In a previous blog post, I wrote about Napa Valley being a popular destination for Chinese investors and visitors. Now it’s great to see that Napa Valley Chinese tours are available – they include winery tours and tastings in Mandarin and are being offered by several major wineries. While Chinese visitors make up only a small percentage of Napa Valley tourism, they typically spend more money per person while they are here. Statistics show that wine consumption in China has increased tremendously over the past decade, so that bodes well for our vintners.
According to an article in the Napa Valley Register, Chinese tourists spend an average of $6,000 per person per trip to the U.S. (higher than any other visiting group), making them the most desirable international shoppers.
It seems that an increasing number of wineries are looking to cater to Chinese guests – and attract those tourism dollars – by offering Mandarin-speaking tours and tastings. Castello di Amorosa, Hall Wines, Kieu Hoang Winery, and the Napa Valley Wine Train all provide tours in Mandarin, according to the Napa Valley Register. Below are a few more detailed examples of wineries offering tours in Mandarin:
Beringer: Offering a Legacy Cave Tour or a private seated tasting experience guided by a Mandarin-speaking host, available Thursday through Sunday. Advance reservations are required.
Mondavi: Offering a Signature Winery Tour, guided by a Mandarin-speaking wine educator. This 90-minute tour follows the path of the grape, starting with a walk through the vineyards and concluding with a sit-down guided wine tasting. This tour is offered Friday through Sunday at 10:30 a.m. and is limited to 15 guests. Advance reservations are recommended.
Yao Family Wines: Founded by former NBA star Yao Ming, Yao Family Wines offers guided tastings in Mandarin at the winery’s Hospitality Center in St. Helena.
While not all wineries offer guided tours in Mandarin, some do have Mandarin-speaking staff working in the tasting rooms to help cater to guests from China. Chinese visitors concerned about the language barrier at wineries may also hire a Mandarin-speaking tour guide through Undiscovered Napa, which offers complete Mandarin Chinese interpretation and tour services.
China has become a major wine-consuming country during the past decade, making it important for the California wine industry to increase its activities there, according to the website of the Cal-China Wine Cultural Exchange. Visit California, the state’s tourism marketing board, recently made China its primary target (previously fifth on its list) for tourism outreach due to projected increases in Chinese tourism. In 2016, Visit California invested $9 million in China, marketing the state as a travel destination, according to the Napa Valley Register.
I have a wealth of experience in Chinese investment in Napa Valley real estate, particularly in wineries and vineyards, and would be delighted to share my knowledge with you. Contact me at 707-738-4820 or via email at [email protected]. I would welcome the opportunity to share my extraordinary offerings and insider information on luxury estates, vineyards and wineries. I’m looking forward to discussing your needs!
