Grape Wall of China

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

Cafe Europa: Refreshed wine list, Parker points program

Jianwai Soho restaurant Café Europa launched its new wine list on September 18 with a by-the-glass tasting. I sipped through eight of the dozen samples before being stopped by the strong arm of reason (translation: I needed to go to a meeting) and my favorite was Alvaro Palacios Petalos 2005 (Spain) with its tight black [...]

Lost in translation: A Rose is a Rose is a Rose?

By Ma Huiqin When I was asked for an English-Chinese list of wine grape varieties for this blog, I considered the best way to provide this information. Should I include ‘霞多丽’, ‘莎当妮’, or ‘夏多内’, since all three have been used as a translation of Chardonnay? Similarly, should I include ‘美乐’, ‘梅鹿辄’, or even ‘梅尔诺’ as [...]

Tasting time: Beijing

By Jim Boyce Upcoming wine events in Beijing Thursday, September 18, 7 PM, Café Europa (Jianwai SOHO), RMB15+ per half-glass By-the-glass tasting of new wine list; call 5869-5663 for more info. Thursday, September 18, 7-8:30 PM, Amigo (Central Park), free Top Cellar’s best sellers, with 8 wines from Top Cellar; RSVP at marketing@topcellar.com.cn. Friday, September [...]

Hong Kong-based Jeannie Cho Lee, Debra Meiburg earn MWs

Debra Meiburg and Jeannie Cho Lee, both based in Hong Kong, are in the newest Masters of Wine (MW) graduating class . Gaining an MW is no easy task, as the exam covers theory (topics range from viticulture to the wine business), practice (blind tastings), and a dissertation. In other words, your brain, tongue, nose, [...]

China Wine Tours: First visit slated for April

By Jim Boyce The added logistical challenges surrounding this year’s Olympics has seen China Wine Tours shift its first visit from October to April. The itinerary will include wineries in Shandong, Hebei, Shaanxi, and Shanxi, as well as a chance to see major historical sites and try a range of cuisines. For more details, see [...]

Wine Word: Consultant, publisher, and writer Ch’ng Poh Tiong

By Jim Boyce As a publisher, writer, lawyer, and tasting panel judge, Singapore-based Ch’ng Poh Tiong has long been a key player in the wine world and especially on the Asian scene. In May, he organized the first International Congress of Chinese Cuisine and Wine, held in Beijing. I talked to him about the feasibility [...]

Friday food fight: Mapo Dofu

By Jim Boyce The wine and dirt pairing didn’t garner many recommendations, so let’s return to something a bit spicier and tackle Mapo Doufu, a Szechuan speciality. Let’s go to Wikipedia on this one:   Mapo doufu… is a combination of tofu (bean curd) and minced meat, usually beef, in a spicy chili- and bean-based [...]

Tasting time: Beijing

By Jim Boyce   Upcoming Beijing wine-related events September 12, 7 PM, Aria (China World Hotel), RMB3888 Hart Davis Hart wine dinner, with 6 wines; limited to 10 customers; RSVP at 6505-2266, x36 or danny.kane@shangri-la.com. September 13, 6 PM, La Baie des Anges, RMB150 Cheese and wine tasting, with 3 wines, 3 cheeses; www.la-baie-des-anges.com / [...]

Grace, Torres winemakers team up in Shanxi

By Jim Boyce Grace Vineyard and Torres are keeping things in the family, so to speak. The Shanxi-based winery considered by many to make China’s best drop, and the Spanish company whose China office distributes Grace products, are both family-owned and are teaming up for this year’s harvest in China. After a year of preparations, [...]

Tasting time: Stone Boat – 4 wines, 60 kuai, tonight

By Jim Boyce Look for my weekly wine listings to restart next week as I near full recovery from The Olympics. Until then,  here is an event tonight in Beijing that takes advantage of the beautiful weather and that won’t break the bank. Stone Boat and Jebsen co-host ‘Wines Around the World“, from 7-9 PM. [...]

On the wine path in Shandong: Visits to Huadong, Changyu-Castel, and Chateau Junding

By Jim Boyce Home of the much-talked-about winery Chateau Junding, “Nava Valley“, and the Yantai International Wine Festival, Shandong is the hot spot when it comes to mainland China’s wine scene. So, what can a visitor expect of its wineries? Bob Wise visited three of them – Huadong, Chateau Changyu-Castel, and Chateau Junding – and [...]

Amon ra! Go dolphin!

By Jim Boyce When not dragging along this or that Chinese wine (usually from Grace Vineyard) to a party and forcing it on the wary, I often bring a bottle by Ben Glaetzer, whether it be Stickleback (~RMB100), Heartland Shiraz (RMB~150) or, on that rare occasion I fumble across a long-forgotten wad of cash in [...]

Wine picks: Some end-of-summer specials

By Frankie Zhao As we near the end of summer weather in China, here are a few wines to try before things cool down. At such times, I like a wine with a simple light body and high acidity. Here are some options: Riesling: These tend to have citrus aromas and flavors. Sauvignon Blanc: These [...]

Match points: ICCCW pairing guide for wine and Chinese food

By Jim Boyce We ate and drank, ate and drank, ate and drank, then ate and drank some more – all in the name of research. The inaugural International Congress of Chinese Cuisine & Wine met in Beijing in May and put the livers and stomachs of some 100 participants to the test. Two morning [...]

Wine Word: Danny Kane, manager of Aria, China World Hotel

By Jim Boyce Danny Kane is manager of Aria, the China World Hotel restaurant and bar that is a perennial favorite when it comes to “best wine list” awards in Beijing. I asked him how he picks wine for Aria, local wine trends he sees, his favorite wine dinners, and more. – What criteria does [...]

September in Shandong: Yantai International Wine Festival

By Jim Boyce Shandong is slated to hold its second Yantai International Wine Festival from September 23 to 30. The first three days include “The International Wine Arts & Package Designs Contest“, “Changyu Business Get-Together for Distributors”, and “Wine-Tasting and Appreciation” during the first few days. Other itinerary items include the “Junding Grape-Picking Festival” and [...]

Joining the bunch: John Gai, Palette Wines

John Gai is joining the group of contributors at Grape Wall of China, a nonprofit site that brings wine consumers, distributors, makers, academics and consultants together to talk about the country’s wine scene. Gai started Beijing-based distributor Palette Wines in 2002 and wine shop / restaurant Palette Vino in 2005. He is a former country [...]

  • About Grape Wall of China

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    A nonprofit collaborative blog


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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


    Li Demei
    Wine maker


    Huiqin Ma
    Professor


    Campbell Thompson
    The Wine Republic co-owner


    Frankie Zhao
    Pro-Wine Training & Consultancy owner


    Jim Boyce
    Consumer, blog administrator