Chinese white liquor sold at auction in Paris

A bottle of white liquor produced by Shanxi distillery company Xinghuacun Fenjiu Group in 1979 was auctioned for 19,000 euros ($20,197) at the Millon auction house in Paris on Dec 6, marking recognition of the renowned Chinese liquor brand in France as well as the rest of Europe.

The auction featured 70 white liquor varieties produced by Chinese distilleries, including Xinghuacun Fenjiu, Yanghe, Luzhou Laojiao, Gujinggong, Langjiu, Moutai and Wuliangye. The total transaction value at the auction amounted to 120,000 euros.

Most of the products were owned by Chinese businessman Wang Yaqing, who said all the revenue from the auction of his collection would be donated to the newly established France-China Association of Alcoholic Industry, a fund advocating for China-produced white liquor in Europe.

In addition to the 1979 Fenjiu, another liquor variety that was auctioned is a Xinghuacun Fenjiu 1978 Zhuyeqing.

Zeng Xiaofeng, a French-Chinese businessman who obtained one of the Fenjiu products, said he has collected a great number of French wines and this auction offered him opportunities to enrich his collection portfolio of alcoholic beverages with the addition of Chinese white liquor varieties.

Ding Ting, an expert on wine and white liquor who was present at the auction, said as French-made wine is regarded as one of the cultural symbols of France, the white liquor of China also has a rich cultural connotation related to the country. He added that's why both top-quality French wine and Chinese white liquor are favored by collectors.

Mayeul de la Hamayde, the auctioneer at the event, said it was an honor for him as the first auctioneer in Europe to host an auction for white liquor products from China.

He said the enthusiasm among the participants in the auction shows the increasing popularity of Chinese white liquor in France and Europe. He added he hopes more such auctions will be held in Paris, to make the city one of the top booming markets for white liquor.

Millon, founded in 1928 in Paris, is one of the largest auction houses in France. Boasting more than 80 auctioneers and auction appraisers, Millon hosts more than 250 auction events annually in the past few years.

A bottle of Fenjiu liquor produced in 1979 is auctioned for 19,000 euros ($20,197) at the Millon auction house in Paris on Dec 6. WEN ZHAOYAN/FOR CHINA DAILY