Demand from Hong Kong for Bordeaux and Burgundy wine continues to grow, according to the latest official data.

Hong Kong's secretary for financial services and the treasury, K C Chan, said that the value of total wine imports for the first nine months of 2011 hit US$940 million (£586 million).

Not only is this a new record for the year already, it represents a 57 per cent increase on the same period in 2010.

Mr Chan pointed out that Hong Kong benefits from mainland China being the "fastest growing wine importer in the world".

"Given our strong connections with the mainland and our experience in doing business there over the past few decades, Hong Kong is well placed to take advantage of this growth," he added.

Recent data from the Conseil Interprofessionnel du Vin de Bordeaux revealed that between them, Hong Kong and China account for 60 per cent of all Bordeaux exports, by volume.