02.15.08
Posted in Uncategorized at 4:35 pm by admin
- By John Isacs
For his first blog entry, Taiwan-based wine educator and consultant John Isacs provides some predictions for the year ahead in Taiwan and a review of adventures in the outgoing Year of the Pig.
As I sit in my office on the first day of the Year of the Rat, a few thoughts on what is happening as we enter the Year of the Rat as well as some wine-related highlights from the Year of the Pig come to mind. In terms of the Taiwan market, a few predictions for the coming year:
- Overall wine sales will be flat until after the presidential elections when there will be slow growth, though high-end wine sales still continue to be very strong.
- US wines will miss out on weak-dollar opportunity due to lack of promotion and market strategy, while Chilean and Argentinian wines will gain market share because of price advantage and more agressive promotion
- The French wine market share continues to drop, while Italian wine market share grows, especially in terms of Pinot Grigio
- Tokaji will become the new darling of wine connoisseurs
- Sherry will become popular (OK, this one is personal, as I am interested in this area!)
In terms of the year past, it started with Madrid Fusion 2007, a food and wine congress and exhibition. I participated in the wine tract as the representative of Taiwan. We must have tasted about 500 different wines over a period of three days. The combination of jet lag and palate overload somewhat compromised my ability to fully appreciate every wine but it was educational and fun. My overall impression of Spanish wines:
- Cava has a long way to go
- The best reds are great
- Most of the whites are merely pleasant, save for the sensation Albarino
- Sherries rank among the world’s greatest wines
Speaking of Sherry, I took a quick trip to Jerez to present on the Taiwan and China markets to producers there and meet the CEO of the Jerez-Xeres-Sherry DO, Cesar Saldana. The trip’s highlight was enjoying a range of tapas and Sherries with Cesar and Paul, marketing director of Gonzalaz Byass, on the streets of Jerez. The proper way to do this is to stop at a tapas bar, have one dish and one Sherry, then move on to the next bar. Big fun.
The Year of the Pig also saw me doing a Taiwan road show for a Chinese bank. The events were for the VIPs. The bank gave them an hour presentation on investment strategies and then I introduced, in Mandarin, “The Art of Wine Appreciation“. Though I enjoy doing TV and radio programs, live performances are the most exciting. Each show for the bank had about 200 attendees to whom I introduced an Italian Chianti Classico, a Rioja Reseva and a New World wine. My recipe for a successful event: keep it lively and fun, and make sure the wines are good.
Meeting wine producers and makers is another benefit of my trade. Among the highlights last year was dining with Wolf Blass, who is is a blast, fooling around with my buddy Francesco Ricasoli, the 32nd Baron Ricasoli and a fun and nice guy, the larger-than-life Hungarian wine producer and expert, Csaba Gergly, and meeting and tasting with numerous other wine celebrities who stopped by Taiwan.
My trip to Scotland was also memorable. Grant & Sons sent me to learn more about Whisky so that we develop a formula along the lines of our successful wine dinners and events. The short trip was great fun. Visiting the Glenfiddich distillery in the morning and tasting Whisky directly from the barrel, then going out to shoot skeet was a highlight. Only in Scotland would they mix the two in that sequence.
They’re not Famous Grousse, but skeet will do.
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02.13.08
Posted in Jim Boyce, Uncategorized at 9:47 pm by admin
Alan Ujcic: ‘Welcome to Slovenia!’
Thirty-five people gathered for the most recent Friday night gathering at Sequoia Café as Alan Ujcic arranged a second tasting of wines from his homeland - Slovenia. The event followed up on a similar tasting at Sequoia last year. Ujcic seemed to enjoy the night, except for my continued singing of a revised version of the Albania song from Wag the Dog. ‘Slo-ve-ni-a, Slo-ve-ni-a, it borders on the A-dri-a-tic…’
In any case, two wines hailed from regions near Austria and five from the Italian side. Based on a sampling of people in the room, the favorites seemed to be.
- Radona Silver sparkling wine NV, with a green-yellow color, a touch of sweetness, and stone fruits on its nose and light body. (”I’d serve this with ham and melon,” said PA).
- Princic Merlot 2005, with some cherry and plum jamminess on the nose, and a soft body with some cherries, red fruit and a touch of funkiness. (”It’s got a bit of barnyard smell and I mean that in a good way,” said PA.)
