Grape Wall of China

Posted by admin at June 9th, 2008

By Jim Boyce

I again joined Marc Curtis of China Wine Tours for a visit to Chateau Bolongbao, this time with a TV crew. My past posts covered Bolongbao’s vineyard, fermentation room, and cellar, and of the grape stomping held during a fall visit with the Beijing Wine Club. Here are a few from last Saturday’s visit:

The beginnings of a future vintage
of Bolongbao wine (photos: J. Boyce)

Translator and ex-Chateau Bolongbao
marketing director Tony Chen.

China Wine Tour’s Marc Curtis and Chen
in the fermentation room.

Chateau Bolongbao is in Hebei Province,
just outside Beijing

Rose bushes at the vineyard’s edge
act as early indicators of disease.

A hilltop view of Bolongbao taken during
our March visit.

Posted by admin at June 9th, 2008

By Jim Boyce

Due to the Friday night wine tastings organized by Frank Siegel in the Sanliltun outlet of Sequoia Cafe, I’ve tried wines from North America (Canada, US), South American (Chile, Argentina), Asia (China, Japan), Africa (Morocco, South Africa), Europe (plenty of countries, including Slovenia - twice!), and Australia and New Zealand. I’ve tried white, red, rose, sparkling and sweet wines, dozens of varietals and blends, and participated in blind tastings of everything from Chinese wines to Argentinian Malbec. Most of all, I’ve come to know many Friday night “regulars“, whether they are wine professionals or simply fans of the grape.

So, it is unhappy news the Sanlitun Sequoia closed last weekend.

On the other hand, it is happy news the tastings will continue at Sequoia’s Guanghua Lu outlet (near Ritan Park). In fact, it might draw more people, given the 6:30 PM start and the proximity of many embassies, media outlets, and businesses. In any case, a raised glass to Sanlitun Sequoia, which served the wine community well for the past 18 months.

RELATED STORIES
Vive le value: Some French wines in Beijing
From Ljubljana with love: Beijing’s second Slovenian wine tasting
The good, the bar, and the wireless: Sequoia Cafe
Bubbly Beijing: Which one of these six wines sparkles?
Sequoia showdown: Blind tasting of Chinese white, red wines