(Yicai Global) Sept. 4 -- Yantai Changyu Pioneer Wine Co. [SHE:000869], a 125-year-old Chinese wine company, has gradually built up its presence on the global market. It is the fourth most popular wine brand in two world rankings, state-run Xinhua news agency reported yesterday.

The Chinese firm placed fourth with annual sales topping 15 million cases last year on Top 10 Global Wine Brands 2017, which leading wine and spirits magazine The Drinks Business released recently.

Yantai Changyu Pioneer got the same position in Top 10 Best Selling Wine Brands in the World, which World's Top Most published in July.

Some 28 European, American and Asian countries have imported Yantai Changyu Pioneer's flagship product, Changyu Cabernet. More than 5,000 outlets in Europe sell it, making Yantai Changyu Pioneer one of the most recognized Chinese wine brands among European consumers. Since its debut in 1931, Changyu Cabernet has sold 460 million bottles, putting it among the world's best-selling wines.

Wine consumption reached 24.2 billion liters last year, and China chipped in 1.73 billion liters, up 7 percent. The country is expected to overtake the UK as the second largest wine market after the US in 2020, The Drinks Business reported.

Yantai Changyu Pioneer has effectively ramped up its exports operations and has secured distribution channels in all central European markets and Russia, where its Chateau Changyu Moser XV Cabernet Sauvignon has proved a sell-out success, the magazine said.

Yantai Changyu Pioneer's subsidiary, Yantai Changyu Pioneer International Co., came in second in The Drinks Business' Top 10 Wine Importers in China list in June. Its rankings are based on statistics provided by Chinese customs.