ASC Fine Wines

Providing the fine and wide selection of imported wines throughout China

Recently described as “China’s greatest fine wine importer” by legendary wine critic Robert M. Parker, Jr, ASC Fine Wines has stayed ahead of the curve – and the competition – for the last decade with an unparalleled commitment to quality in the areas that matter most: long experience in the business of wine distribution in China; an extensive portfolio of the world’s best wines; unparalleled service delivered by our dedicated staff; and a tight focus on the people that matter most: our customers. Company Development In the mid-1990s, American father and son team Don St. Pierre, Sr. and Don St. Pierre, Jr. believed that China was about to experience a boom in wine imports. The Chinese economy was opening up, consumer incomes were increasing rapidly, and China’s domestic wine production was limited. The St. Pierres were right: ASC Fine Wines took off quickly after its establishment in 1996. Recognizing that an injection of capital would be required if ASC Fine Wines were to take full advantage of the rapid growth of the China wine market, the St. Pierres invited Mr. Gernot Langes Swarovski (of Swarovski Crystal fame) to invest in the company in 1998. In late 2009, the Suntory Group, one of Asia’s leading beverage companies, acquired a majority stake in ASC’s business by purchasing all of Wine Holdings Gmbh (the Austrian holding company of Mr. Langes-Swarovski) share in the company. Additionally ASC’s senior management will remain in place and the company will continue to be focused on the import and distribution of premium wine, throughout Greater China (the Chinese Mainland, Hong Kong and Macau). In 2003, ASC Fine Wines enhanced its portfolio when it became the China distributor for Riedel, the world’s leading producer of quality wine glasses and decanters. In 2007, ASC added VOSS Artesian Water from Norway to its portfolio. ASC became the exclusive importer of S. Pellegrino Natural Water and Acqua Panna Mineral Water in 2009. Experience Since then, ASC Fine Wines has built China’s top wine distribution company, and has seen the company – and the industry – grow from the days when the market for imported wine was confined to a handful of five-star hotels. With the owners of the business on the ground in China, the process of importation and distribution runs smoothly: after twelve years, ASC has developed strong capabilities for getting things done within the complex Chinese business environment. Portfolio As the name suggests, ASC Fine Wines focuses on high quality wines. ASC imports over 1,200 different wines from 15 different countries, giving customers a comprehensive selection – and unparalleled quality. Our stable of over 100 wineries includes the best-known wine brands and producers from the most important wine growing regions throughout the world. Examples include Beringer Vineyards from the Napa Valley, Kendall-Jackson Vineyards from Sonoma, Wolf Blass and Penfolds from South Australia, Angelo Gaja, Ruffino, Banfi and Masi from Italy, Santa Rita and Bodega Norton from South America, Champagne Bollinger and Champagne Ayala from France, Louis Jadot from Burgundy, E. Guigal from the Rhone Valley, and most top-classified growth wines from Bordeaux, including Chateau Latour, Chateau Haut Brion and Chateau Cos d’Estournel. Service & Wine Education Our focus on delivering service is part of the reason why sales of ASC wines have increased on average more than 50 percent each year for the past years. Orders are delivered from our six temperature-controlled warehouses in Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Xia Men, Guangzhou, Chengdu and Macau to customers throughout China. We strive to always deliver 100 percent of what the customer orders, in excellent condition, precisely when they need it. ASC’s handpicked staff of over 800 in Beijing, Shanghai, Hangzhou, Chengdu, Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Xiamen and Macau make sure this happens. They are one of the most knowledgeable wine people in China: each has a professional’s understanding of both the wine they sell and the customers to whom they sell. Training and wine education are a big part of their jobs – every year, groups of our sales and marketing staffers travel throughout the wine world, undertaking training programs directed by the winemakers whose products are distributed in China by ASC Fine Wines. These wine suppliers also travel to China, where they conduct intensive wine education and training courses for our sales staff throughout the country. A testament to ASC’s commitment to wine education and training is its status as the first and only approved program provider of wine qualification programs designed by WSET (Wine & Spirits Education Trust), the world’s leading wine education institution. Our Customers ASC Fine Wines owes much of its success to a sharp focus on serving a carefully cultivated group of highly knowledgeable customers. ASC deals with the finest hotels and independent restaurants in the trade; the best-managed retailers, hypermarkets and department stores; and a select group of individual customer who know and love wine. Because of our dedication to serving these customers in an efficient, timely and professional way, these people have become the best ambassadors for ASC Fine Wines that there could be. ASC Fine Wines is China’s leading wine importer and distributor and was recently described as “China’s greatest fine wine importer” by legendary wine critic Robert M. Parker, Jr. ASC Fine Wines represents a portfolio of over 1,200 wines from over 100 acclaimed wine suppliers from 15 countries around the globe. ASC is China’s leading importer of Grand Cru Classe wines from Bordeaux and is the sole importer of Riedel Glassware, VOSS Artesian Water from Norway, S. Pellegrino Natural Water and Acqua Panna Mineral Water from Italy. ASC Fine Wines was the first company in China to offer Wine & Spirits Education Trust (WSET) wine education courses and has been a pioneer in wine education to both consumers and to members of the hospitality industry. ASC Fine Wines also operates The Wine Residence in Shanghai – a wine education and wine storage members club in a refurbished turn of the century Tudor mansion. To learn more about ASC Fine Wines, to contact our public relations team or to purchase wines, we invite you to visit our Web site at: www.asc-wines.com Media Contacts: Matthew Gong ASC Fine Wines (Greater China) Tel: (86-21) 6445-3214 ext 111 Fax: (86-21) 6445-3202 Email:matthewgong@asc-wines.com CindyJia ASC Fine Wines (North China) Tel: (86-10) 6587-3808 ext 123 Fax: (86-10) 6587-3809 Email:cindy@asc-wines.com Alfred Zhang ASC Fine Wines (South China) Tel: (86-0755) 8398-5514 ext 159 Fax: (86-0755) 8398-5537 Email:alfredzhang@asc-wines.com