New areas of demand are opening up all the time in the fine wine investment industry, which has largely avoided the recession.

Speaking to Sydney Morning Herald about the success of fine wine investment over the year, auction house Christie's head of wines Charles Curtis explained that sales of wines have been getting stronger throughout the year.

He told the newspaper: "I think in 2011 prices will be going through the roof.

"I'm very bullish on this. There are new areas of demand opening up all the time."

A Christie's wine auction held over November 26th and 27th brought in more than £6.6 million.

The Asian wine market is fast becoming a dominant force in the industry, with major chateaux refocusing marketing efforts in countries like China in a bid to capitalise on this penchant for fine wine.

Bordeaux's Chateau Lafite Rothschild recently switched distributor in China, Decanter reports, ending a seven-year relationship with Summergate and underlining this renewed focus on the region.