With traditional markets in Europe, the South African wine industry is now seeking to export more of its products to a developing market -- China, which has already become a focus market of South Africa.

Currently, most of the exported South African wines are ended in Europe, but the wine industry is seeing good growth in the Chinese market and for South African wines the Chinese market is getting more and more attention, CEO of Wines of South Africa Siobhan Thompson told Xinhua in an interview at the organization's headquarters in Stellenbosch Tuesday, about one hour's drive from Cape Town's central business district.

Thompson will be together with 22 members of the organization to participate in an online wine exhibition, namely South Africa-China Wine Digital Exhibition, Wednesday to deliver education and information on South African wines, inform Chinese customers and grow the user base of South African wines in China.

Hosted by China Construction Bank Johannesburg Branch, the exhibition aims to promote ongoing cooperation between South African high-quality wine producers and Chinese importers.

In 2020, South Africa was the eighth biggest wine production country, producing 4 percent of wines in the world.

Sales of South African wines in China dropped early last year when the latter was hit by the COVID-19 pandemic, but in the last 12 months there was a "good recovery" and the sales in China "have been doing exceptionally well," with great growth in value of exports and rapid growth of white wines and sparkling wines, said Thompson, who said the data indicated that more Chinese consumers are drinking South African wines.

The organization, representing all South African producers of wine for export, is active in China in main different mediums and platforms, and participates in road shows across different cities in order to promote South African wines.  It held nearly 50 events in the last 12 months alone.