planning bespoke labels for the Chinese market, it has been revealed.

Chateau Lafite Rothschild placed a Chinese symbol on its 2008 vintage, while fellow Bordeaux First Growth Chateau Mouton Rothschild commissioned a Chinese artist to create a label for its 2008s.

Both estates saw a sharp rise in the value of their produce in the Far East as a result of the change to the packaging, and the Drinks Business claims that many other Bordeaux vineyards have decided to follow suit.

However, wine merchants told the publication that specialised promotional packaging has been a key facet of Champagne marketing for many years, and it is only now that brands in Bordeaux are seeing the potential involved.

Last month, the wine magazine revealed that Chanel creative director Karl Lagerfeld was designing a label for the bottles of 2009 Chateau Rauzan-Segla, in order to help the estate celebrate its 350th birthday.