Grape Wall of China

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

No worries: Australia targeting China wine market at every level

Australia – excuse an indirect kangaroo reference – is really hopping when it comes to the China wine scene.
First, the country has maintained a steady presence as the number two source of bottled wine by volume, taking 20 percent to 22 percent of the market the past five years, according to Customs. In the first [...]

Drinker beware: Canadian wine label controversey holds lessons for China

By Jim Boyce
Most consumers are unaware that many of the “Chinese” wines they find in supermarkets, restaurants, and elsewhere include imported bulk wine. The amount of bulk wine in the market in recent years is somewhere between 10 percent and 40 percent, with those numbers ranging from official statistics to estimates based on the double-counting [...]

Whistle wetter: Summergate to distribute Vittel water in China

By Jim Boyce
Summergate Fine Wines has announced it will exclusively import and distribute Vittel still mineral water, from France, for the China market starting in October. The range of products includes 1 liter glass bottles and 330 ML, 500 ML, and 1.5 ML plastic bottles. Summergate also imports and distributes Perrier sparkling mineral water.

Accepting applications: Landmark Australia tutorial set for next September in Yarra Valley

By Jim Boyce
Wine Australia announced today that its second Landmark Australia tutorial will be held next September in Yarra Valley. Twelve wine experts from around the world, including Bell Pei Tang from China and Rebecca Leung from Hong Kong, participated in the inaugural five-day event last June in the Barossa Valley. This time around, applications [...]

By bulk, by bottle: Is Chile the key to changing China’s wine scene?

By Jim Boyce
Random wine thought I had while drinking a beer last night: Could Chile be the key to shifting the China wine market? Consider four things:
1.According to Customs, roughly 55 percent of the imported bulk wine entering China the last three years – 170 million liters of 305 million liters – hailed from Chile. [...]

Wine jobs in China: Maison Boulud in Beijing seeks head, junior sommeliers

By Jim Boyce
French restaurant Maison Boulud in Beijing seeks a head sommelier to handle everything from wine service to overseeing the wine list to maintaining the cellar. It also seeks a junior sommelier. For more details on these positions, or to submit your resume, contact Ignace LeCleir at ignace.lecleir@chienmen23.com.
Maison Boulud is the first Daniel Boulud [...]

Sour grapes: When it comes to poor Chinese wine, don’t shoot the wine maker

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By Jim Boyce
The past few months, I have been lucky to visit wineries along the northern swath of China – in Xinjiang, Ningxia, Shanxi, and Hebei. One thing I notice: the wines made by many producers do not always reflect the skill of the wine makers. As they say, you can’t make an omelet without [...]

Fill your glass without emptying your wallet in Beijing: Torres Taste of Nations, Hilton Wine Experience

If, as I do, you like the sound of filling your glass with dozens of wines while only emptying your wallet of a few kuai, then good times are coming as two of the best-value annual Beijing events are almost upon us.
First, Torres China will hold its third annual Taste of the Nations event on [...]

Grape Press: Wine really *is* a passport… to Australia, and more

By Jim Boyce
China-related wine news from the Web…
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Have wine, will travel
Wine really *is* a passport to the world. According to this story in the Sydney Morning Herald, some Chinese businesspeople are entering the wine business in Australia in order to secure visas and migrate to that country:
Winemakers and immigration lawyers say Chinese business people [...]

  • 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