Lafite to set up shop on Chinese soil
Big winemaking names like Bordeaux's Lafite and Spain's Torres are looking into producing in China, it has been revealed.
Gerard Colin, managing director of the Lafite estate in China, told Agence France-Presse (AFP) that due to the less-than-perfect terroir of the country, it will not necessarily be the best wine in the world, but will still be "the best wine possible".
"It's not a huge project, but it's a long-term sustainable project, and truly the creation of a terroir and a cru, and we're taking the time necessary," he added.
The Lafite group spent 15 years looking for the right opportunity in China and a further five years studying to chosen site. It hopes to start releasing wine there from around 2015, AFP reports.
It is perhaps an homage from the chateau to China, where Lafite has become all but the officially-recognised brand for impressing guests and business partners.