The booming Chinese mainland is now the largest importer of Bordeaux by volume, driving a jump in exports of the French wine, an industry body said.

Exports from the French winegrowing region rose 34 percent in value and 23 percent in volume between July 2010 and June 2011.

The boom was driven in part by iconic great estates, but the bulk came from little chateaux selling wines for less than 4.50 euros.

Growth was most spectacular for China, excluding Hong Kong, as the mainland edged out Germany as Bordeaux’s largest importer in terms of volume with sales up 85 percent to 314,000 hectolitres, worth 231 million euros.

Mainland China now buys some 10 percent of all exports from the Bordeaux region, estimated Georges Haushalter, president of the CIVB.

Hong Kong — which unlike the mainland has no import duty on wine — remains the number one Bordeaux importer in terms of value, rising 71 percent to 90,000 hectolitres, worth 326 million euros.

Bordeaux sales plunged during the economic crisis in 2008, with growth beginning to recover in 2010 as sales rose 14 percent in volume, and picking up pace this year.