11.06.07

Wine world: Taste of Nations event

Posted in Tastings, Torres at 3:45 pm by admin

I would have given two thumbs up to Torres for last weekend’s Taste of the Nations, an event in Trader’s Hotel that featured some 150 of the distributor’s wines, but my hands were attached to a glass that brought unlimited refills. Instead, I’ll provide written praise.

I would guess well over 200 people attended and, at 188 kuai per person, received good value for their money. I sampled many of the Italian and Australian brands but, being more of a swallower than a spitter, decided not to try the full range. The crowd included some Torres competitors and regulars from Sequoia’s Friday night wine tasting group.

A few suggestions to those putting on major wine events:
- If a wine is done, why display the bottle? I wanted to try Grace Vineyard’s Chairman’s Reserve but it had run out when I arrived at 2:45 PM (the event ran until 6 PM). The same held for the Champagne. Why taunt me with the bottles when the bubbly is gone?
- Live bands are okay, but they tend to interrupt the conversations of wine lovers who are focused on the vino going in their mouths rather than the music going in their ears.

Anyway, enough whining about the wining. A good event this was and let’s hope the Taste of Nations becomes an annual one.

9 Comments »

  1. Grape Wall of China » Wrap-up: The Hilton Food & Wine Experience said,

    November 11, 2007 at 9:13 pm

    […] of wines and a buffet for 230 kuai - what more could you ask for? Compare this to Torres’ Taste of the Nations event last weekend: it offered far fewer wines but attracted a lot of attendees, even though it […]

  2. Beijing Boyce » Wrap-up: The Hilton Food & Wine Experience said,

    November 12, 2007 at 3:19 pm

    […] of wines and a buffet for 230 kuai - what more could you ask for? Compare this to Torres’ Taste of the Nations event last weekend: it offered far fewer wines but attracted a lot of attendees, even though it was […]

  3. Grape Wall of China » Holiday cheer! Palette offers 100 wines for 100 kuai said,

    December 28, 2007 at 2:53 am

    […] tasting of more than 100 of its wines… for a mere RMB100 (USD13). Add last month’s Taste of the Nations with 150 wines from Torres China (RMB188 / USD25) and the recent Hilton Food & Wine Experience […]

  4. Grape Wall of China » 100 wines for 100 kuai (again!) - Australian, South African wines said,

    February 18, 2008 at 12:39 pm

    […] is the most recent portfolio tasting offered at a low price, following on those by Torres in November and Palette in December and earlier this […]

  5. Beijing Boyce » 100 wines for 100 kuai (again!) - Australian, South African wines said,

    February 20, 2008 at 2:34 pm

    […] is the most recent portfolio tasting offered at a low price, following on those by Torres in November and Palette in December and earlier this […]

  6. Grape Wall of China » ‘Global Wine Extravaganza’ - 100 wines for 150 kuai said,

    May 29, 2008 at 5:09 pm

    […] China’s Taste of Nations, with more than 150 wines (RMB188 / […]

  7. Beijing Boyce » (Nearly) free pour: 100 wines for 150 kuai said,

    May 29, 2008 at 5:13 pm

    […] China’s Taste of Nations, with more than 150 wines […]

  8. Grape Wall of China » Global Wine Extravaganza: 100 wines, 150 kuai said,

    June 4, 2008 at 5:32 pm

    […] good portion of a wine distributor’s portfolio at low cost (see these posts about tastings by Torres, Palette, Palette again, […]

  9. Beijing Boyce » Global Wine Extravaganza: 100 wines, 150 kuai said,

    June 5, 2008 at 10:34 pm

    […] a good portion of a wine distributor’s portfolio at low cost (see these posts about tastings by Torres, Palette, Palette again, and […]

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