Grape Wall of China

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

Links to distribute Torbreck in HK, Macau, mainland China

Hot on the heels of its appointment as exclusive distributor of Louis Roederer Champagne in Hong Kong, Macau, and mainland China, Links Concept today announced that it has come to an agreement with high-profile Australian winery Torbreck to handle distribution in those same three markets. Torbreck has been closely partnered with ASC Fine Wines in [...]

Bubbling up: Links to distribute Louis Roederer Champagne in HK, Macau, mainland China

- Wine and spirits distributor Links Concept will soon announce its appointment as exclusive importer and distributor of Louis Roederer Champagne for Hong Kong, mainland China, and Macau. According to Links (my highlights): Louis Roederer is one of the largest remaining independent Champagne houses, owned by the Rouzaud family since it was founded in 1776. [...]

A good crop: Grace Vineyard 2008 Vintage Report

Grace Vineyard in Shanxi province is widely considered to make the best portfolio of wines in China. Courtesy of Grace CEO and Grape Wall contributor Judy Leissner, here is the vintage report for 2008, written by chief wine maker and viticulturalist Ken Murchison. It gives those of us who enjoy trying Chinese wine something to [...]

Vineyard Wine Experience: Make your own vino in downtown Beijing

By Jim Boyce Ever dream of making vino but found yourself thwarted by the lack of a vineyard, a winery, and oenological training? Then consider Sunday a reality check as Vineyard Wine Experience will hold its grand opening at 2:30 PM in Jianwai Soho. Customers at VWE have 24 juice choices, ranging from Australian Shiraz [...]

Outback oenology: Making wine in Xinjiang

By Alain Leroux I spent last September and October directing my first harvest in Xinjiang for Hong Liu He winery, in the outer reaches of Western China. I had a very different experience from the 12 years I have spent at Taillan winery just outside Beijing. On one on hand, I have never started with [...]

‘Bad Boy’ Jean-Luc Thuvenin: Man versus mud, making wine in China, and more

By Jim Boyce – Chateau Valandraud‘s Jean-Luc Thuvenin, the first to create controversial “garage” wines (vin de garage) in the 1990s in Bordeaux and later dubbed the “bad boy” by leading wine critic Robert Parker, visited Beijing last Friday and shared two bottles of wine with a group of 15 people at Maxim’s of Paris. [...]

Grape Wall of China Challenge: Second call for wine

Since the initial call last Wednesday for wine for the Grape Wall of China Challenge, 11 distributors have contacted us to submit a total of 34 bottles (see the list of companies in the top right corner of the blog). We will cap the challenge at 60 wines. Interested distributors can get the details here [...]

Wine Word: Consumer Brian Yao

By Jim Boyce Wine consumer Brian Yao hails from southern China but has lived in Beijing for about 8 years and has worked in the IT/Telecom industry for about 20 years. He became interested in wine about 18 months ago and talked to me about his favorite events, and places to buy wine, among other [...]

The Grape Wall of China 葡萄酒比赛 3月13日, 北京马克西姆餐厅

The Grape Wall of China 葡萄酒比赛 3月13日, 北京马克西姆餐厅 ~ Grape Wall of China葡萄酒比赛” 将于3月13日在北京马克西姆餐厅举行。Grape Wall of China葡萄酒比赛”的目标是为消费者找到价格合理品质优异的葡萄酒。评判团队将同时包括葡萄酒专家和消费者。超过75%的评委都是由中国人担任。欲知详情，请参见先前的中文，英文，和法文的三语通告 我们非常欢迎进口商和经销商提交品酒样品，每个经销商将提交最多四款葡萄酒: 其中最多提交两款红葡萄酒和两款白葡萄酒。 每款葡萄酒必须在中国有销售且零售价需低于100人民币。 每款酒需用不同的葡萄品种酿造。 最多允许两款酒来自于同一国家。如果提交三款葡萄酒，那么他们最少来自于两个不同的国家；如果提交四款葡萄酒，那么他们最少来自于三个不同的国家。 我们提出这样的要求出于两个主要的原因：1) 为本次葡萄酒比赛创造范围更加广泛的葡萄品种和原产国家同台竞争的环境；和2) 对于那些仅仅进口单一国家葡萄酒的进口商和从多国进口葡萄酒的进口商提供公平的机会。下表（希望）能够帮助大家了解比赛的要求： 样品数量 红葡萄酒 白葡萄酒 来自于不同国家的数量 1 0 或 1 0 或 1 1 2 1 1 1 或 2 3 1 或 2 1 或 2 2 或 3 4 2 [...]

Wine in China: Three ways to improve quality

By Li Demei – Wine makers and companies in China face many challenges. Here are three things they could do to improve their wine. 1. Wineries need to focus on improving viticulture, that is, the quality of their grapes, rather than simply relying on buying good equipment. Many producers buy their grapes through contracts with [...]

