New research has confirmed that demand for Bordeaux and Burgundy from the Far East has risen sharply in 2011.

Wine auctioneers and trade association the Conseil Interprofessionnel du Vin de Bordeaux have previously reported growing demand for wine from the region.

Now, official figures from the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) confirm that wine imports rose by 65 per cent between January and August.

The total value of the wines brought into the country during this period was HK$6.7 billion (£0.54 billion). This is close to exceeding the HK$7 billion (£0.56 billion) spent in 2010 with a third of the year still remaining.

Benjamin Chau, deputy executive director of HKTDC, said that wine importing has seen "robust development", which in turn has created business opportunities for local traders.

Key to this sharp increase, Mr Chau claims, was Hong Kong's decision to remove import tax on wine.

"Hong Kong's customs elimination measures, together with the strong demand for wine in Asia, has resulted in Hong Kong's becoming the business hub for the world's wine producers, old and new, in order to en route to the various major markets with huge growth potential," he said.

With consumption of Bordeaux, Burgundy and other wines across Asia expected to be worth HK$330 billion (£26.4 billion) by 2015, Mr Chau believes that Hong Kong will play a key role as the "gateway" to the region from Europe.

Data recently released by the CIVB shows that Hong Kong and China now account for 60 per cent of all exports from Bordeaux.

By value, Hong Kong is now the biggest Bordeaux buyer in the world, spending €326 million (£283 million) on the region's wine in the 12 months to June 2011.