Grape Wall of China

A China Wine Blog: The Scene in the World’s Largest Market

Starting up: Three challenges of a joint venture winery in China

- By Alain Leroux
I came to China in 1996 to head the technical side of the joint venture between Bernard Taillan France and Beijing’s Sanyang Group. We have faced many challenges over the past 12 years. Here are three of the biggest in the beginning.
The first challenge was human resources. Initially, we built a bottling [...]

Grape Press: Chinese company buys Bordeaux winery

- By Jim Boyce
According to AFP, it appears Longhai International Trading Company is the first Chinese firm to purchase a Bordeaux winery.
The deal, announced Tuesday, to buy the 60-hectare chateau for an undisclosed sum, which was signed January 24, looks to be the first ever French wine estate purchase by Chinese buyers.
“It is a real [...]

The Time Out China Wine Guide: Typical aromas, light body, poor finish

- By Jim Boyce
If the recent China Wine Guide by Time Out magazine were a glass of vino, I would describe it as exhibiting typical aromas, possessing a light body, and leaving a bad taste.
I found a copy of the 100-page guide in this month’s issue of Beijing Time Out, available for free in bars, [...]

The Beijing Wine Club awards – bottled in Shanghai

- By Jim Boyce
The Beijing Wine Club end of the year anniversary party featured a sampling of six wines and some fellowship. Sadly, it also included a wine awards ceremony that seemed as relevant to the club as a corkscrew is to a screw-cap bottle.
The club’s awards were based on the results of a tasting [...]

Dead Grapes Society, ‘top grade’ wine club, Is China the new Chile?

- By Jim Boyce
The Daily Telegraph asks, “Is China the new Chile when it comes to wine?” This an interesting query, particularly since some “Chinese” wines include imported bulk juice, with Chile as a key source. Could it end up that Chile is the new Chile?
Anyway, the writer visited Château Changyu with an Austrian winemaker [...]

On the margin: Why that bottle of wine costs RMB400

By Campbell Thompson

Let’s say you dine in a five-star hotel in China, decide to order a bottle of wine, and spot one on the menu for RMB 400.
How did the wine get listed at that price?

There are three key factors at work.
First, the combined import duty, value-added tax and consumption tax for imported wine works [...]

Wines-info: 1,000 cases of imported wine destroyed

- By Jim Boyce
A recent post on China Wine Information Website states that authorities in Yunnan have destroyed 12,000 bottles of imported red wine:
They [the bottles] were considered to be unqualified because of their unqualified packing (leaking, moldy corks) which didn’t accord with the related standard of wine.
Unfortunately, there is no information about which brand [...]

Vive le Yunnan? Shangri-La Jones and the Lost Vines of France

Yunnan Red Wine Company vineyard (J. Boyce)
- By Jim Boyce
Are grape wines from southern China’s Yunnan province – considered by some the location of Shangri-La – made from the survivors of vines devastated in France by phylloxera from the mid-1860s to the mid-1890s?
An intriguing question, not only because of its Indiana Jones-type feel (hence [...]

Interview: Chantal Chi on wine, wineries and wine books

- By Jim Boyce
Chantal Chi is the newest contributor to The Grape Wall of China. To kick off Chantal’s participation, I interviewed her about how she got involved in wine, her upcoming books, and more.

How did you first get interested in wine?

It was 1998. I was working in France and one day I ate in [...]

Grape press: The ‘antisnob’, the ‘budometer’ and food-wine pairing

- By Jim Boyce
Those fascinated, frustrated or befuddled by pairing wine and Chinese food might be interested in The Wine Antisnob by Katy McLaughlin in the Wall Street Journal. The article looks at Tim Hanni – entrepreneur, recovering alcoholic, one of the first two Americans to become a Master of Wine, and someone who once [...]

Interview: Jeremy Oliver on the China wine scene

- By Jim Boyce
I met writer and educator Jeremy Oliver during a seminar at the Hilton Wine & Food Experience in Beijing in November. I plied him with questions about Chinese wine consumers and wines, and then later emailed him to request an interview on these topics. He agreed, and the results are below.

You’ve been [...]

Get your Gruner Veltliner on

- By Jim Boyce
When it comes to great grape names, Grüner Veltliner ranks up there. It sounds like the name of an ice hockey* player or an airship or a pair of fashion sunglasses. Or a belt of asteroids circling the sun. Frankly, it tastes better than all of these things put together.
Tastings of Grüner [...]

Tasting time: Shanghai

- By Peter Wright
[Upcoming wine events in Shanghai]
Commanderie de Bordeaux wine tasting and dinner
A lavish dinner and French wine tasting will be held this Sunday 20th January at Kathleen 5’s (325 Nanjing Xi Lu) from 6 PM by the Shanghai chapter of Commanderie de Bordeaux, a society of keen French wine drinkers. Wines to [...]

Taste test: Uncorking nine Chinese wines in Beijing

- By Jim Boyce

Tenacious taster Thompson (J. Fallows)
The mention of Chinese wine often brings smirks, mock gagging, or jokes such as “leaded or unleaded?” Given this, I enjoy getting together for a tasting of the local drop with people who express open-mindedness about it. Last Friday was such a time. Our party:

Lawrence Osborne, New York-based [...]

Winery visit: Sino-French Demonstration Vineyard

- By Jim Boyce
Regular readers of my newsletter*, this blog or sibling blog beijingboyce.com no doubt have heard of Grace Vineyard. I find Grace generally makes the best Chinese wines and often write about this, even in the face of eye-rolling by friends. Grace wine is popping up in hotels, restaurants and bars and has [...]

Ice Bar: This Champagne is definitely chilled

China World Hotel opened Ice Bar a few weeks ago, just outside Aria. As reported earlier, the bar is, not surprisingly, made of ice and is cosponsored by Moet-Hennessy Diageo, so expect Moet Chandon Champagne, Belvedere Vodka and Grand Marnier. The bar itself is modest and fun for a quick drink. And the Champagne is [...]

Replay: 100 wines for 100 kuai

- By Jim Boyce
Palette held an excellent tasting in December of more than 100 of the wines it distributes. The price tag? A mere RMB 100 (USD 13). If you missed the event, don’t fret, as there will be a Beijing repeat on February 2, from 2 to 7 PM, in the Central Park banquet [...]

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  • About Grape Wall of China


    beijing-boyce-grape-wall-of-china-logo

    A nonprofit blog by wine professionals and consumers.


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    Email: beijingboyce at yahoo.com

  • Grape Wall Contributors


    In alphabetical order (see full list)


    Nicolas Carre
    Sommelier


    Chantal Chi
    Writer


    Yvonne Chiong
    Sommelier, consultant


    Judy Leissner
    Grace Vineyard CEO


    Alain Leroux
    Wine maker, consultant


    Li Demei
    Wine maker


    Huiqin Ma
    Professor


    Campbell Thompson
    The Wine Republic co-owner


    Brian Yao
    Consumer


    Frankie Zhao
    Pro-Wine Training & Consultancy owner


    Jim Boyce
    Consumer, blog administrator