Challenge Grape Wall of China: Appel pour les vins

Challenge Grape Wall of China 13 mars 2009 au Maxim’s de Paris, Pekin ~ Le Challenge Grape Wall of China se tiendra au restaurant Maxim’s de Paris (Solana) a Pekin le vendredi 13 mars 2009. Ce challenge GWOC a pour but d’aider le consommateur a trouver des vins sur le marche chinois a des prix [...]

The Grape Wall of China Challenge: A Call for Wine

The Grape Wall of China Wine Challenge March 13, Maxim’s of Paris, Beijing ~ The Grape Wall of China Challenge will be held at Maxim’s of Paris (Solana) in Beijing on March 13. The GWOC Challenge aims to find wines that are both modestly priced and good. The panel of judges will include both wine [...]

Challenge Grape Wall of China: 13 mars, Restaurant Maxim’s de Paris (Solana)

Challenge Grape Wall of China 13 mars, Restaurant Maxim’s de Paris (Solana) ~ Vendredi 13 mars, un groupe de 18 juges sera formé pour le premier GWOC Challenge qui se déroulera dans le nouveau restaurant Maxim’s de Paris a Solana, Pekin. Ce challenge a 3 buts : 1. Juger 60 vins distribués en Chine pour [...]

The Grape Wall of China Wine Challenge: March 13, Maxim’s, Beijing

The Grape Wall of China Wine Challenge March 13, Maxim’s (Solana), Beijing ~ (中国) On March 13, eighteen judges will gather in Beijing for the first Grape Wall of China Challenge. The GWOC Challenge has three goals: 1. To judge 60 wines that retail in China for less than RMB100: Since times are tough and [...]

Grape Wall of China 葡萄酒挑战赛: 3月13日，北京

“Grape Wall of China”葡萄酒挑战赛 3月13日，北京，马克西姆餐厅 ~ (English) 3月13日将有18位评委齐聚北京，参加“Grape Wall of China”葡萄酒挑战赛（简称GWOC葡萄酒挑战赛）。 本次挑战赛将完成三个目标： 1.品尝60款在中国零售价低于100元人民币的葡萄酒： 在世界经济危机的大背景下，并考虑到在中国葡萄酒的平均购买价位低于100元人民币，我们希望通过这次活动，帮助消费者找到不贵而又质量不错的葡萄酒。 2.让消费者参与到葡萄酒挑战的过程中来： 本次品酒评委包括6名专业人士，他们将品尝所有的60款酒，还有各两组分别为6人的消费者评委，他们每个人将品尝大约30款酒。为了更加公正，本次品酒活动没有葡萄酒生产商或代理商的工作人员参加。 3.实现本土化的品酒过程： 至少三分之二的评委将为中国人。 参加本次品酒的专业人士将使用20分制的评分体系，分别对葡萄酒的颜色、香气、口感等指标进行评价。消费者将从“非常喜欢”、“喜欢”、“不喜欢”、“特别不喜欢”四个层次对每一款酒进行评判。所有的评委都会有空间写下对某一款具体酒的评价。 本次品酒会将决出以下三类获胜者： 专业组评出的优胜葡萄酒 消费者组评出的优胜葡萄酒 综合优胜葡萄酒 有关葡萄酒经销商如何送样品参赛的通知将于星期三上午10点在网站公布。因为能接受的参赛葡萄酒的数量有限，对所有的经销商都将同等采用“先来后到”的原则，敬请谅解在以上时间之前不接受报名。 本次挑战赛的主持人是“Grape Wall of China”网站的撰稿人，分别为：赵凡（典藏阳光葡萄酒咨询公司），Nicolas Carre（马克西姆餐厅总经理）和Jim Boyce（本网站的创始人）。 对本次葡萄酒挑战赛如果您有任何问题，请联系：beijingboyce@yahoo.com 最后，我们期待着在今年举行第二次“Grape Wall of China”葡萄酒挑战赛，我们会把重点放在中国葡萄酒上。

ASC to distribute San Pellegrino water in mainland China

Update: From a press release that ASC will distribute later this afternoon: “ASC Fine Wines will become the sole importer and distributor of Sanpellegrino products in mainland China effective April 1, 2009…. As China’s largest distributor of fine Wines, ASC’s strong distribution network throughout mainland China will help to strengthen the presence of Sanpellegrino products, [...]

Bottoms up: Dinner with the Beijing Wine “Dream Team”

By Jim Boyce I RECENTLY JOINED a dinner with what I consider a significant part of the “dream team” of the Beijing wine scene. At the table: A dozen Chinese wine makers, academics, journalists, and consultants. And me: the sole outsider both professionally and culturally. From hairy crab to slippery frog, from plump dumplings to [...]

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  • About Grape Wall of China


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    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