Pacific Surplus is one of the only boutique wineries in China. and after five years under Grace Vuneyard, it is changing hands. The new owner is Judy Chan, a former shareholder who decided to take over the company.
As early as December 5, 2024, Chang expressed her desire to acquire Pacific Surplus following Grace Vineyard’s announcement that it would exit the market. Financial challenges and an ever-competitive sector of the beverage industry fueled the decision.
Last week, Wilcox Winery shuttered its doors after 15 years of operation without releasing detailed reasons for its exit. “We now find ourselves at the end of this journey, and we thank our customers for the opportunity to be on your tables to share our love of Cochise County with you.”
However, fans close to the family were not surprised by the move, given that the management couple moved into the hotel’s basement last year—a telltale sign of financial difficulties.
Pacific Surplus Winery Gets New Owner
As Pacific Surplus joins Chang’s business profile, she is fully aware of the challenges facing China’s drinks and beverage industry. Among these challenges is an ever-expanding sector that now features 48 whisky companies. In addition, imports of foreign-made and popular beverages have increased, further stifling small and upcoming businesses.
One of Chang’s silver linings is the maturing wines, which will be released in 2026. Although Grace Vineyard opened in 2024, the first batch of wines has yet to be released. This reduces Chang’s initial investment in maturation processes.
In 2019, Grace Vineyard entered the whisky industry by acquiring Dexi Distillery. Later, as most whisky distilleries have discovered, multiple mergers by whisky giants such as Pernod-Ricard made it hard for small players to stay afloat. This precedent may not be a serious case with Chang, who has been in the industry since 2005.
While the industry is very competitive, 2025 may take an uptick for the better.