- Cotar Cabernet Sauvignon 2000, with blackberry on the nose and body, as well as earthiness and soft tannins.
Several people also cited the Scurek Rose 2006 (with peach and strawberry flavours) as their favorite and the Quercus Pinot Noir 2003 garnered a few good comments. The reds tended to suffer from too much tannin and not enough fruit. The tasting cost RMB 100 per person, and included cheese, bread, assorted meats, sandwiches and brownies.
Starting with the whites…
About 35 tasters showed up
It really does border on the Adriatic!
Alan Ujcic: ‘You want more, don’t you?’
The Slovenian tasting: a wine map (click to enlarge)
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01.29.08
Posted in Uncategorized at 2:47 pm by admin
- 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 who exports the wine to Europe in a “blend especially for the UK market.” I wonder what makes this blend different from what we get locally? The wines tasted:
We taste the wines produced from the château’s own vineyards - two reds and a white - along with an Icewine and a Noble Dragon red and white, the Moser/Bibendum blends on sale in the UK.
These latter two are a surprisingly enjoyable, easy-drinking pair and a snip at around £6 a bottle. The red is fruity and spicy, the white is off-dry yet crisp and refreshing.
The 2004 Château Changyu Chardonnay is OK, with hints of honey and buttery fruit, but it’s steep at around £35 a bottle and has a curious finish.
The top red, the 2002 Château Changyu Master’s Choice - 100% Cabernet Sauvignon - is clearly well made, with tasty blackcurrant and bitter cherry fruit, and an austere finish. But it isn’t worth the £70 they’re asking for.
It’s the second red, the 2002 Château Changyu Premium Wine (also a Cabernet), that hits the bull’s-eye, with buckets of voluptuous cassis fruit and spicy cedar wood.
At £40 a pop, it would struggle against the competition in the UK, but, taken in isolation, it’s impressive. It’s aged in French oak and resolutely Bordeaux in style and I’m itching to show it in a blind tasting.
The Icewine, made from Vidal, is lusciously, uncloyingly sweet and an utter delight. The Canadians, if not the Germans, should be quaking in their boots.
Meanwhile, the Dead Grapes Society included a Chinese wine in a recent tasting. The notes:
Dragon’s Hallow Unoaked Chardonnay 2005 (China) $10
Did you know that China has actually the world’s fifth largest vineyard area and is the seventh largest wine producer??? Even so, I think the Chinese should stick to making rice wine. The chardonnay we had could be likened to a thick-headed fellow, stout and completely insipid and stupid. I gulped it straight down; some others (notably the Chinese people in the room) tossed it out. However, some people professed to liking the unoaked style, so perhaps there’s hope for the Chinese wine makers after all. Oh, in case you were wondering, Jesuit missionaries are believed to have been the first to encourage the planting of vines in China in the mid 19th century.
Finally, according to wines-info, “On January 11 of 2008, the first fashion event integrating fine wines and arts was held in Beijing. All related people and about 100 elites from all social sectors took part in it.” The article goes on:
The purpose of wine-tasting event was to build a China top grade wine-club which had many chambers of world-class chateaus. Their services included ordering limited world-class wines, offering world-class vineyard and cellars and so on.
Sounds pricy.
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01.14.08
Posted in Uncategorized at 6:47 pm by admin
- 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 garnered praise from wine experts.
Logic would seem to dictate that if Grace is making such wine, there is a good chance someone else in China is doing it, too.
I have had drinkable wine from other makers - Dragon Seal, Taillan and Catai, to name three - but these tend to lack Grace’s consistency across a diverse portfolio.
Last Thursday, I went to a winery that might be up to the challenge.
The 20-hectare Sino-French Demonstration Vineyard is a 90-minute drive from downtown Beijing. I visited it with Lawrence Osborne, a New York-based wine writer and author of The Accidental Connoisseur, who has the benefit of an expense account that covers hiring cars for winery visits.
