The head of Sotheby's Asia division has revealed that Chinese interest in fine wine appears to be switching from Bordeaux to Burgundy.

According to Patti Wong, who is based in London but has a remit covering all Sotheby's Asia operations, affluent investors from mainland China were attracted initially to the fine wine auctions in Hong Kong by the big Bordeaux names.

These, of course, are primarily the first growth estates - Chateau Lafite Rothschild, Chateau Mouton Rothschild, Chateau Latour, Chateau Margaux and Chateau Haut-Brion.

However, now attention is turning to Burgundy favourites such as Domaine de la Romanee Conti, Chassagne Montrachet and Domaine Leflaive.

Ms Wong explains that for these Chinese buyers, fine wine is not just a niche collector's pursuit, it is part of a wider accumulation of cultural artefacts such as art and antiques.

She told the publication that most have quickly learned how to deal with fine wine: "They came in on Bordeaux and now focus on Burgundy.

"There are also the wine trade purchases, people buying it for stock, knowing the wines have been checked bottle by bottle. We have 100 percent sold track record; we have had nine sales and every single bottle has been sold."

Of course, mass purchasing of fine wine has created a boom industry for storage houses in Hong Kong.

More than 15 different storage centres for fine wine have sprung up in the city in the three years since Hong Kong scrapped wine import tax.

Robert Sleigh of Sotheby's Asia explained to Business Week: "It's exploded, and you need logistics to support that.

"Now there are world-class wine storage facilities in Hong Kong."

The area has now overtaken London and New York as the number one destination for fine wine auctions, and top Bordeaux and Burgundy estates has been directly targeting the Chinese market.