Chalu Sparkling Tea Partners with ASC Fine Wines After Rapid First-Year Growth
The premium sparkling tea created in the mountain city of Lijiang, Yunnan moves from independent launch to national distribution with one of China’s most established fine-wine companies, after entering seven international markets in its first year.
September 2026
Just over one year after launching in Lijiang, Yunnan, alcohol-free sparkling tea brand Chalu Sparkling Tea has entered a national distribution partnership with ASC Fine Wines, marking a major new stage in the company’s growth.
The partnership will significantly expand Chalu’s reach across China and places the young Yunnan brand within one of the country’s most established fine-wine distribution networks.
For Chalu, the appointment also reflects how the brand increasingly sees its place in the market: not simply as a non-alcoholic alternative, but as a product for fine dining, wine-style service and sommelier-led discovery.
Founded by Mia Sun and Fraser Kennedy, Chalu officially launched in Lijiang in July 2025 after Sun and Kennedy spent several years exploring Yunnan’s tea regions and testing more than 100 teas.
“Seeing chefs and sommeliers respond to Chalu for what it is, not simply judging it as a substitute, has been incredibly affirming.”
The range combines Yunnan-sourced teas and botanicals with techniques informed by brewing and winemaking, including cold brewing and resting on native Yunnan oak. All Chalu expressions are alcohol free. The brand’s name comes from 茶路 - Chálù, or “Tea Road” - a reference to the historic Tea Horse Road that once carried Yunnan tea from Lijiang west to international markets during the Tang Dynasty.
“We set out to put tea first, to let the land and the leaf speak for themselves. Our goal was to create something with its own footing, something that belongs at the table on its own terms, not to be a proxy for wine. Seeing chefs and sommeliers respond to Chalu for what it is, not simply judging it as a substitute, has been incredibly affirming.” Says founder Fraser Kennedy
In its first year, Chalu has begun exporting to Japan, South Korea, Belgium, Switzerland, Italy, Singapore, Korea, Japan and Hong Kong, with further markets in development.
The brand has also begun appearing on some of China’s most ambitious dining tables.
Chalu is currently served at nine Michelin-starred restaurants across China, representing a combined 14 Michelin stars in the 2026 Michelin Guide, including Shanghai’s only three-star restaurant, Taian Table.
That adoption has helped sharpen Chalu’s future direction: creating sparkling tea with enough provenance, structure and complexity to sit naturally alongside wine in restaurants and luxury hospitality.
“Tea isn’t wine, but there is overlap there. The sense of terroir we carry within Chalu is just as valid as in a fine vintage. From the beginning we roped off Yunnan, because its tea heritage is deep and extraordinary. Our job isn’t to reinvent that, but to carry it forwards in a format that feels relevant for today’s table. Serving tea in a wine glass isn’t about imitation, it’s about celebration, about bringing friends together without alcohol, and leading more people to discover what Yunnan has to offer.” - Fraser
Chalu is now investing in increased production to support its expansion. A new purpose-built production facility in Yunnan is under development, designed to substantially increase capacity while introducing the food-safety and quality-management systems needed for further international growth.
The company is also preparing to launch its first 250ml single-serve bottles, complementing the existing 750ml range. The smaller format has been developed particularly for hospitality applications including minibars, room service, spas, events and individual restaurant serves.
Internationally, Chalu has increasingly taken its Yunnan story into the global wine and beverage trade. Earlier this year, the brand exhibited within ProWein Zero in Germany, presenting its sparkling teas to international buyers and hospitality professionals. Further expansion into Europe remains a priority, with the Middle East also targeted as a major next market.
The ASC Fine Wine partnership comes at a notable moment for the distributor itself. Following the St. Pierre family’s return to ownership in 2025, ASC has entered a new phase focused on greater agility, innovation and new brand partnerships.
For Chalu, that makes the timing particularly fitting: a new Chinese drinks category joining an established fine-wine business as both look toward what comes next.