Winemaker Li Demei gave us a quick and chilly tour of the vineyard and then took us inside for a tasting, with local wine writer and consultant Winnie Wang also present. The lineup:
Cabernet Sauvignon 2005, 2006, 2007
Chardonnay 2005, 2006, 2007
Marselan 2005, 2006, 2007
Merlot 2007
Cabernet Franc 2006, 2007
Viognier-Riesling
Petit Manseng
In general, the 2005 wines bested those from 2006, a year marked by heavy rainfall, while the 2007 obviously is still too young, though the Cabernet Franc showed nice plum and jam flavors.
The Viognier-Riesling, split 75 percent and 25 percent between those two respective grapes, was pale yellow in color. Smooth and subtle, it had light pear and floral scents on the nose.
“This is better than the Heartland [Viognier-Pinot Gris] we had last night,” said Osborne.
The late harvest Petit Manseng was among the more intriguing wines I have tasted in China. The nose is mushroom-y, but the body has honey and a bit of savoriness.
I’ll have more on these wines, especially on the Chardonnay and Petit Manseng, which I have since tried with numerous people in Beijing.
* The e-newsletter covers Beijing’s nightlife scene, including wine tastings. To get it, email beijingboyce@yahoo.com with “sign me up” in the subject line.
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01.09.08
Posted in Uncategorized at 5:34 pm by admin
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 definitely chilled. The only weird thing is the deafening hip hop - something a bit more relaxed would work better. For some reason, ABBA pops into my mind…
Coats are provided for those venturing outside.
(Thanks to Marc at MHD for the photo.)
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Posted in Uncategorized at 3:54 pm by admin
- 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 hall (2F, in the building with Alexander City Club). RSVP with Shirley Guo at 6585-3099.
I very much enjoyed trying Palette’s Australian, Spanish and dessert wines. And If you’re a consumer, it’s hard to find better value than this.
See this write-up of the December event
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12.19.07
Posted in Uncategorized at 7:14 pm by admin
Here are a few wine tastings over the next few days to get you warmed up for Christmas:
December 22
Let the holiday spirit pour forth as Palette Wines holds a tasting of more than 100 wines for 100 kuai. The Christmas Wine Bazaar is Saturday, 2 PM to 7 PM, on the second floor of the Central Park banquet hall (apparently, the hall is in the center of Central Park). There is a 15 percent discount on purchases made at this event. Some constructive criticism - Palette, for the love of Santa Claus, please give us more warning when you hold an event of this size and value!
December 21
On Friday, Sequoia Café in Sanlitun will hold a tasting of Ridge Wines from California. Organizer Frank Siegel writes, “If you need a change from the ‘value for money’ wines found at the hypermarket, this is the event for you.” The event starts at 6:30 PM, costs 150 kuai and includes tasting samples, snacks, and entry into a draw for “The Oxford Companion to Wine.” RSVP with frankie.siegel@gmail.com.
December 20
Join Aromes and Vinotheca on Thursday for a tasting of eight wines - Viognier, Cotes du Rhone, Petit Mansberg and more. The event starts at 7 PM at the French Cultural Center and costs 50 kuai. There is a 15 percent discount on purchases made at this event. RSVP with aromes2006@gmail.com
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12.16.07
Posted in Uncategorized at 11:48 pm by admin
- By Jim Boyce and Campbell Thompson
The Greater China Sherry Wine Association held its inaugural Beijing event one month ago. A dozen Beijing-based wine writers, distributors and academics attended a wine dinner at Aria hosted by Cesar Saldana, president of Jerez-Xeres-Sherry DO, and John Isacs of Enjoy Gourmet, who is a certified Sherry educator and a writer for this blog.
Sherry, which like Champagne is tied to a geographical area, is little known in China. Saldana aims to change this. Projects under consideration include training Chinese wine professionals in Spain, tastings for local media, and pairing the promotion of Sherry and traditional Spanish culture, including food and Flamenco dancing.
“When you read the classic book on wine, Sherry has a chapter of its own,” said Saldana, and notes the biggest challenge to promoting the wine is its diversity - ”from salty to sweet to structured and powerful, variety is what defines Sherry.” He also noted Sherry’s unique history and production process.
Dinner attendees tried six Sherrys against five dishes and provided feedback not only on the food and drink, but also on the prospects for selling Sherry in China. This feedback included:
- Sherry shouldn’t be sold as a sub-set of grape wine, which represents a mere 2 percent of China’s alcohol market, but as an alternative to baijiu, maotai, Cognac, and other spirits. Several attendees described the aromas in some Sherrys as comparable to those found in Chinese spirits.
