In memory of Jean-Michel Cazes: The Great China Wine Tour of 1994
“I am Jean-Michel Cazes, owner of Chateau Lynch-Bages in Bordeaux. I am presently in Beijing for the Olympics.” I received an unexpected email, midway through …
Month: July 2023
China KOLs: ‘Lady Penguin’ opens shop, plans to make wine
Veteran wine KOL Wang Shenghan aka Lady Penguin announced today in a video that she plans to make her own wine in China. Wang is …
Double Down (Under): Penfolds to release Yunnan-Ningxia wine CWT 521
Australia’s Penfolds is the latest with a crazy expensive* wine from high in the mountains of Yunnan in southern China. “Treasury Wine Estates has taken …
Seize the Clay: Made-in-Ningxia Amphoras Now Available
The past dozen years saw Ningxia’s wines go from being largely unknown to amassing a mountain of contest medals and high scores. And the region’s …
Import news: China veterans Torres & Summergate to join forces
Two once-fierce competitors are combining forces in China’s wine industry. Veteran importers and distributors Summergate and Torres China, both founded in the late 1990s, are …
Flashback: First WSET baijiu ‘master class’ 8 years ago this week
Call it a spirited affair: The first ‘master class’ for baijiu, China’s national drink, was held at the WSET (Wine & Spirit Education Trust) headquarters …
Craft wine rising: A rare bright spot in China’s scene
Take one basketball court, more than a dozen importers and 119 orange wines. Add nonstop music, food vendors and handy gift bags with tasting glasses. …
‘My Way’: ASC Founder Don St Pierre Sr., RIP
Don St Pierre Sr., one of the Chinese wine industry’s iconic characters, has died at age 82. St Pierre made his claim to wine fame …
Fair game: Grape Wall, Wine to Asia partner for Marselan tasting
Mission complete: the first World Marselan Day event at a trade fair. Over two dozen Marselan from across China–and one from Spain!–were featured in the …
China grapes: Grechetto at Jiangyu in Yantai
Boutique operation Jiangyu, not to be confused with mega producer and Shandong neighbor Changyu, was founded in 2019 and is quickly making a name for …