LODI - China's top diplomat in San Francisco visited Lodi wine country Wednesday, hoping to encourage U.S. wine exports to his country even as eight Lodi and Mother Lode wineries planned to attend an international wine fair in Hong Kong this month.

"American products account for only 3.6 percent of total wine imports," Consul General Gao Zyhansheng said while standing in a zinfandel vineyard at Abundance Vineyards. "So there's a real potential for the American wine industry."

Pat Patrick, chief executive of the Lodi Chamber of Commerce, said the opportunities in China have never been better for U.S. wineries.

He noted that Hong Kong trade officials are looking to develop an international wine market in that city to serve East Asia, China recently knocked down tariff barriers restricting U.S. wine sales, and the falling value of the dollar has made American wines relative bargains overseas.

"They're obviously very impressed by Lodi wines," Patrick said while attending the diplomatic visit. "We're impressed by the largest consuming public on the planet."

Janis and Richard Gray, owners of Barsetti Vineyards in Lodi, are among those planning to attend the Hong Kong International Wine Fair.

"We're looking to export into that market," Janis Gray said as she helped welcome Gao to Lodi. Attending the Aug. 14-16 event will further that intent, she explained, "to see if it's something feasible for us."

Van Ruiten Family Winery, which provided the Chinese diplomat and his entourage a wine-tasting opportunity, has already plunged into the market, having set up a Chinese subsidiary.

"We want to sell Lodi wines, and we need to get out from under the competition," said Kevin Sherwood, chief executive of Van Ruiten Family Winery, Shanghai. "We need a new market."

That market is China, he said, comparing it to California in 1849. "It's kind of like the Gold Rush. Why wouldn't you go to San Francisco?"

Gao's tour was a rapid-fire affair: After greeting Lodi wine and business officials at the Wine & Visitor Center, he took a roughly one-hour bus tour to Abundance to visit a 47-year-old zinfandel vineyard. Then he stopped at Van Ruiten to taste a little wine and gaze over the vineyards toward Mount Diablo from a catwalk atop the winery's tanks before returning to the visitor center for an early lunch.

Still, the articulate and well-spoken diplomat found a chance to share a little humor with his hosts.

At Abundance, an announcement that restrooms were available prompted winery co-owner Dino Mencarini to point and quip: "We have bathrooms in there, 25 cents!"

"Much cheaper than in San Francisco," Gao retorted, prompting laughter from those within earshot.

On his first visit to Lodi, he praised the country scene as a great contrast to the urban environment of the city.

"And the people are much friendlier than in San Francisco," he added.

While Gao's visit Wednesday drew an amiable crowd, Lodi police officers and members of the San Joaquin County sheriff's SWAT team provided security along the tour route.

The consulate in San Francisco is the target of frequent protests over China's human rights record and policies toward Tibet. It was widely reported Wednesday that one such protester was injured after falling 15 to 20 feet while suspended from the consulate's roof.