- Emphasis should be placed on Sherry’s long history and its difficult production method.
- Emphasis is also needed on the versatility of Sherry in terms of food pairing - after all, Spain is famous for its tapas.
- A strong focus is needed on packaging and branding for the China market, including launching rare old sherry in beautiful bottles with a knock-em-dead brand name. “Armada” popped into our heads - well, it’s a start…
As for the Sherry and food pairings, here is the lineup:
Lustau Puevto Soleva Reserva, with Campania-style seafood salad (octopus, mussels, prawans, and parsley lemon sauce)
Gonzalez Bayss Tio Pepe Fiue Muy Seco, with duck and pistachio sausage, bitter leaf salad with game jelly, and beetroot vinaigrette
Bodegas Arguzso San Leon Manzanilla Clasica, with steamed sea bass with lemongrass, and truffle congee with port reduction
Garvey Oloroso Ochavico Jevez Seco, with over-roasted pigeon with truffle and foie gras mous
Ream Capatas Andres Solera Reserva and Pedro Ximenez Romate, with chocolate truffle cake with Mandarin compote and vanilla ice cream
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12.13.07
Posted in Uncategorized at 4:46 pm by admin
- By Alain Leroux
We didn’t have a lot of grapes this year at Taillan. The main problem is that I left for a three-week holiday in 2005, the staff didn’t properly care for the vines, and some of them became diseased, lost too many leaves, and died during the winter. We had to replant some of the vineyard and it will take three years minimum to return to full capacity. We also changed some grape varieties we are growing. Production is currently limited to less than 10 hectares, less than half of our capacity.
A major challenge with growing grapes in Beijing is the warm and moist summers. This means we easily get mildew and other diseases. We have to spray and this decreases production.
This summer was hot, with temperatures up to 38 degrees Celsius, and we had a lot of rain, including artificially induced rain. Again, this brought mildew and other diseases, and we had to spray.
We had to harvest between the middle and end of August for several reasons. The weather made our grapes more susceptible to disease, and brought the potential of the disease spreading. We also saw quickly decreasing acidity and we realized that the sugar was at a maximum.
The yield was small, but both red and white grapes were fine this year, a good size, except for the Pinot, which is very sensitive. In the end, we harvested about 30 hectoliters from less than 10 hectares. Normally, we would harvest around 1,200 hectoliters from 20 hectares.
To give you an idea of the fertility of the environment, corn was planted at the end of June and was already three meters high by mid-August, which is far quicker than usual. You can see Beijing’s environment is challenging - we might say very challenging - for growing grapes.
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12.12.07
Posted in Uncategorized at 6:04 pm by admin
The Beijing Wine Club will hold its second anniversary and wine awards on December 15 at Sequoia Café (Guanghua Road). The party gets started at 8 PM and includes a tasting of five wines. The cost is RMB150 per person. RSVP in order to ensure enough wine is available for everyone. To book a spot or for more info, email info@beijingwineclub.com
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12.11.07
Posted in Uncategorized at 2:49 pm by admin
I spotted a post by James Fallows (The Atlantic Monthly) about buying an 11.8 RMB bottle of “China Red Wine.” His comment, “How bad can it be?” set off my “please, not another person making fun of Chinese wine” alert.
So, I dashed off an abrupt email and asked if it would be possible for him to write about some of the better Chinese wines.
Well, sometimes our passions get the better of us.
He quickly replied: “I actually have had some good Grace wine (and some pretty-good Catai white wine), plus several others I liked that I’ve written about in other posts.” Those would be Xinjiang’s Suntime, which I have yet to try but will at my next blind tasting, and Gansu’s Mogao (see his reviews).
He also gives a shout to China Wine Tours, a company I recently covered on this blog.
Note: Knowing his love of bad headlines, I did my best with the title for this post.
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12.10.07
Posted in Uncategorized at 4:04 am by admin
- By Jim Boyce
“Green is go, red is stop,” explains Frank Siegel as he hands each participant two poker chips at his most recent blind wine tasting - this one focused on bubbly - on Friday night at Sequoia Cafe in Beijing. The idea: taste all six wines, then use the green chip to vote for the one that puts a sparkle in your eye and the red chip to vote for the one that leaves you flat. After a lengthy session of sipping and savoring and considering, the tasters voted and Frank revealed the totals:
The “go” wine
Redbank (Australia) - 15 green, 1 red
The “stop” wine
Norton (Argentina) - 7 red, 0 green
In the middle
Fleischer (Germany) - 3 green, 7 red
Charles de Fere (France) - 1 green, 2 red
Mionetto (Italy) - 1 green, 2 red
Bouvet Ladubay (France) - 1 green, 2 red
My green chip went to Bouvet Ladubay: it had a toasty and slightly nutty nose, with a nice tingle, though I found it a tad bitter at the end. In second, I had a tie between Redbank (contrast between its toasty nose and fizzy, peachy and slightly rough mouth) and Charles de Fere (nice mouth feel, but a bit anemic). My red chip went to Norton, which came off as too sour and unripe. Close behind: the Mionetto, with a piney, almost freezer burn, smell. The Fleischer, much sweeter than the others, landed in the middle with its hint of baked apples. Note: I am not a professional wine taster, just a consumer, and these are my somewhat humble opinions.
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12.07.07
Posted in Uncategorized at 3:42 pm by admin
- By Jim Boyce
The best wine event of the year - AL
This is the best wine tasting event in Beijing. I put this event on my calendar a year ago. - EW
Definitely the best wine tasting I’ve been to in Beijing - AU
Praise abounded for this year’s Beijing visit by the Union des Grands Crus de Bordeaux on November 30 at Sofitel Hotel. With nearly 100 wineries represented, the event saw a large turnout. What made this tasting so good?
- It featured one region (Bordeaux) and one year (2004), a rare chance in Beijing for in-depth comparative tasting.
- Many winemakers, owners and staff from the producers were present.
- Attendees received a handy booklet with info about the wines and wineries, including grape varieties used, aging time in barrels and total production as well as room for tasting notes.
- The booklet was in Chinese and English (and Japanese and Korean, for that matter).
- A handy numbering system made it easy to match each booth with its section in the book.
- Glassware abounded, thus no worries about sticking with the same one all afternoon, as is usual in Beijing. Switching from reds to Sauternes? Simply grab another Riedel glass.
Oh, the most important part: we were drinking excellent wine. Even the worst of this stuff is pretty good. Next year looks to be even better, as local winemaker Alain Leroux says that vintage is poised for greatness.
Other stops on this Bordeaux tour include Tokyo, Osaka, Seoul, Shanghai and Guangzhou.
Note: Thanks to p3wong for getting me into this event.
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12.06.07
Posted in Uncategorized at 4:57 pm by admin
- By Dan Siebers
This is part 4 of 5. See also part 1, part 2 and part 3.
In part 3, I discussed some facts about importers as well as kinds of importers, including independent foreign-owned, independent locally owned, independent Hong Kong-owned, Chinese wine companies, and “cowboys.” In part 4, I look at brands.
Here are some facts about brand distribution:
- The largest imported bottled brand in China in 2005 totaled 37,000 9L cases.
- The largest imported bottled brand in China distributed by an independent company, instead of the brand owner, in 2005 totaled 25,500 9L cases.
- Most key international brands (Penfolds, Wolf Blass, Hardys, Mondavi, Beringer, Torres, Mouton Cadet, Georges Duboeuf, Antinori) totaled under 10,000 9L cases in 2005.
Now, here are some “soft facts” on brand distribution. In particular, there are cases that might be labeled “the dangers of success.” Take as examples the experience of Canadian Ice Wine and of a Bordeaux brand in China.
In terms of Canadian Ice Wine, there were relatively large imports into China several years ago. Then, the market was severely damaged by fakes and imitations.
With a Bordeaux brand, a heavy marketing and distribution campaign made it relatively well-known across China. Then, the brand’s image and pricing structure was severely damaged by fakes, a situation exasperated, and possibly facilitated, by a distribution network based on wholesalers.
The advantage of wholesalers is that they provide instant access to their market geography and/or segments, prepayment terms, and single deliveries to the wholesaler’s warehouse. Their disadvantage is a lack of control of pricing and marketing, lack of proper storage and inventory control, and frequent treatment of the product as a commodity.
It is extremely difficult to stop supplying wholesalers as they will often use parallel or produce imitation products. In the case of the Bordeaux brand, a distribution network based on wholesalers allowed counterfeit products to instantly enter the entire distribution network. Some people theorize that it is the wholesalers themselves that develop and produce the fakes in order to save margin.
On Tuesday, part 5 of the series, covering distribution and “landmines” to avoid.
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Posted in Uncategorized at 2:51 pm by admin
- By Jim Boyce
Thanks to the persistence of Adam Steinberg at ASC Fine Wines, I attended the media tasting with Australian wine guru Jeremy Oliver at Hilton’s recent two-day Food & Wine Experience in Beijing. Sponsored by the Australian Wine and Brandy Corporation, with wines supplied by ASC, the seminar outlined a new approach to how Australia explains its wine. This is a handy alternative for those who have neither the memory nor inclination to grasp the nuances of regional wines and varietals.
Oliver explained the four “personalities” of Australian wine:
Brand champions: labels that have “been extremely successful for Australia around the world”, whether in the United States, Europe or elsewhere, he says. They are simple and provide consistent flavor at an affordable price. We tried Wolf Blass President’s Selection Chardonnay 2004 and Penfolds Bin 8 Cabernet Shiraz 2004 as examples. Yellow Tail also fits into this category.
Generation next: this represents the “change, evolution and energy” of Australia’s wine industry, and includes unique grape blends. We tried Torbeck The Steading 2004 and Brown Brothers Cienna 2006. Glaetzer also fits into this category.
Regional heroes: labels such as Coonawara Cabernet, which are pricier and of higher quality than brand champions. “The trend has been to drink it ourselves,” says Oliver. “Now it’s time to share it with the rest of the world.” As examples, we tried Petaluma Riesling 2006 and Saltram Mamre Brooke Cabernet Sauvignon 2004.
Landmarks: these rank among the “elite and iconic” wines. “We understand that the best Australian wines sit very comfortably with the best wines in the world,” says Oliver. We tried Leeuwin Estate Art Series Chardonnay 2004 (beautiful stuff!) and Penfolds Magil Estate Shiraz 2004.
This explanation of Australian wines seems particularly useful in China, where consumers typically associate wine in terms of countries (especially France) rather than regions (with few exceptions, such as Bordeaux). Even better, the seminar was just before lunch, a perfect time to test our tastebuds.
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12.05.07
Posted in Uncategorized at 1:25 pm by admin
- By Jim Boyce
December 5, 7-9 PM, Aperitivo (RMB100)
Zonin tasting, with Maura Marciante of Zonin, by Torres China; RSVP with Sophie Sun (5165-5519, x208 / sophie@torres.com.cn)
December 6, 7 PM, Jasmine (RMB249)
Robert Skalli wine dinner, with ASC Fine Wines; RSVP with Dennis Zhang (6418-1598, x130 / dennis@asc-wines.com)
December 7, 7:30-9 PM, Capone’s (RMB 100)
Tommassi wine tasting, with East Meets West Fine Wines; RSVP with Alexander (alexander@emw-wines.com)
December 7, 6:30 PM, Sequoia Café - Sanlitun (RMB 100)
Sparkling wines; join the e-vite list for Sequoia’s weekly events by emailing Frank at frank.siegel@gmail.com.
Note: It’s always best to double-check the details with the event organizers.
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12.04.07
Posted in Uncategorized at 4:41 pm by admin
Before going to Flo for lunch last week in Beijing, The Flash and I visited The Wine Bank next door. The defining features are 14-foot ceilings, red brick walls, pine shelving and stone floors, with touches of glass, cast iron and gold trim. A second-floor alcove includes two sofas, and there are three tables downstairs, if you want to try a bottle (after buying it, of course).
The Wine Bank is earthy enough, though there is some tackiness, such as plastic plants, brick “wallpaper” pasted over cement in spots, and an all-too-visible golf club collection I’d guess is the owner’s.
“This is a nice place to have a seat and a bottle of wine,” says The Flash.
More than 80 percent of the wine on offer hails from Australia, with labels such as Timber Ridge, Tallboy, Ferngrove, Plantagenet, Peel, and Just Red.
The Wine Bank is open 11 AM to 9 PM, with free parking for added convenience. According to one employee, several more branches are planned in Beijing.
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